James Schlenker, a veteran background and layout artist for Disney Television and Walt Disney Feature Animation, a lead location designer for Universal Animation and Nickelodeon Studios, and an art director for Warner Bros. Animation and DreamWorks Television Animation, began his career after graduating as an illustration major from Art Center College of Design. Initially employed as a background painter at Yong Sung Productions, followed by Filmation Associates, James transitioned to layout design on the movie, The Chipmunk Adventure. He went on to Disney Television Animation as a background designer for The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Timon & Puma, 101 Dalmatians, and others. He moved to Walt Disney Feature Animation for the movies Dinosaur, Atlantis, Planes, and Planes: Fire & Rescue, as a layout artist and set designer. James has worked as designer, background supervisor, and art director on shows that include Where’s Waldo, Tom & Jerry, Dora and Friends, The Land Before Time, and Curious George, for Warner Bros Animation, Hanna Barbara, Nickelodeon, Bento Box, DIC, Universal Animation, and DreamWorks Animation. 

James has been a long time lecturer and teacher of design, background design, and production design for animation. He has taught classes and workshops for Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Publishing – Italy, Walt Disney Animation – Japan, Associates in Art, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Santa Monica College, and Laguna College of Art and Design. He is currently a Lecturer at Chapman University, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.