FILMMAKERS IN FRANKLIN: “Bringing Hollywood to Historic Franklin” – a new Film Event Series presents: Disney’s POCAHONTAS screening, Q n’ A, and Meet & Greet, with Disney Animators: John Pomeroy, Tom Bancroft, and Chris Sonnenberg.
Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:00am. Produced and hosted by actress Leah Allers.
About the Filmmakers:
John Pomeroy is an American animator, producer, writer, and painter. Starting in 1973 at Walt Disney Studios, he animated WINNIE THE POOH AND TIGGER TOO (1974), THE RESCUERS (1977), PETE’S DRAGON (1977), THE SMALL ONE (1978), and THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981). In 1979, Pomeroy co-founded Don Bluth Productions, with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, and went on to animate and produce THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982), as well as the hit video game, DRAGON’S LAIR (1983), among many others. After teaming up with Steven Spielberg, Pomeroy went on to animate and produce AN AMERICAN TAIL (1986) and THE LAND BEFORE TIME (1988). He also animated and produced ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN (1989), TROLL IN CENTRAL PARK (1994), and THUMBELINA (1994), among others.
Pomeroy returned to Disney, in 1992, to design and supervise the animation of “Captain John Smith”, in POCAHONTAS (1995). He was also Lead Animator on FANTASIA 2000 (1999), ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001), and TREASURE PLANET (2002). Other credits include, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991), CURIOUS GEORGE (2006), THE SIMPSON’S MOVIE (2007), KUNG FU PANDA (2008), TINKERBELL series (2008), SOFIA THE FIRST (2012), FANCY NANCY (2018), ELENA OF AVALOR (2016), and SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY (2021).
Pomeroy has been a member of the board of directors for Christian outreach WOW International, since 2003, and continues to use art and animation, as his basis for Christian outreach. The two most profound projects for his artistic ministry have been in working with Whitestone Media, to animate the children's bible series THEO, and his current work for Focus on The Family's, ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY.
Pomeroy currently lives with his wife, Cami, and three children in Brentwood, TN, and teaches Animation at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tom Bancroft has over 35 years of experience in the animation industry, first with Walt Disney Feature Animation animating on such Disney classics as BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991), THE LION KING (1994), ALADDIN (1992), POCAHONTAS (1995), TARZAN (1999), and BROTHER BEAR (2003). He also created the character of “Mushu” the dragon, in Disney’s MULAN (1998).
Bancroft then worked with Big Idea Productions as a Supervising Director/Co-creator for the VeggieTales DVD series, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF LARRYBOY! (2002). As an independent filmmaker, Bancroft helped create the relaunch of the SUPERBOOK series (2011-2021), as co-director and character designer. He is author of the popular character design instruction books, “Creating Characters with Personality”, and “Character Mentor”, as well as creator of “MerMay”, a worldwide drawing event created in 2016.
Bancroft is CEO of the first-ever crowd invested animation company, Pencilish Animation Studios, and half of the popular “The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast” with his twin brother Tony Bancroft. In 2023, the documentary he produced, PENCILS VS PIXELS released on Amazon Prime. Bancroft is currently co-director of the 2D animated feature film, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, that will release worldwide in September of 2025, and he is currently in development for his own 2D animation feature film.
Bancroft lives with his family in Nashville, Tennessee, and is the artist-in-residence for the undergraduate animation program in Lipscomb’s College of Entertainment & the Arts, a program he developed for the University.
Chris Sonnenburg is an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, director, and animator, with over three decades of experience in the animation industry. Best known as the creator and executive producer, of TANGLED: THE SERIES (2017-2020), for Disney Television Animation.
Sonnenburg has played key creative roles on beloved animated features including HERCULES (1997), TARZAN (1999), THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE (2000), and the animated sequences in ENCHANTED (2007), but his career began at Disney Feature Animation in 1994, on today’s featured film, POCAHONTAS (1991). His expertise spans hand-drawn animation, story development and boarding, visual storytelling, and series show-running, with a proven track record of crafting emotionally resonant, family-focused content that connects with global audiences.
Sonnenburg is currently based in Brentwood, TN, where he founded EMBERSCOPE STUDIOS to develop original animated projects that reflect timeless values through adventurous storytelling.
About the host:
Leah Allers grew up in the world of film and animation- literally taking her first steps in an animation studio. She developed a passion for storytelling from her filmmaker father, Roger Allers (director of THE LION KING). After studying art, animation and filmmaking in college, and working in production for several years at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Leah pivoted to a performing arts career.
Leah went on to star as “Amneris” in national and international tours of Disney’s Broadway musical AIDA, and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Dorothy Chandler, and Carnegie Hall. TV credits include DAYS of OUR LIVES, CRIMINAL MINDS, ONCE UPON A TIME. Her Voice-Over work includes the animated movie, THE PROPHET, with Liam Neeson, dubbing on numerous Netflix series, audiobook narration for Harper Collins, commercials, promos, and video games.
Leah lives in Downtown Franklin, Tennessee, and spends her time working as a Voice Over artist, and private Singing coach. She is currently directing a documentary about her father and the many unsung artists of Disney Feature Animation in the 1980’s and 90’s.
"Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia."
*Please be aware the Franklin Theatre does not show previews. Movies will begin at the posted time.