Barry Kooser
A Disney background artist who painted the lush, emotional landscapes for classics from 'The Lion King' to 'Lilo & Stitch'.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American artist·Birthday: December 23·Generation X
Biography
Barry Kooser's hand is present in some of the most visually arresting moments of the Disney Renaissance. Joining Walt Disney Feature Animation in the early 1990s, he wasn't an animator of characters, but a painter of worlds. As a background artist, he translated the emotional tone of a story into color, light, and texture. His work helped define the majestic African savannas of 'The Lion King,' the autumnal Virginia woods of 'Pocahontas,' and the imperial palette of ancient China in 'Mulan.' His role expanded to background supervisor on 'Brother Bear,' where he guided the artistic vision for the film's transformative northern landscapes. After leaving Disney, he pivoted to creating and selling fine art, and later brought his deep industry knowledge to teaching animation and storyboarding, shaping the next generation of visual storytellers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Barry was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Barry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a background artist on major Disney films including 'The Lion King,' 'Pocahontas,' 'Mulan,' and 'Lilo & Stitch.'
- Worked as the background supervisor for the animated feature 'Brother Bear.'
- Exhibited and sold his original fine art paintings in galleries across the United States.
- Taught animation and storyboarding at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design.
Did You Know?
He worked at Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios from 1992 to 2003.
He became a partner at the Colorado-based animation studio Worker Studio after meeting its founder while teaching.
His artistic style is influenced by traditional painting techniques applied to digital animation.
“The background is the first thing the audience feels, before they even know the story.”
