Chris Sonnenburg
2025-2026 Animator in Residence
Watkins College of Art
Biography
Chris Sonnenburg is an Emmy Award-winning Producer, Writer, Director, and Animator best known for creating, developing, pitching, and producing three full seasons of the critically acclaimed and fan-favorite Disney's Tangled: The Series. The series garnered 12 Emmy nominations and 4 wins. He is also the Owner & Chief Creative Director of EMBERSCOPE STUDIOS.
Chris teaches in Belmont's Animation & Media Arts program, sharing insights from his career in animation, exploring the craft of long-form storytelling, the role of emotional truth in character development, and the collaborative process behind animated productions. Drawing on both television and feature-film experience, Sonnenburg offers a behind-the-scenes look at creativity and leadership in the animation industry.