Photo credit : Andy French

Sarah Mercey

Director | Actress | Storyboardist | Animation

Sarah Mercey is one of Canada’s most successful animation and film professionals. In her nineteen years in the business, Sarah has been an integral part of more than ten of some of the most financially successful and critically awarded films in Hollywood. She has worked with Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, and BlueSky-Fox Animation. Some of her credits include Ratatouille, WALL-E, Toy Story 3, and Lilo & Stitch.

In 2010, Sarah steered her expertise in the field of animation toward focusing on developing stories for film. Sarah has been helping to develop and storyboard projects for upcoming films for Blue Sky-Fox Animation.

In addition to her story work, Sarah co-directed a Christmas Special for the CBC called The Magic Hockey Skates for which received a Canadian Screen Award (Best Director of an animated series or program).

In 2014, a successful career in the animation industry, Sarah returned to school in New York City. She recently graduated, again, and this time with a diploma for acting/directing theatre and film, with a focus on the work of Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams. While in school, Sarah was story consultant and helped re-write the award winning play, These Little One’s Perish, which premiered off-Broadway in January 2017. Now armed with a new love of, not only story, but for written language, Sarah is currently story consult to one of the top director’s in Hollywood, has written a screenplay filmed in summer 2018 (dir. Sean Cisterna). She is also writing a coming-of-age feature film that takes place in Quebec City and a short film about the unrequited love between a Super Hero and Super Villain.

Sarah been asked to share her knowledge at a number of speaking engagements.

 

http://m.imdb.com/name/nm1820414/

Filmography

Unannounced

2021

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Lucky

2020

Skydance Animation (Skydance Media)

Nimona

2020

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Spies In Disguise

2019

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Ferdinand

2017

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Awards

Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film – USA, 2018
2 nominations at the Golden Globes, Best Motion Picture – Animated, Best Original Song – Motion picture, USA, 2018

Angry Birds

2016

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Rovio

Rio 2

2014

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Ice Age Christmas Special

2011

Feature film, animation
Storyboard artist
Blue Sky Studios (Fox Animation)

Day & Night

2010

Short film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios

Toy Story 3

2009

Feature film, animation
Character Design
Pixar Animation Studios

Awards

Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2011
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2011

Partly Cloudy

2009

Short film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios

Wall-E

2008

Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios

Awards

Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2009
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2009

Ratatouille

2007

Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios

Awards

Oscar winner (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2008
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2008

Your Friend The Rat

2007

Short Film Credit
Pixar Animation Studios

Cars

2005

Feature film, animation
Animation
Pixar Animation Studios

Awards

Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film of the Year– USA, 2007
Golden Globe winner, Best animated Film of the Year 2007

Brother Bear

2003

Feature film, animation
Animation & Character Design
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Awards

Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film– USA, 2004

Beauty & the Beast

2002 (re-released)

Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Lilo & Stitch

2002

Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Awards

Oscar nominee (Academy Awards), Best Animated Feature Film– USA, 2003

The Emperor’s New Groove

2000

Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Tarzan

1999

Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Mulan

1998

Feature film, animation
Clean-Up Animation
Walt Disney Feature Animation

Newt

Unreleased

Feature film, animation
Character Design

The Magic Hockey Skates

2012

Holiday Special TV Show
Director, Art Director, Co-Writer
Amberwood Entertainment / Canadian Broadcast Corporation

Awards

Canadian Screen Awards 2014 – Best Direction in an Animated Program or Series & In nomination for Best Animated Series

Morse Code

2016

Story Artist & Actor
Livingston Studios

Notable Appearances

Sarah’s artwork toured galleries around the world and was featured at the Oakland Museum of California during the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation Exhibition.

Sarah was one of the initial speakers and instructors who helped Animation Mentor gain its foothold as one of the most respected schools in the field of animation.

Annecy International Animation Festival – Guest Speaker Representing Pixar

The Academy of Arts San Francisco – Guest Speaker

E..D.S.S. - A guest lecturer on creativity. Other speakers included Bruce Headlam and Malcom
Gladwell.

Ride and story development with Walt Disney Imagineering

Teaching: Animation Mentor - Classical Animation

Weird Randon Facts: Sarah enjoys snowboarding, playing hockey and the drums.
Sarah does not enjoy eating cheese.

Ride and story development with Walt Disney Imagineering

Film Appearances: Ratatouille Special Features & The Making of Lilo and Stitch

Published Work: The Art of Toy Story 3

Teaching: Animation Mentor School – Classical Animation