Talks

The Wild Robot

Celebrated Production Designer Raymond Zibach served as that capacity on the critically acclaimed  DreamWorks Animation film The Wild Robot for writer/director Chris Sanders. Previously, Zibach was the production designer on The Boss Baby: Family Business and was a visual consultant for the first installment, The Boss Baby.  Zibach also served as production designer on three short films: To: Gerard, Marooned, and Bird Karma. His work on To: Gerard earned him an Annie Award nomination from ASIFA-Hollywood. 

Prior to The Wild Robot, Zibach is perhaps best known for his work as production designer on the first three Kung Fu Panda films. With the release of the latest installment, Kung Fu Panda 4, the franchise has grossed more than $2 billion at the global box-office.  Zibach’s work on the Academy Award® nominated film Kung Fu Panda 2 earned him an Annie Award from ASIFA-Hollywood for Outstanding Production Design in a Feature Film. Over the course of his career, Zibach has been nominated for five additional Annie Awards, as well as a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Movie for his work on Kung Fu Panda 2.

Zibach joined DreamWorks Animation in 1996 and worked on The Road to El Dorado where he supervised the background painting department and managed the department’s transition from traditional hand painting to hybrid digital painting. His work earned him a promotion to art director of the film.  Zibach’s credits include Megamind (visual development artist), Bee Movie (visual development), and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (production designer).

Zibach began his animation career in episodic television, working as a key background painter on a variety of animated series, including Alvin & the Chipmunks, Darkwing Duck, Bonkers, Marsupilami, Schnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Ren & Stimpy Show and The Twisted Adventures of Felix the Cat, as well as the TV short Star Wars: Clone Wars.  

Segueing into feature film, Zibach first worked as a background artist for the animated feature Rover Dangerfield. He then worked as a background artist on Aladdin and the King of Thieves and Space Jam. 

Zibach is a graduate of the prestigious Otis College of Art and Design. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science and ASIFA-Hollywood.