The Visual Effects Society has named Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri as the recipient of the 2019 VES Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor will be presented at the VES Awards next month in Los Angeles.
Selected by the VES Board of Directors, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes significant and lasting contributions to the art and science of the visual effects industry by way of vision, artistry, invention, and innovation. In bestowing the honor to Meledandri, the Visual Effects Society wanted to acknowledge his “unique ability to bring animation into the lives of audiences worldwide and create unforgettable characters that have become part of the pop culture zeitgeist.”
The group adds that “Meledandri’s leadership and creative approach to storytelling have built one of the most pre-eminent brands in family entertainment, by developing humor-based comedic films that strike the balance between subversive and emotionally engaging, and appeal to all ages and on a global scale.”
