EDITORS NOTE: At the request of Warner Bros. Animation, we've purposely avoided discussing Batman: Year One. However, I will be discussing this movie with Sam and others at a later date.
Sam Liu is the unequivocal spearhead of the next wave of great animation directors following in the footsteps of Bruce Timm. Chances are you've seen his work. But what you may not know is that you've probably seen it long before his days as one of the leading animation directors of the current era. With his work on such films as Hulk Vs., Planet Hulk, All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Sam has achieved somewhat of a celebrity status amongst the fans and followers of the industry. But before Sam was an Emmy winning director, he was a storyboard artist and before that a video game designer and a comic book artist. In the first installment of a three-part series, we'll look at Sam's early days in the industry and follow his path to becoming the great director he is today. Read on and listen as CBM profiles Sam Liu.
2011 Batman: Year One (video) (co-director) (completed)
2011 Thor: Tales of Asgard (video)
2011 All-Star Superman (video)
2010 Young Justice (TV series)
– Independence Day: Part 2 (2010)
2010 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (video) (co-director)
2010 Planet Hulk (video)
2009 Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (video)
2009 Hulk Vs. (video) (segment "Hulk vs Thor")
2005 The Batman vs Dracula: The Animated Movie (video) (sequence director)
2004-2005 The Batman (TV series)
2001 Max Steel (TV series)
2001 Heavy Gear: The Animated Series (TV series)
1999-2000 Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles (TV series)
1998-1999 Godzilla: The Series (TV series)
1997 Extreme Ghostbusters (TV series)
Storyboard Artist
2010 Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (video) (storyboard artist)
2010 Batman: Under the Red Hood (video) (storyboard artist)
2009 Green Lantern: First Flight (video) (storyboard artist)
2009 Wonder Woman (video) (storyboard artist)
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV series) (storyboard artist - 1 episode)
– Return of the Fearsome Fangs! (2009) (storyboard artist)
2007 Superman/Doomsday (video) (storyboard artist)
2007 Doctor Strange (video) (storyboard artist)
2007 The Invincible Iron Man (video) (storyboard artist)
2006-2007 The Batman (TV series) (storyboard artist - 4 episodes)
2003-2004 Teen Titans (TV series) (storyboard artist - 2 episodes)
– How Long Is Forever? (2004) (storyboard artist)
– Sisters (2003) (storyboard artist)
2002 Masters of the Universe vs. the Snake Men (TV series) (storyboard artist - 1 episode)
1998 Godzilla: The Series (TV series) (storyboard artist - 1 episode)
1997 Extreme Ghostbusters (TV series) (storyboard artist - 2 episodes)
Sam Liu Part 1
-Discusses how he got his start in comics
-4:55_The difference between a comicbook artist and a storyboard artist
-7:07_His early work on Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles
-10:20_Discusses his work in the video game industry
Sam Liu Part 2
-Continues discussing his work in the video game industry
-2:22_Touches on his work on Teen Titans [to satisfy my Nightwing fandom]
-5:02_Discusses "The Batman"
-10:15_His assessment of Marvel and DC animation
Second Installment
Sam Liu Part 3
-Continues discussing Marvel and DC animation
-0:22_The preparation and source material research for animated movies
-1:55_Why he continues to work as both a storyboard artist and director
-6:58_On his close-knit group of directors and artists
-8:35_On Lauren Montgomery
Sam Liu Part 4
-Continues discussing his generation's influence on animation
-2:20_On Bruce Timm and whether we will see the DC Animated Universe continue
-4:35_On whether he thinks the animated movies would be great live-action
-5:40_On whether he thinks the market is over saturated with comic book movies
Third Installment
Sam Liu Part 5
-Continues sharing how he views other comic book movies
-0:15_On the summer comic book movies of 2011
-1:08_On whether we'll see him direct more episodes of Young Justice
-1:20_On
Green Lantern: The Animated Series
-4:40_On the hopes of a big screen adaption of superheroes by Marvel/Disney(Pixar)
-5:39_Reveals he's currently story boarding the adaption of
The Dark Knight Returns
-6:08_We close things out with a round of "Rapid Fire"
That wraps things up folks! I have to extend a heartfelt thanks to Sam for fitting me into his busy schedule and answering my questions. He's truly one of the good guys and I hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I did.
And this won't be the last we'll here from Sam as I'll be interviewing him and a few others about
Batman: Year One at a later date.
Sam got his start at Image comics working on Cybrid.
Sam won an Emmy for his work on The Batman.
Sam frrequently collaborates with Lauren Montgomery on projects.
Sam also frequently works with Bruce Timm and will be directing the upcoming Green Lantern animated series.
Sam Liu is an American animation director and storyboard artist. He is best know for his directing on animated superhero films at both Marvel Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. Titles include All-Star Superman, Superman/Batman:Public Enemies, Hulk Vs, Planet Hulk, Thor: Son of Asgard and co-directing with Lauren Montgomery on Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and Batman:Year One.
After studying at Art Center College of Design as an Illustration major, Sam went into comic books drawing for Image Comics. He then moved to animation, directing on Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles and Godzilla: The Series for Sony Animation. He later went to Sony Computer Entertainment of America to design characters for PlayStation then came back to animation, winning an Emmy for his work on The Batman (TV series) in 2006.
Sam has since worked on many animated movies for Marvel Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation and is currently directing on the upcoming Green Lantern animated series with Bruce Timm.
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