Interview:  Animation Today November 2007

ATUL N. RAO - Writer, Producer, Director, Creative Executive

Atul’s expertise has been utilized in animation and live action for the international markets. As a producer, writer and creative executive Atul has worked at Fox Family Worldwide, Toonz Animation Pvt. Ltd., Marvel Studios and Warner Brothers TV Animation.

Currently Atul is completing a rewrite on a feature film, “Gaturro” for Illusion Studios, freelancing on “Doodlebops” and “Kung Fu Dino Posse” for Cookie Jar.  On the web, Atul has produced animation for various corporate and entertainment clients.  Two series debuting this year, Atul functioned in all areas of production for the series’ “Freshman Fred’s First Week” and “Historted” (animator, director, writer).  Earlier this year, Atul completed writing a Bollywood feature film, called “Twinergy” for Superstar, Amitabh Bachchan.  Atul has been freelance writing on two Marvel series, “Super Hero Squad.” (Teletoon, Cartoon Network U.S.) and as Associate Producer on “Wolverine and the X-Men” (YTV, Nicktoons) 

While holding the post of Sr. Vice President Creative Affairs of Toonz Animation India, Atul helped make a service animation company into a major co-producer involved in creative development and financing.  Atul produced (development & scripts) a new series for Marvel Enterprises, called “Wolverine & the X-Men”, which began airing September 2008 (BBC/YTV/Nicktoons).    Atul was producer/writer/director on a series of interstitials for Disney Channel Asia, “Legends of the of Fire”.  In a co-venture with DLE (Japan) Atul launched and developed a new property entitled “Space Golf”.  For the Indian market in 2007, Atul was story editor for the new mythological television series for, “Tales of Lord Shiva” (Turner Asia).   In the past year, Atul was also a writer on upcoming comedy (YTV/BBC) “League of Super Evil”.  Coming out in 2010 is the animated feature, “Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” (G7, Hyde Park Ent), in which Atul helped develop script and Storyboard.

For over 22 years, Atul N. Rao has been a writer/producer and performer for theatre, television and feature film in Toronto, Los Angeles, and India.  Starting as a staff writer at Nelvana Entertainment he wrote for animated hits such as Babar, Carebears, Beetlejuice and Tintin.  Atul wrote and produced local theatre and later joined a successful Toronto comedy troupe, “The Lost Tribe” as head writer/performer.   He spent four years as producer, writer and on-air performer for Canada’s #1 cable network YTV.  Atul gained recognition in the U.S.A. when three of his scripts won awards at the World Animation Celebration 1997.

Atul moved to Los Angeles in 1998 when Fox Family Worldwide hired him to be Co-Executive Producer of their Interstitial programming.  Atul produced and co-created four live-action hosted shows and 300 shorts for Fox Kids and Fox Family Worldwide.

After story editing the hit animated series, “Mona the Vampire” (BBC, YTV, CINAR), Atul broke new ground in the industry by co-creating the first Indian-American cartoon short called “Swaroop” which airs on Cartoon Network’s “Cartoon Cartoon” show. 

Awards for his work include New York’s Critics Choice award for best educational film, 2nd and 3rd place World Animation Celebration screenwriters award, 1st place Cartoons on the Bay Festival, Frames 2004 Special Jury Award (Hanuman pilot), and SICAF award in South Korea.  Atul received the top award for “Comedy Writing” (2004) from “Other Network” of Los Angeles, along with writing partners, The Membrains.

Atul holds a B.A. in Psychology (McMaster University), is a graduate in Media Arts (Sheridan College) and was an intern at the exclusive “Norman Jewison School for Advanced Film Studies” in Canada.  Through Algonquin College, Atul was mentored by screenwriting legend, Len Blum (Meatballs, Stripes, Beethoven, Howard Stern Private Parts) and television comedy writer/producer, Jeff Abugov (Cheers, Rosanne, Golden Girls).