Frank E. Abney III

Frank E. Abney III is a writer, director and animator that has worked at all three of the major animation studios - Disney, DreamWorks and Pixar - animating blockbuster hits and award-winning films including "Frozen," "Big Hero 6," "Kung Fu Panda 3," "The Boss Baby," "Coco," "Incredibles 2," and "Toy Story 4." He was also part of the cultural trust on Pixar's "Soul." Abney then served as Executive Producer on the 2020 Academy Award-winning short "Hair Love" with Issa Rae for Sony Pictures Animation. Most recently, Abney wrote and directed Netflix's "Canvas," which was honored with the first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Animated Short. He is currently directing a new animated feature for Netflix. Beyond his tremendous artistic talent, Abney is also a genuine leader in the animation industry as co-founder of the non-profit organization Rise Up Animation, which connects burgeoning BIPOC animators with established industry talent, fostering mentorships to empower emerging creators.