Philip A. Cruden

Philip began his working career as a chef but in his 20's decided to follow his dream of working in the Animation industry so he attended Algonquin College and earned a Degree in Classical Animation. He worked in the Television Animation Industry on such hits as The Simpson's, Beavis and Butthead and The Pink Panther to name a few. Phil then moved to Germany for six months to work for Hahn Film Directing 26 episodes of the cult classic Urmel. Wanting to pursue a career in Feature Film, Philip moved to Phoenix to work with famed Producers/Directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman on 20th Century Fox's classic Feature Animated Film Anastasia as the Design Supervisor. Phil then worked as the Production Designer on Titan A. E. for which he earned a 2000 ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Nomination for "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature". He then went on to become the Head of Visual Development for 20th Century Fox's Animation Division working on such hits as Ice Age and several other unnamed feature films. After leaving 20th Century Fox Phil went to work as the Art Director on Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights. He then moved to California to work with Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Award winning Writer/Producer/Director/Actor Steve Oedekerk on his feature Animated Movie Barnyard: The Original Party Animals. After 5 years in California Philip moved back to Arizona and opened his own design studio, Go For Launch Productions to provide Production Design and Art Direct services on animated TV shows, feature movies and games. Phil and his team of designers have worked on two TV shows for Omation Studios and Nickelodeon, including Planet Sheen and the Emmy Award winning Back At The Barnyard for which Go For Launch Productions earned special recognition from The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for their contributions to Back At The Barnyard chosen "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" 2008-2009 Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards. The team at Go For Launch Productions has also worked on designs for several video games and direct to video movies and the as yet to be released feature Bunyan and Babe for Exodus Film Group. Most recently Go For Launch Productions worked on the soon to be released Feature Film HOP for Universal Studios creating the designs for the CG environments. To date Phil is credited with working on 8 Feature Animated Films, 3 Direct to Video Feature Films and 314 animated TV episodes.