Editing Steve Purcell

{{Short description|American cartoonist and video game designer}}
{{For|the director|Steve Purcell (director)}}
{{confuse|Steven Purcell}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Steve Purcell
| image              = Steve Purcell GDC 08.jpg
| caption            = Purcell at the 2008 [[Game Developers Conference]] in San Francisco
| birth_name         = Steven Ross Purcell
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1961|07|30}}
| occupation         = Cartoonist, animator, game designer, voice actor, director, writer
| years_active       = 1984–present
| alma_mater         = [[California College of the Arts|California College of Arts and Crafts]]
| employer           = {{Unbulleted list|[[LucasArts]] (1988–1997)|[[Nelvana]] (1997–2000)|[[Pixar Animation Studios]] (2000–2023)<ref name=layoffs/>}}
| notable_works      = [[Sam & Max]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Collette Michaud|1993}}
| children           = 2
| website            = {{Official website|http://spudvisionblog.blogspot.com/|name=Personal blog}}
}}

'''Steven Ross Purcell'''<ref name="S&MUK interview">{{cite web|url=http://samandmax.co.uk/2010/04/interview-with-steve-purcell/|title=Interview with Steve Purcell|author=Staff|publisher=Sam & Max.co.uk|date=2010-04-29|access-date=2010-04-29}}</ref> (born July 30, 1961)<ref>{{cite web |title=Personal Facebook page |url=https://www.facebook.com/steve.purcell.77/posts/pfbid0pgvpSukMENGdvZ1722L8Vpz9jZrpGaewjxk9cgKEyUu2UxdXuLKww6tTmgWFJbtvl |website=Facebook |access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref> is an American cartoonist, animator, game designer, and voice actor. He is the creator of the media franchise ''[[Sam & Max]]'' and received an [[Eisner Award]] in 2007 for working on the show. The series has expanded to an animated television series and several video games.

A graduate of the [[California College of the Arts|California College of Arts and Craft]] in [[San Francisco]], Purcell began his career creating comic strips for the college newsletter. He performed freelance work for [[Marvel Comics]] and Fishwrap Productions before publishing his first ''Sam & Max'' comic in 1987. He was hired by [[LucasArts]] as an artist and animator in 1988 and worked on several [[LucasArts adventure games]], including the first two ''[[Monkey Island]]'' games,  ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' and ''[[Sam & Max Hit the Road]].''

Purcell collaborated with [[Nelvana]] to create a ''Sam & Max'' television series in 1997, and briefly worked as an animator for [[Industrial Light & Magic]] after leaving LucasArts. At [[Pixar]], he co-wrote and co-directed the 2012 film ''[[Brave (2012 film)|Brave]]'' and developed a miniseries for the ''[[Cars (franchise)|Cars]]'' franchise, ''[[Cars on the Road]]''.

==Career==

===Early career===
Purcell began creating comic books while an undergraduate at the [[California College of the Arts]] in 1980; he produced comic strips for the weekly newsletter. The strips featured Sam and Max, an anthropomorphic dog and rabbit duo who work as vigilantes and private investigators. Purcell drew the first strip the night before the deadline. After graduating in 1982,<ref name="alumnotecca">{{cite web | url= http://www.cca.edu/alumni/profiles/hundred | title= 100+ Alumni of Note | publisher= [[California College of the Arts]] | access-date= 2011-05-31 | quote= Steve Purcell ('82): cartoonist and creator of Sam & Max. | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110814042012/http://www.cca.edu/alumni/profiles/hundred | archive-date= 2011-08-14 }}</ref> he became involved in freelance illustration working briefly for [[Marvel Comics]], [[Chaosium]], and on Steven Moncuse's ''[[Fish Police]]'' series. Moncuse approached Purcell about the possibility of another comic book series to accompany his well-performing ''Fish Police'' series in 1987.<ref name="Telltale 1b">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history1b/ |title=The Early Years (part 2) |work=The History of Sam & Max |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |date=2007-06-12 |access-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105051631/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history1b/ |archive-date=2008-01-05 }}</ref> Purcell agreed, and wrote his first feature-length comic using the characters of Sam and Max. The 32-page comic was published by Fishwrap Productions in 1987.<ref name="ACG">{{cite web |url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/304/|title=Steve Purcell – Interview| work=Adventure Classic Gaming|first1=Erik-André Vik|last1=Mamen|first2=Philip |last2=Jong |date=2008-01-01|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> The comic contained two ''Sam & Max'' stories: "Monkeys Violating the Heavenly Temple", a name which Purcell found on a [[firework]] and thought was appropriate; and "Night of the Gilded Heron-Shark". Purcell published another story in a 1987 issue of ''[[Critters (comics)|Critters]]'' titled "Night of the Cringing Wildebeest". The three stories established the basics for Purcell's future work with the characters.<ref name="Telltale 1b"/>

