Tim McCanlies (born 1953) is a film director and screenwriter. He has attracted attention for his work writing and directing Secondhand Lions, and wrote the screenplays for The Iron Giant and Dennis the Menace Strikes Again.McCanlies attended high school in Bryan, Texas and took some college level courses at nearby Texas A&M University. In 1971, he moved to Austin and enrolled at the University of Texas majoring in Radio-Television-Film. After a couple of years, McCanlies transferred back to Texas A & M. In 1975, he moved to Dallas where he worked as a police officer and took graduate film classes at Southern Methodist University.McCanlies worked for Walt Disney Studios in the 1980s since The Fox and the Hound as a story artist and wrote for all the major motion picture studios at one time or another. McCanlies made his directorial debut in his own independently produced feature Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 (1998).
McCanlies pitched a series called Gotham which would have chronicled the rise of a young Bruce Wayne with Clark Kent as a recurring character. McCanlies' concept was turned into the series Smallville, and as of 2006 McCanlies continues to receive royalties for each episode produced.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Smallville
2001-2011
TV Series concept - 195 episodes
The 2 Bobs
2009
writer
Secondhand Lions
2003
written by
The Iron Giant
1999
screenplay by
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
1998
Video screenplay / story
Dancer, Texas Pop. 81
1998
written by
North Shore
1987
screenplay
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Angels Sing
2013
Alabama Moon
2009
The 2 Bobs
2009
Secondhand Lions
2003
Dancer, Texas Pop. 81
1998
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Scalps
1983
associate producer
North Shore
1987
associate producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
On Story
2012
TV Series
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
'Secondhand Lions': One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
Haley Joel Osment: An Actor Comes of Age
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
On the Set with 'Secondhand Lions'
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2003
Texas Filmmaker Award
Deep Ellum Film Festival
2000
BAFTA Children's Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Feature Film
The Iron Giant (1999)
1999
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
$17 Million
