Marlon West

Head of Effects Animation, “Frozen 2”

West leads the effects department in both creative and technical direction alongside fellow head of effects Dale Mayeda for “Frozen 2.”

West has been with Walt Disney Animation Studios since 1993 when he came aboard as a trainee effects animator. His credits include “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas” and “Chicken Little” as effects animator; “Tarzan” as visual effects animator; “Fantasia/2000” as assistant effects supervisor; “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” and “Winnie the Pooh” as visual effects supervisor; the short “How to Hook Up Your Home Theater” as effects supervisor; and “The Princess and the Frog” as effects animation supervisor. He served alongside Mayeda as effects supervisor for 2013’s Oscar®-winning feature film “Frozen,” the Oscar®-winning short “Feast” and the worldwide hit film “Moana.”

Prior to joining Disney, West worked for Encyclopedia Britannica on several educational films in Chicago. He painted and animated on The Beastie Boys’ music video “Shadrack” and animated pixie dust for the Michael Jackson “California Raisin” commercial. West’s first animated features were “Rover Dangerfield” and “Bebe’s Kids.”

West was 7 years old when he checked out a book with a picture of stop-motion animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen and set his sights on a job where he could bring his toys to work. He studied film and writing at Columbia College Chicago, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The St. Louis, Missouri, native is dad to a 15-year-old daughter, and has two cats, turtles and fish tanks. He resides in Glendale, California.