STEVE BOX (Director/Screenwriter)

STEVE BOX (Director/Screenwriter) started his career with a small studio in Bristol called CMTB Animation. Thrown in at the deep end, he quickly mastered the skills of all aspects of animated film production. During Box’s tenure, CMTB produced over 60 short films, mainly for children’s television. One of these, “Trap Door,” is still recognized as a very influential piece of work and is regarded as a cult classic.

After six years with CMTB, Steve joined the Aardman studios. Quickly making his mark as a talented and valued animator, he was asked by Nick Park to join the team filming what became the Academy Award®-winning short “The Wrong Trousers,” starring Wallace & Gromit. It was Box who animated the dastardly Penguin, Feather McGraw. In 1995, he again collaborated with Nick Park on another Wallace & Gromit Academy Award®-winning short, “A Close Shave,” on which Box animated that beauty of the silver screen, Wendolene Ramsbottom.

In 1997, Box directed his first short film for Aardman, “Stage Fright,” which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Box’s tale of Victorian ambition and deceit went on to win a BAFTA Award for the Best Animated Short Film of 1997, in addition to many other prestigious awards. In 1999, Nick Park and Peter Lord invited Box to be an animator on Aardman’s first feature film, “Chicken Run.”

“Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” marks Box’s feature film directorial debut.