Steve Martino

Stephen Michael Martino is an American designer and film director. He is best known for directing the Blue Sky Studios films Dr, Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and The Peanuts Movie (2015).

Early life Martino went to Ohio State University, where he studied design. After graduation, he heard computer animation pioneer Chuck Csuri speak. "I was absolutely blown away. No one was doing what he was showing us. I hadn't seen images like that anywhere before," Martino said. He returned to the university and earned in 1989 a master's degree,

In February 2018, it was reported that Martino and Karen Disher would direct the animated fantasy musical, under the working title Foster, for Blue Sky Studios. The film was originally scheduled for release on March 5, 2021. However, following Disney's acquisition of Fox, it was pulled from the release schedule. The production studio was closed in 2021.

In November 2023, WildBrain Studios announced that Martino will direct an animated Peanuts film for Apple TV+.

Filmography

Director Film Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008) Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) The Peanuts Movie (2015) Snoopy Unleashed (2027)

Short film Scrat's Continental Crack-up (2010) Scrat's Continental Crack-up - Part 2 (2011)

Art director

Film Robots (2005)

Short Films Gone Nutty (2002)

Television World of Discovery (1990) (Main titles designer)

Other roles Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) (Pre-Production Consultant) Spies in Disguise (2019) (Senior Creative Team) Nimona (2023) (Special Thanks)

Critical reception Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Horton Hears a Who! (2008) 76% 71% Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) 37% 49% The Peanuts Movie (2015) 87% 67%

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1991 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences World of DiscoveryShared with Jeff Doud, Jon Townley and Thomas Barham 2006 Annie Award Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production RobotsShared with William Joyce 2016 Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production The Peanuts Movie African-American Film Critics Association Best Animated Feature Golden Globe Awards Best Animated Feature Seattle Film Critics Award Best Animated Feature