John Kahrs, the former Pixar/Disney animator and director who won a Best Animated Short Film Oscar for Paperman in 2013, has joined Not To Scale’s newly opened Los Angeles office for exclusive commercial representation.
Kahrs has focused on animation for his entire professional career, beginning at Blue Sky Studios in New York in 1990. Kahrs moved to California in 1997 to join Pixar, where he worked as an animator on films including A Bug’s Life, The Incredibles and Monsters, Inc. In 2007 Kahrs relocated to Southern California and became part of the revitalization of Disney Feature Animation. At Disney he transitioned to a leadership role, working as animation director on Tangled. Kahrs went on to direct Paperman, using a ground-breaking hybrid technique that merged the best of 2D and 3D animation. The short went on to win the studio its first Best Animated Short Film Academy Award since 1969.
Kahrs’ talent for creating emotional, multi-layered and beautifully realized stories shines through in Paperman. The CG/hand-drawn animation hybrid tells the story of a young man working in New York whose life changes after a chance encounter with a beautiful girl on the train.
Most recently, Kahrs completed an animated film for the ride-share company Lyft. Titled June, the seven-minute short follows the story of a lonely, elderly widow in Chicago whose Lyft ride inspires her to become a rideshare driver and ultimately transforms her life. With over 7.5 million views on YouTube, Kahrs’ film demonstrates an ingenious use of color, light and shadow in a dynamic geometric world, again combining 2D and CG, with original, captivating character design and a moving soundtrack that draws you into June’s world.
Not To Scale is introducing Kahrs to the commercial industry, looking to bring his expertise to original and engaging branded content.
“I’ve always admired great commercials,” said Kahrs. “They are marvels of efficient storytelling and expert craftsmanship. To be honest, they are a huge inspiration for so much of my work, which is why I’m excited to be a part of Not To Scale and their new creative team here in Los Angeles. I think it’s a great fit. I’m eager to collaborate and create something special with this talented group of people.”
Dan O’Rourke, founder/EP at Not To Scale, said Kahrs “has that rare ability to create beguiling, heart-warming films and stories that continue to reward the audience long after viewing.”
Category: News