Mark Risley is an American writer, animator, storyboard artist, producer and director specializing in children's television. He is best-known for his work on ''

Rugrats ''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The show focuses on a group of toddlers; most prominently— Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, and twins Phil and Lil, a ...

'', ''

The Wild Thornberrys ''The Wild Thornberrys'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, Steve Pepoon, David Silverman, and Stephen Sustarsic for Nickelodeon. The series portrays an American family of wildlife documentary ...

'', ''

The Mr. Men Show ''The Mr. Men Show'' (sometimes referred to as ''Mr. Men Little Miss'' or simply ''Mr. Men'') is an animated children's television series based on the original '' Mr. Men and Little Miss'' books created in the 1970s and 1980s by British author R ...

'', ''

Space Racers ''Space Racers'' is an American CGI STEM-focused educational animated television series featuring the cadets of the Stardust Space Academy. The show began as a web series on March 22, 2011 entitled Space Race, then debuted as a television series ...

'', and '' Yo-kai Watch''.

Career

Risley began his career as an animator on several television programs including ''

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes ''Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'' is a 1978 American parody film produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon. The screenplay was written by Dillon, Peace, and DeBel ...

'', ''

Gladiators 2000 ''Gladiators 2000'' is a children's game show and spin-off of '' American Gladiators''. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Maria Sansone (replaced by Valarie Rae Miller in Season 2). Season 5 ''American Gladiators'' grand champion Peggy Odita se ...

'' and the CBS Prime-time special ''

The Magic Paintbrush ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

''. Later he worked in the story department on the

Kids' Choice Awards The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (also known as the KCAs or Kids' Choice) is an annual American children's awards ceremony show that is produced by Nickelodeon. Usually held on a Saturday night in late March or early April, the show honors ...

winning film ''The Rugrats Movie'', then moved on to produce and direct ''

'', ''

'' (1998), ''

Rocket Power ''Rocket Power'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó, the creators of '' Rugrats''. The series aired on Nickelodeon from August 16, 1999 to July 30, 2004. Premise ''Rocket Power'' revolves aroun ...

'' (1999), and '' As Told by Ginger'' (2000–2004) for

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...

and

Klasky Csupo Klasky-Csupo, Inc. (stylized as KLaSKY CSUPO INC., doing business as Klasky Csupo, ) is an American animation studio located in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1982 by producer Arlene Klasky and Hungarian animator Gábor Csupó (he ...

. After directing selected sequences of the theatrical feature, ''

The Wild Thornberrys Movie ''The Wild Thornberrys Movie'' is a 2002 American animated adventure film based on the television series of the same name. Directed by Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath, the film follows Eliza Thornberry, on her quest to save a cheetah cub named ...

'' (2002) Risley went to

DreamWorks Animation DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios and simply known as DreamWorks) is an American animation studio that produces animated films and television programs and is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a divisio ...

where he directed ''

Father of the Pride ''Father of the Pride'' is a 2004–2005 American adult animated sitcom created by Jeffrey Katzenberg for DreamWorks Animation that was part of a short-lived trend of CGI series in prime-time network television (after '' Game Over''). The ser ...

'' for NBC television. His credits also include Nickelodeon's '' Tak & the Power of Juju'', Cartoon Network's ''

'', Disney's ''

Pixie Hollow Games ''Pixie Hollow Games'' is a 30-minute television special broadcast on November 19, 2011, on Disney Channel. Based on the '' Disney Fairies'' franchise, it was produced by DisneyToon Studios and animated by Prana Studios. It features the voices of ...

'', ''

NFL Rush Zone ''NFL Rush Zone'' is an American action-adventure animated television series. In the first season, the show centers on an 11-year-old football fan named Ish, who learns he must protect shards of a power source called "The Core", hidden at 32 NF ...

'', PBS Kids' ''

'' (which won the 2015 American Public Television award for Excellence in Broadcasting) and the anime television series '' Yo-kai Watch''. He is currently directing the film Fairest of Them All for Rokit Pictures.

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards * 2001, ''The Wild Thornberrys'', "Outstanding Children's Animated Program" * 2003, ''Rugrats'', "Outstanding Children's Animated Program" Emmy Awards * 2001, ''As Told by Ginger'', "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)" * 2002, ''As Told by Ginger'', "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)" * 2003, ''As Told by Ginger'', "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)" American Public Television Award *2014 "Space Racers", "Excellence in Broadcasting" People's Choice Awards *2005, ''Father of the Pride'', Favorite New TV Comedy Program Genesis Awards * 2000, "''The Wild Thornberrys'', "Outstanding Children's Program (animated)" Annecy Awards * 2002 ''As Told by Ginger'' episode And She Was Gone, "Outstanding Direction (For Programming Less Than One Hour)" Banff Rockie Awards * 2001 ''As Told by Ginger'' episode "Hello Stranger", "Best Animation Program"Banff Rockie Awards Nominees 2001
, ''Banff Rockie Awards'', undated. American Public Television Excellence in Broadcasting *2014, ''Space Racers'', Best New Preschool Program Cynopsis Award *2015, ''Space Racers'', Best New Animated Preschool Program

References

External links

*
The Mr. Men Show

Space Racers

Mark Risley's website
Interviews
Culture Shock interviewTribune News Service Interview
(link dead as of 2009-01-15) {{DEFAULTSORT:Risley, Mark American television writers American male television writers Living people American animators American animated film producers American animated film directors American storyboard artists Television producers from California American television directors American casting directors American voice directors Nickelodeon people Writers from San Diego Screenwriters from California Year of birth missing (living people)