Barry Cook

Biography

Barry David Cook (born August 12, 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American animator, effects artist, writer, and director with a long career in animation and visual effects. He began in the industry in 1982, working as an effects animator on films including Tron, The Black Cauldron, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Over time he advanced to roles such as visual effects supervisor. His directorial debut came with the short film Off His Rockers in 1992. Cook is widely recognized for co-directing Mulan (1998) with Tony Bancroft, which won the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. He also co-directed Arthur Christmas (2011), and directed Walking with Dinosaurs (2013) with Neil Nightingale. His work spans from traditional animation to CGI and live-action blended productions. He continues to contribute to animation and storytelling, bringing decades of experience to each project.