Brad Bird

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Lore & Background

Bird's involvement with Mission: Impossible came after he had already established himself as a master of animated storytelling. He wrote and directed The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007), both of which earned him Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and nominations for Best Original Screenplay. Before that, he directed the acclaimed but box-office bomb The Iron Giant (1999). Bird has a reputation for supervising his projects to a high degree of detail, a trait he brought to Ghost Protocol. The film was his first live-action feature, and it was similarly successful, proving his ability to handle large-scale action sequences while maintaining character focus. Bird advocates for creative freedom and the possibilities of animation, and has criticized its stereotype as children's entertainment or classification as a genre rather than an art.

In Their Own Story

For Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Bird took the reins of a franchise known for its death-defying stunts and intricate plots. The film followed Ethan Hunt and his team as they were disavowed and forced to operate without resources or backup. Bird's background in animation, where he supervised every detail, translated into meticulously planned action sequences, including the now-iconic climb of the Burj Khalifa. The film was a box office success, cementing Bird's ability to work outside animation. He had previously co-written Batteries Not Included (1987) and developed episodes of Amazing Stories for Steven Spielberg, but Ghost Protocol marked his first major live-action directorial effort. Bird's approach emphasized practical stunts and clear storytelling, drawing on his years of experience in film development with various studios.

Reader's Guide

Brad Bird directed Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), his first live-action film after a career in animation. The film was a success, both critically and commercially, and demonstrated Bird's versatility as a filmmaker. He had previously worked with Pixar on The Incredibles and Ratatouille, both of which won Academy Awards. Bird's reputation for high-detail supervision was evident in the film's elaborate set pieces, such as the sandstorm chase and the Burj Khalifa climb. The film's production involved extensive location shooting and practical effects, reflecting Bird's commitment to immersive filmmaking. After Ghost Protocol, Bird directed Disney's Tomorrowland (2015) before returning to Pixar for Incredibles 2 (2018), which became the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time during its theatrical run.

Did You Know?

• Brad Bird was born on September 24, 1957, in Kalispell, Montana.
• He completed his first short subject, a fifteen-minute adaptation of The Tortoise and the Hare, by age 14 and sent it to Walt Disney Productions, leading to an unofficial apprenticeship with the Nine Old Men.
• Bird co-wrote the screenplay for Batteries Not Included (1987), which was a box office hit generating $65.1 million on a $25 million budget.
• He used the classroom number A113 from his time at CalArts as an Easter egg in his films, first appearing in the pilot episode of Family Dog (1987).
• Bird was fired from Disney after only two years due to his volatile attitude and criticism of senior leadership.