Jean Ann Wright has been an animation consultant since the late 90s.  In 1996 she began teaching writing and development.  She has pitched animation projects around Hollywood herself.  Her teaching resume includes Women In Animation, Learning Tree University, The Animation Academy, DH Institute of Media Arts, and Screenwriting Expo 2.  She’ll be conducting a class at this year’s Screenwriting Expo in fall 2005.  She regularly judges for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, ASIFA-Hollywood (animation awards), Writers Guild of America west (animation writing awards), and the State Thespian Conference (high school drama awards).  Her book, Animation Writing and Development, was published by Focal Press in February 2005.

Jean first began her professional career in the entertainment industry as an actress and dancer when she was in the fourth grade.  She majored in acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and art at Cal State Northridge.  Her animation career began as a trainee at Hanna-Barbera in 1978, working for eight years as an assistant animator on shows like The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, and The Smurfs.  As a trainee she learned writing and development, storyboard, layout, character design, and animation from the Hanna-Barbera staff.  She’s sold her writing to DIC Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera, and Filmation.  Jean has judged various categories of animation for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, ASIFA-Hollywood, and The WGA west Animation Awards. She’s also a member of Women In Animation, and Women In Film.  She recently received the “Women Creating Women” award from Women in Animation.