Ruben A. Aquino

Ruben A. Aquino
Born
Ruben Azama Aquino
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAnimator
Years active1975–present
EmployerWalt Disney Animation Studios (1982–2013)

Ruben Azama Aquino is an American Disney animator who formerly worked at Walt Disney Animation Studios, his work has included the several Disney characters, including Maurice in Beauty and the Beast, Simba as an Adult in The Lion King, Chief Powhatan in Pocahontas, Li Shang and Fa Li in Mulan, Pleakly and David Kawena in Lilo & Stitch, Denahi in Brother Bear, Mildred and Mr. Willerstein in Meet the Robinsons and Eudora and James in The Princess and the Frog. His style is easily recognized by his powerful figures and his extremely geometric facial movements.

Professional career

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From 1975 to 1979, Ruben worked as a graphic artist in Honolulu, Hawaii. He worked for Farmhouse Films as a trainee, which was his first job in animation.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1980, he worked for Hanna-Barbera in visual development, character design, and layout. He was laid off after a year.

Months later, he was able to enter Walt Disney Feature Animation's clean-up training program and after completing it, he worked on a 30-second animation test of Fflewddur Fflam in The Black Cauldron and submitted it to the review board. He was promoted to animating assistant and worked for Disney from 1982 until 2013.[1][2]

Filmography

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Year Title Credits Characters Notes
1981 Laverne & Shirley in the Army (TV series) Character Designer - 1 Episode End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (TV series) Character Designer - 11 Episodes End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
1985 The Black Cauldron Animator End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
1986 The Great Mouse Detective Character Animator
1987 Oilspot and Lipstick (Short) Animator
1988 Mac and Me Alien Designer End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
Oliver & Company Supervising Animator
1989 The Little Mermaid Directing Animator End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
1990 The Rescuers Down Under Supervising Animator
1991 Beauty and the Beast Supervising Animator Maurice
1994 The Lion King Supervising Animator Adult Simba End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
The Lion King (video game) Special Thanks End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
1995 Pocahontas Supervising Animator Chief Powhatan
1996 The Hunchback of Notre Dame Additional Animator
1998 Mulan Supervising Animator Li Shang and Fa Li
1999 Tarzan Additional Animator
2000 Fantasia 2000 Additional Animator
2002 Lilo & Stitch Supervising Animator Pleakly and David Kawena
2003 Brother Bear Supervising Animator Denahi
2007 Meet the Robinsons Supervising Animator Mildred and Mr. Willerstein End Credited and Known as Ruben Azama Aquino
2009 The Princess and the Frog Supervising Animator Eudora and James End Credited and Known as Ruben Azama Aquino
2011 The Ballad of Nessie (short) Animator
Winnie the Pooh Animator End Credited and Known as Ruben Azama Aquino
2013 Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart Honest & Real! (short) Animator End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
Frozen Additional Visual Development Artist
2015 Pups of Liberty: The Dog-claration of Independence (Short) Supervising Animator
2016 The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave (Video) Character Designer / Character Animator
2018 Curious George (TV Series) Additional Character Designer - 1 episode
2019 Curious George: Royal Monkey (Video) Character Designer End Credited and Known as Ruben Aquino
2023 Once Upon a Studio (Short) Animator

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Ruben Aquino - Taught By A Pro Art and Animation Instruction". Taught By A Pro. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  2. ^ "Ruben Aquino". The Animator Letters Project. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
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