Steve Loter
Birth nameSteven Loter
Birth placeBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
OccupationAnimator, storyboard artist, producer, director
Years active1993–present

Steven Loter is an American animator, storyboard artist, director, and producer. His work includes several well-known Disney projects, such as Kim Possible, Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, and the development of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

Early life and education

Loter was born and raised in New York City and moved to Los Angeles.[1][2]

As a child, he used to watch Looney Tunes shorts and "a very poorly subtitled" bootleg of My Neighbor Totoro, which he credited as inspirations for his work on animation.[2] He also cited Lilo & Stitch as a personal inspiration.[3]

Career

Loter's earliest works were as a character designer for Disney Consumer Products and at Jim Henson Productions.[2][4] He started his work as a director directing episodes of The Ren & Stimpy Show, where he learned from the team about helming an animated production.[5] He later worked as a director and producer on Kim Possible starting on season 2, as well as on Brandy & Mr. Whiskers and American Dragon: Jake Long. Loter also directed the Happy Monster Band, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, and Disney's The Legend of Tarzan series, as well as episodes of Duckman and Stressed Eric.[6][5] In 2001, he was hired as an additional director for Kevin Smith's Clerks The Animated Series. Loter was hired due to fellow directors Chris Bailey and Nick Fillipi being too busy with their episodes to focus on episodes 4 and 6, which he ended up directing. Loter applied his experience on Ren & Stimpy and Duckman for his work on the show.[7]

In 2008, he directed a music video for the song "Hidden in the Sand", for the indie rock band Tally Hall.[8] He was also an animation director for The Penguins of Madagascar, which won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2012 for Outstanding Animated Program.[9]

Loter announced he was directing the feature film Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast from DisneyToon Studios, at the D23 Expo on August 9, 2013. The film is from the Tinker Bell film series and is executive produced by John Lasseter. It was released direct-to-video on March 3, 2015.[10] Loter, who was approached by Lasseter to pitch a Tinker Bell film, drew inspiration for the film's story on his daughter's love for animals and his own experiences as a father.[6] He worked with the production teams for Secret of the Wings and The Pirate Fairy to ensure continuity within the films.[6]

From 2021 to 2024, Loter worked as an executive-producer on The Ghost and Molly McGee, having joined the series due to long time collaborators Bill Roth and Bob Motz serving as showrunners.[11] Loter also served as showrunner[12] and an executive producer on Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, based on the comic book characters of the same name, which aired from to 2025. Loter was contacted by Laurence Fishburne to serve as an executive-producer on the series due to his work on Kim Possible. Having been a fan of Marvel comics since childhood and excited at the idea of working with Fishburne, Loter accepted.[13][14][15] Loter and the team pitched the series to Disney with a roller-skating sequence featuring Childish Gambino's "Sweatpants", which was approved by Disney. He approached musician Raphael Saadiq to compose the score and provide songs for the series, being a fan of his; the two were previously set to collaborate on the cancelled Cars spin-off film Metro.

Personal life

Loter is married, and has a daughter and a son.[6]

Loter is a fan of anime, particularly Cowboy Bebop,[16] and often references it in his animation work, something he described as "one of the things [he's] known for".[7] He is a fan of Marvel Comics, and noted some Inhumans to be among his favorite characters.[15]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmCredited as
DirectorProducerWriterNotes
2002Tarzan & JaneDirect-to-video film
2003Kim Possible: A Sitch in TimeTelevision film
2005Kim Possible: So the Drama
2015Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverbeastDirect-to-video film

Television

YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorProducerStoryboard artistAnimation
department
1993–1995The Ren & Stimpy Show(1 episode)Layout supervisor
1994–1997DuckmanRetake supervisor (episode: "Das Dub")
1994–1995The Baby Huey Show
1998–2000Stressed Eric
1998–2004Rocket PowerUnaired pilot only
2000–2002Clerks: The Animated Series
2001–2002Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
2001–2003The Legend of Tarzan
2002–2007Kim Possible
2006Brandy & Mr. Whiskers
2006–2007American Dragon: Jake Long
2008–2015The Penguins of Madagascar
2021–2024The Ghost and Molly McGee
2023–2025Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurAlso developer and showrunner[12]

