Poor Lewis. His parents abandoned him at an orphanage. For 12 years he has been seeking a family, but without success. Then one day he meets Wilbur Robinson, a boy who happens to be a time traveler. He takes Lewis into the future to meet the family of his dreams. But can a boy from the past become part of a family of the future?
The answer can be found in Disney's latest animated film, Meet the Robinsons, based on the children's book A Day With Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce. Lewis continues the legacy of Disney orphaned heroes: Snow White, Cinderella, Bambi, Mowgli (The Jungle Book), Penny (The Rescuers), Oliver (Oliver and Company), Lilo (Lilo & Stitch), Kenai (Brother Bear) and, of course, Aladdin and Tarzan. But Lewis' orphan status has a special real-life connection for the movie's director, Stephen J. Anderson.
"I was adopted as well," he says, "and nobody expected that, because it was a complete coincidence that they happened to give me the story. I immediately had a connection with the character, so I had to do this project."
Anderson studied animation at CalArts in Valencia, California, and over a period of 16 years has been animating, directing TV animation and storyboarding for TV and films. Twelve years ago, Anderson joined Disney in the story department for Tarzan, becoming head of story for The Emperor's New Groove and Brother Bear, which paved the way for him to helm Meet the Robinsons.
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