
Born: Ruben Azama Aquin
Birthday: December 18, 1953
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Alma mater: University of Pennsylvania
Occupation: Animator
Years active: 1975–present
Ruben began as a as a graphic artist in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1975 to 1979. His first job in animation was as a trainee for Farmhouse Films. Aquino moved to Los Angeles in 1980, working for Hanna-Barbera in visual development, character design, and layout duties, but was laid off after a year.
Not long after, Aquino earned a place in Walt Disney Feature Animation’s clean-up training program. Upon completion, he animated a 30-second test of Fflewddur Fflam in “The Black Cauldron,” resulting in his promotion to animating assistant.
Ruben worked at Disney until 2013 on such characters as Maurice in “Beauty and the Beast,” the adult Simba for “The Lion King,” Chief Powhatan in “Pocahontas,” both Li Shang and Fa Li in “Mulan,” Pleakly and David Kawena in “Lilo & Stitch,” Denahi in “Brother Bear,” Mildred and Mr. Willerstein for “Meet the Robinsons,” and Eudora and James in “The Princess and the Frog.”
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