(MENAFN- The Peninsula) 'In Conversation' session of Roger Allers, writer-director of Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, with fellow animator Mohammed Saeed Harib at the Closing Night gala at Ajyal Youth Film Festival, offered insights into the career of one of the world's most admired animators whose passion for the art goes back to when he was four.
Allers said Disney's Peter Pan influenced him so much that he had always wanted to be a 'Disney animator.'
However, he went through setbacks, including an early rejection by the art school and the first three of his feature film which were never screened.
His advice to animators was "to follow your passion, talk to people to learn more, find opportunities and never to give up. It always helps to know what everyone does in the studio," said Allers. "So find time to talk to others to learn what they do."
Allers, who started his career working with a studio doing the entire breadth of animation work, got the first break with The Lion King he co-directed. The Academy Award-nominated animator (The Little Matchgirl) said he had been influenced by The Prophet he had read as a student.
He said the book finds resonance in people across the world, and he was "very excited" with the opportunity to create the film, co-funded by Doha Film Institute.
"The film is not just my vision; it is the vision of all directors."
Allers said his task, entrusted by producer Salma Hayek-Pinault, was to create a "narrative that binds the poems," adding that The Prophet is different from other animated films as it presents philosophical observations on life.
Philosophical takes, however, have not been new to him. Allers said The Lion King connected to audiences because "it explores deep themes € the loss, finding that connection within, dealing within and finding one's place in the world. It is about finding one's way to live responsibly for the community."
On his experience of working on The Prophet and the evolution of the industry, Harib said it was a great time for animators and filmmakers to be in the Middle East, the testament being collaboration of talent on the film that has gained world-wide acclaim.
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