Kevin Lima Bio
Kevin Lima (born June 12, 1962) is an American film director, animator, character designer, and producer who has shaped modern family entertainment through a diverse body of work spanning animation and live-action cinema. Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, he studied film and animation at the California Institute of the Arts before launching his career in the animation industry during the mid-1980s. Lima rose to prominence directing animated features for Walt Disney Studios, including A Goofy Movie (1995) and Tarzan (1999), before successfully transitioning to live-action filmmaking with 102 Dalmatians (2000) and the critically acclaimed Enchanted (2007). He is married to Brenda Chapman, a celebrated storyteller and director known for her work on The Lion King and Brave. Lima has spent over three decades building a reputation for blending comedy, heart, and imaginative visual spectacle across both animation and live-action mediums.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Lima was born on June 12, 1962, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His family heritage is Portuguese, with both grandparents hailing from Portugal. Growing up in Rhode Island, Lima developed an early passion for animation and storytelling, though specific details about his childhood influences remain limited in the public record.
Lima pursued his artistic ambitions by studying film and animation at the California Institute of the Arts during the mid-1980s. His student film titled “Let’s Misbehave” demonstrated his creative potential early on, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized its significance by preserving the film in their archive in 2012. This early accomplishment suggested the trajectory of a career built on both technical skill and storytelling vision.
Path to Director
After completing his studies at CalArts, Lima began his professional animation career abroad, spending six months in Taiwan working on The Brave Little Toaster (1987). He then contributed to The Chipmunk Adventure (1987), a pivotal experience where he met Glen Keane, who had recently departed Disney following the underperformance of The Black Cauldron (1985). Keane recognized Lima’s talent and encouraged him to apply at Disney, where Lima had previously been rejected three years earlier. This time, he was hired.
At Disney, Lima rapidly advanced through various roles, working as a character animator on The Great Mouse Detective (1986) and Oliver & Company (1988). He then moved into character design for The Little Mermaid (1989), The Rescuers Down Under (1990), and Beauty and the Beast (1991). His versatility led him to serve as a storyboard artist for Aladdin (1992). Seeking to transition into feature directing, Lima departed Disney for Hyperion Pictures, where he contributed to the television series Itsys Bitsy Spider and the feature film Bebe’s Kids (1992).
Kevin Lima Career
Early Career (1985–1994)
Lima’s professional animation career began in 1985, and throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, he honed his craft across multiple Disney productions. His work as an animator and character designer on beloved classics like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast positioned him as a versatile talent within the animation industry. The years spent mastering different aspects of the filmmaking process provided him with the technical foundation and visual sensibility that would later define his directorial work.
His tenure at Hyperion Pictures offered valuable experience in television and alternative feature animation, broadening his understanding of the industry beyond Disney’s traditional model. This period of career development culminated in his first feature directing opportunity.
Breakthrough (1995–2007)
Lima directed A Goofy Movie (1995), his first feature directing credit, establishing his ability to blend humor with emotional depth in animated storytelling. The film, which follows Goofy and Max on a road trip adventure, has since achieved cult classic status among animation enthusiasts for its heartfelt narrative and memorable musical sequences.
Before the release of A Goofy Movie, Jeffrey Katzenberg approached Lima to direct Tarzan (1999). Initially hesitant due to concerns about animating the film in Canada under the Walt Disney Television Animation division, Lima declined the initial offer. Several months later, Michael Eisner personally invited him to direct the film, this time under the Feature Animation division. Lima accepted and was subsequently paired with Chris Buck as co-director. Tarzan became a landmark achievement in Disney’s Renaissance era, receiving critical acclaim for its animation, music by Phil Collins, and emotional storytelling. The film’s success solidified Lima’s position as a major directorial talent in animation.
Following Tarzan, Lima expressed interest in directing live-action films and departed Disney. He was soon offered the opportunity to direct 102 Dalmatians (2000) by Glenn Close, who had voiced Kala in Tarzan and had just lost the film’s original director. Lima embraced the transition to live-action, bringing his visual storytelling sensibilities to the sequel starring Glenn Close and Gérard Depardieu.
During this period, Lima also directed two television films starring Julie Andrews: Eloise at the Plaza (2003) and Eloise at Christmastime (2003). He served as executive producer on The Wild (2006), further expanding his involvement in animation from a production perspective.
Lima had pursued the opportunity to direct Enchanted (2007) since 2000 but faced repeated rejections due to concerns that the script was too dark and doubts about his comedic abilities. Eventually, a revised script received approval, and the film was released in 2007 to positive critical reception. Enchanted successfully merged live-action and animation elements, earning praise for its performances, particularly by Idina Menzel and James Marsden, and its clever subversion of fairy tale conventions.
Notable Works and Milestones
Kevin Lima’s filmography showcases remarkable range across genres and formats. A Goofy Movie remains a beloved animated feature with enduring fan appeal. Tarzan received Academy Award recognition for Best Original Song and became one of Disney’s most successful animated features of the late 1990s. 102 Dalmatians achieved significant box office success as a theatrical sequel. Enchanted garnered critical acclaim, multiple award nominations, and demonstrated Lima’s sophisticated ability to blend genres and appeal to audiences of all ages.
Kevin Lima Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Kevin Lima has received recognition through various award nominations. Tarzan earned Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Enchanted received recognition from the Saturn Awards and visual effects societies, among other accolades. His work has been acknowledged by industry organizations recognizing excellence in both animation and family entertainment.
Kevin Lima Family
Kevin Lima comes from a family with Portuguese heritage, with both grandparents originally from Portugal. His father is Joaquin Lima and his mother is Caroline Lillian Bourdeau. Lima has been married to Brenda Chapman since 1982. Chapman is an accomplished filmmaker who served as head of story for The Lion King (1994), co-directed The Prince of Egypt (1998), and wrote and directed Brave (2012), becoming Disney’s first female director of a solo feature film. The couple shares a deep connection rooted in their shared passion for storytelling and animation.
Personal Life
Kevin Lima and Brenda Chapman have been married since 1982, forming one of animation’s long-standing partnerships. Both have built distinguished careers in family entertainment, with Chapman notably breaking ground as a female director at Disney and Pixar. The couple has maintained residences in Los Angeles, the heart of the American film industry.
Upcoming Projects
As of 2025, Kevin Lima remains active in feature filmmaking. He is attached to direct No Flying in the House, a live-action and hybrid feature film adaptation of the children’s book of the same name, in partnership with Sony Pictures. This project continues Lima’s interest in blending live-action and animated elements that characterized his successful work on Enchanted.
Throughout his career, Lima has been attached to numerous projects that did not reach production, including Thumb, a live-action adaptation based on the Tom Thumb tale; a film adaptation of the Candy Land board game; a remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet; and Avon Man, a comedy starring Hugh Jackman. In July 2011, DreamWorks Animation announced Lima would direct Monkeys of Mumbai, a Bollywood-style animated musical inspired by the Ramayana, with music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The project underwent multiple release date changes before ultimately being cancelled following DreamWorks Animation’s acquisition by Universal Pictures. In July 2018, Lima and Chapman signed a first look deal with 20th Century Fox to develop live-action, animated, or hybrid films through their production company.