Nominations and awards

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef
200229th Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Special Class Animated ProgramThe Legend of Tarzan[17]
200532nd Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's Animated ProgramKim Possible[18]
200835th Annie AwardsBest Animated Television Production[19]
201239th Annie AwardsDirecting in a Television ProductionThe Penguins of Madagascar[20]
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in an Animated Program[21][22][23]
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Animated ProgramThe Penguins of Madagascar (episode: "The Return of the Revenge of Dr. Blowhole")[24]
2022Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Main Title and GraphicsThe Ghost and Molly McGee[25]
2023TCA AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Family ProgrammingMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaur[26]
Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Young Teen Animated Series[27][28]
Outstanding Animated Special
2024GLAAD Media AwardOutstanding Kids & Family Programming or Film – Animated[29]
2025Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Young Teen Animated Series[30]

References

  1. ^ "Rodney Clouden and Steve Loter", 2023-02-03, retrieved 2023-02-05
  2. ^ "Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur", 2023-02-15, retrieved 2023-03-31
  3. ^ Murphy, Jackson (2021-09-27). "Guests: 'The Ghost and Molly McGee' Creators Bill Motz & Bob Roth and EP Steve Loter". Lights Camera Jackson. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  4. ^ "INTERVIEW: Producers Steve Loter & Rodney Clouden Discuss Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur From Disney & Marvel". Monkeys Fighting Robots. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  5. ^ "Interview mit KIM POSSIBLE Regisseur Steve Loter: über Staffel 5, Anekdoten und mehr! | DisneyCentral.de – dein Disney Fan Portal" (in de-DE). 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  6. ^ Liu, Ed (2015-03-03). "Building a Better NeverBeast with "Tinker Bell" Director Steve Loter and Producer Michael Wigert". Anime Superhero News. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  7. ^ Roffman, Michael (2020-05-31). "An Oral History of Clerks: The Animated Series". Consequence. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  8. ^ "Disney Branded Television Press". Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  9. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2012 - Outstanding Animated Program". Emmys.com. Archived 2013-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  10. ^ "D23 Expo: New Art From the Upcoming Disney, Pixar and Disneytoon Movies". ComingSoon.net. August 9, 2013. Archived August 11, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Cap, Damon (2021-09-28). "The Ghost and Molly McGee Interview With Bill Motz, Bob Roth And Steve Loter – Exclusive". BSCkids. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  12. ^ Jackson, Destiny (2023-02-11). "'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Bosses Discuss Bringing The First Black Female Superhero Animated Series To Life: "It's Black Girl Magic"". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  13. ^ "Double Trouble". pocketmags.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  14. ^ White, Abbey (2022-10-10). "'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Team on New York-Inspired Animation Style, Diversity in Marvel Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  15. ^ "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Cast & Creators: Is It In The MCU? MCU Cameos?! AND MORE!", 6 February 2023, retrieved 2023-02-06
  16. ^ "Talking MOON GIRL and DEVIL DINOSAUR with Producers Steve Loter & Rodney Clouden", 2023-02-27, retrieved 2023-06-12
  17. ^ "The Legend of Tarzan (TV Series 2001–2003) - Awards - IMDb", retrieved 2024-01-14
  18. ^ "32nd Daytime Emmy Awards: Winners". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived 17 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  19. ^ "35th Annual Annie Awards Legacy Past Nominees & Awards". Annie Awards. Archived January 20, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Beck, Jerry (February 4, 2012). ""Rango" tops Annie Award Winners". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  21. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. May 9, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  22. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Winners for the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy® Awards". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. June 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  23. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announced the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. June 23, 2012. p. 4. Retrieved June 25, 2012.[dead link]
  24. ^ "Outstanding Animated Program". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 15, 2012. p. 9. Archived October 2, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  25. ^ Schneider, Michael (2022-11-01). "Netflix Leads Nomination Tally for First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys". Variety. Archived November 8, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  26. ^ Hailu, Selome (June 30, 2023). "TCA Award Nominations: 'The Bear,' 'Succession,' 'The Last of Us' Lead With Five Nominations Each". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "2nd Children's & Family Emmy Awards Announce Nominees". Animation Magazine. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  28. ^ Zahed, Ramin (December 8, 2023). "Exclusive: Children's and Family Emmy Winners for Individual Achievement in Animation Are Announced". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  29. ^ "35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominees | GLAAD". glaad.org. 2024-01-17. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  30. ^ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES 3rd ANNUAL CHILDREN’S & FAMILY EMMY® AWARDS WINNERS". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 15, 2025. Archived March 16, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 16, 2025.