Rob Minkoff

Biography

Rob Minkoff is an American director, animator, producer, and screenwriter. He studied Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts in the early 1980s, soon joining Disney where his early roles included in-between artist and character designer. He worked on films like The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, and contributed lyrics to Oliver & Company. His breakthrough came when he co-directed The Lion King in 1994, a film that remains one of his best known works. Over time he branched into live-action, directing Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2, The Haunted Mansion, and The Forbidden Kingdom. In animation, later titles include Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank. Minkoff is married to Crystal Kung since 2007; they have two children. Throughout his career he’s navigated both animation and live-action genres, writing, directing, and producing, always returning to stories that combine heart, humor, and visual imagination. His career spans from early Disney animation to modern CGI features, with each project reflecting his deep roots in classic animation and storytelling.