Q·Interview

Chris Williams is one of the most successful Canadians in film — but you've probably never heard of him

Director Chris Williams (Lilo and Stitch, Big Hero 6, Bolt) shares his thoughts on turning your passion into your career, the challenges of animation, and what inspired his Oscar-nominated film The Sea Beast.

The celebrated director has worked on films like Bolt and Lilo and Stitch. Now, he's up for his third Oscar.

A man makes peace signs with his fingers.
Chris Williams arrives for the premiere of The Sea Beast at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California on July 9, 2022. (Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images)

From celebrated Disney movies like Big Hero 6 to his latest project with Netflix, Chris Williams just might be the director behind one of your favourite animated films.

His love for animation was sparked as a little kid in Kitchener Ontario, drawing in his bedroom. Now, he's up for his third Academy Award for Best Animated Picture.

His film is called The Sea Beast and as he tells Tom Power, it took a big personal move to see this dream project come to life.

You can hear their full conversation from today's episode available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.