I just devoured all of his [Buster Keaton’s] films because his sense of comic timing was amazing. He’s the closest a human being has ever come to a cartoon character. And I was just amazed at his sense of character and timing, the humor. It's all just so…sophisticated, even when you watch it today.

If you can think about it, you can create it.

I believe in research you cannot do enough research; believability comes out of what's real.

Slice open one of my veins and cartoons will pour out; open another vein and you'll get a flood of motor oil.

I think the painted backgrounds in animations are absolutely stunningly beautiful. There's something really special about this medium. I don't believe audiences have grown past it. I think what audiences love is to be entertained-thoroughly, deeply entertained, and that's what I've always set out to do.

I'm the biggest fan of animation. I love the history of animation, I know it well.

Directing is one of my favourite things to do because I love telling stories and I love working with the individual artists and it's something that I really missed.