Kelly Younger

Media

Publications (9) Photos (4)

Publications:

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Biography

Kelly Younger is a screenwriter, TV writer, playwright, story consultant, and Emmy- nominated producer. He is the writer of the Amazon feature film CANDY CANE LANE, starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, directed by... Reginald Hudlin, and produced by Imagine Entertainment, which premiered in December 2023 and quickly became the biggest Amazon MGM Studios-produced title of all time domestically. He is also writing and developing several projects for The Muppets Studio, having already co-created and co-executive produced MUPPETS NOW, and written and co-executive produced MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION (4 Emmy nominations with 1 win, and winner of the 2022 PGA Award for Outstanding Children's Programming) both of which are streaming on Disney+ to much acclaim. Younger served as a member of the Disney Animation Story Trust, working on such films as RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (story credit), FROZEN 2, MOANA, and RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON. Additionally, he consulted on the live-action TINKERBELL (Reese Witherspoon, p.) and the live-action ALADDIN (Guy Ritchie, d.), and participated in the Pixar Animation Brain Trust on CARS 3, INCREDIBLES 2, TOY STORY 4, COCO, and ONWARD.

Younger is currently co-writing a feature film for Skydance Animation for directors Rich Moore (ZOOTOPIA) and Jim Reardon (WALL-E). Younger has developed at Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney Studios, Paramount Animation, Warner Animation Group, Dreamworks Animation, Disney Originals, and consulted at Skydance Animation and on both SHREK 5 and PUSS IN BOOTS 2 at Illumination. He frequently gives invited studio talks on fairy tales and story structure.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Younger earned an MA in Classics (Mythology, Folktales, and Fairy Tales) at Loyola University Chicago and a PhD in Literature and Drama Studies from University College Dublin in Ireland. He is currently a tenured professor in the Departments of English and Theater at Loyola Marymount University where he leads writing workshops and teaches seminars in fairy tales.

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Education (3)

University College Dublin - National University of Ireland: Ph.D., Drama Studies

University College Dublin - National University of Ireland: M.A., Drama Studies

Loyola University, Chicago: M.A., Classical Studies

Social

Areas of Expertise (15)

Muppets

Play Writing

Drama

Theatre

Fairy Tales

Irish Drama

Modern Drama

Contemporary Drama

Screenwriting

Entertainment Industry

Animation

Writing for Animation

Disney/PIXAR

Television Writing

Producing

Industry Expertise (3)

Writing and Editing

Animation

Entertainment

Accomplishments (5)

Fritz B. Burns Distinguished Teaching Award (professional)

Awarded by Loyola Marymount University, 2011

Teacher Eddy Award (professional)

Awarded by LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce

State of California Senate Teaching Recognition (professional)

Awarded by State of California

California Legislation Assembly Teaching Recognition (professional)

Awarded by California Legislature Assembly

County of Los Angeles Commendation for Teaching (professional)

Awarded by County of Los Angeles

Affiliations (6)

• Dramatists Guild of America
• Comparative Drama Conference: Board Member
• Pacific Residents Theatre: Associate Member
• Writers Guild of America
• Comparative Drama Conference: Board Member
• Pacific Residents Theatre: Associate Member

Links (5)

• LMU Library: Alumni Authors
• Center for Teaching Excellence
• ACTI Faculty Fellow
• Professor of the Year speech (4:35-19:09)
• www.kellyyounger.com

Languages (2)

• Classical Greek
• Classical Latin

Courses (21)

Fairy Tales

FFYS 1000

Introduction to Drama

ENGL 2209

Language of Drama

ENGL 2200

Creative Writing for Non-Majors

ENGL 2205

Play Writing Workshop: One Acts

ENGL 4413

Play Writing Workshop: Full Lengths

ENGL 4424

Modern Drama

ENGL 3316

Contemporary Drama

ENGL 3326

RoadRead

ENGL 3373

Chekhov

ENGL 3398

Theatre & War

ENGL 3398

Performance & Media

ENGL 3398

Irish Drama

ENGL 3398

Art of War: Stage & Screen

ENGL 3398

Art of Monologue

ENGL 3398

Fairy Tales

ENGL 3398

Comparative Drama

ENGL 5580

Drama, Theory, Criticism

ENGL 5598

Classical Literature in Translation

ENGL 5598

Critical Methodology

ENGL 6600

Genre Seminar: Drama

ENGL 6602

Articles (2)

Not What, But How

Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education

Younger, Kelly (2010) "Not What, But How," Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education: Vol. 38, Article 10.

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Honors, Inc.

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council

Younger, Kelly, "Honors, Inc." (2004). Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council --Online Archive. Paper 140.

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