Profile of Director Christopher Jenkins
Christopher Jenkins takes on the role of director for the upcoming animated film Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives. Born in 1961, Jenkins has had a long career working with Disney, contributing to the creation of many iconic works recognized by audiences worldwide.
Before becoming a prominent director in the animation industry, Christopher Jenkins started his career in lower positions, consistently working hard for many years. He joined the entertainment industry, particularly in animation, with his initial notable contribution being Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988. This film later won four prestigious Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Jenkins’s talent was recognized by Disney, where he played a significant role in the creation of numerous blockbuster classics such as The Princess and the Frog, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules. After nearly a decade in the industry, Jenkins was promoted to a supervisory role in animation, beginning to gain fame with projects like Tarzan and Hercules.
However, Christopher Jenkins did not want his career to be solely defined by directing; he aimed to create a vision for his characters. In 2002, he left Disney and moved to Sony, starting a new journey. By 2007, after two decades in the field, Jenkins officially transitioned into directing and production, resulting in his directorial debut with Surf’s Up. The film received positive reviews from critics and even won the award for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
Jenkins continued to work at Sony until 2011, when he moved on. This was quite surprising, as he had been offered the opportunity to direct Hotel Transylvania but ultimately lost that chance. However, by 2011, Christopher Jenkins found his “new home” at DreamWorks Animation, taking on roles in production and direction. He executed several successful animated films, including Duck Duck Goose, which garnered over 10 million views on Netflix within a month of its release.
Return with Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives: A Humorous Take on Cats
Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives is the latest animated project directed by Christopher Jenkins.
Sharing his inspiration for the film, Jenkins revealed that it stemmed from his love for pets, particularly cats. “Initially, my affection for animals, especially cats, inspired me to create an animated film centered around an adorable cat that transforms into various other animals. The humorous situations that arise during this transformation process led me to develop the original concept for Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives, but with a deeper theme – the bond between pet owners and their animals, which is the main message I want to convey,” he explained.
Jenkins also mentioned that he feels a strong connection to the experiences of a cat confronting its own identity while navigating through the lives of other animals as quite humorous. He hopes that through Beckett’s journey, viewers will find themselves inspired by the idea of hoping for beautiful things in life. “The question posed in Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives is essentially about how to live life to the fullest if given a second chance. The journey that Beckett goes through allows us to see that once we have lived and loved with all our hearts, living for just one moment can be enough,” Jenkins shared.
Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives not only marks Christopher Jenkins’s return as a director in the field of animation but also features a talented cast including Mo Gilligan (the British comedian known for his stand-up comedy) voicing the character of Beckett the cat.
Princess Simone Ashley, known for her role in The Princess and the Frog, voices the character of Rose. Additionally, the film features a special appearance by Zayn Malik, the former One Direction member, which has excited fans.
The film Fluffy Cat with 10 Lives is set to premiere on April 26, 2024.