===LucasArts===
Purcell was hired by [[LucasArts]], then known as Lucasfilm Games, as an animator in 1988 but was [[Layoff|laid off]] when the project he was working on was canceled.<ref name="Telltale 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history2/|title=The Golden Era|work=The History of Sam & Max|publisher=[[Telltale Games]]|date=2007-06-26|access-date=2009-02-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221055751/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history2|archive-date=2009-02-21}}</ref> He was rehired to produce art for [[Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders|''Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders'']], a [[graphic adventure game]] .<ref name="World of MI">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofmi.com/features/interview/purcell.php|title=Interviews: Steve Purcell|work=The World of Monkey Island|publisher=LF Network, LLC|date=2006-04-11|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2015-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506114957/http://www.worldofmi.com/features/interview/purcell.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later he was commissioned to create the cover artwork for ''[[Maniac Mansion]]'' and the first two ''[[Monkey Island (series)|Monkey Island]]'' games and researched [[whip]]s for the adventure game version of ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]''. He worked with animation in several LucasArts adventure games, published three more ''Sam & Max'' comic books during that time, and created short comic strips for LucasArts' quarterly newsletter, ''The Adventurer''.<ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/playing-catch-up-steve-purcell|title=Playing Catch-Up: Steve Purcell|website=[[Gamasutra]]|first=Frank|last=Cifaldi|author2=Carless, Simon | date= 2005-07-25 |access-date= 2009-02-10}}</ref> The characters eventually became training materials for LucasArts programmers working with [[SCUMM]], the core [[game engine]] used by LucasArts adventure games. 

Purcell created versions of Sam and Max in their office for new programmers to work on under [[Ron Gilbert]], practicing their craft.<ref name="Telltale 2" /> References to the characters were occasionally made in unrelated LucasArts adventure games as a clandestine appearance in backgrounds. Purcell wrote the six-issue comic book series ''[[Defenders of Dynatron City]]'' for Marvel Comics in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/site/gamedb.php?gameid=64|title=Defenders of Dynatron City|work=The International House of Mojo| publisher= LF Network, LLC|date=2004-09-12|access-date=2009-02-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070819192142/http://mixnmojo.com/php/site/gamedb.php?gameid=64 |archive-date = August 19, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Sam & Max Freelance Police Special.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A 1988 issue of ''Sam & Max'', published by [[Comico: The Comic Company|Comico]]; Purcell has been surprised at the cult status the characters acquired<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Note the rat on the car's grille, a common theme in Purcell's work.

|alt=A anthropomorphic dog in a suit and fedora drives a police DeSoto through a cityscape, while an anthropomorphic rabbit climbs out the window. An array of dead insects and a rat have been collected on the car's grille. The title "Sam & Max" is displayed prominently, with "Freelance Police Special" below.]]

After a positive reception to the ''Sam & Max'' strips in ''The Adventurer'' and wanting to expand into other franchises following ''Maniac Mansion'' and ''Monkey Island'', LucasArts offered to create a graphic adventure game based on the characters in 1992.<ref name="retro review">{{cite journal|title =''Sam & Max Hit the Road''| journal=[[gamesTM|gamesTM Retro]]|volume=1|pages= 128–129|location=United Kingdom|publisher=Highbury Entertainment}}</ref> ''[[Sam & Max Hit the Road]]'' was conceived and developed by a small team headed by Purcell, [[Sean Clark]], [[Michael Stemmle]] and Collette Michaud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6023|title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Steve|last=Honeywell|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210112034/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6023|url-status=dead}}</ref> Purcell decided to base the game on one of his earlier ''Sam & Max'' stories, the 1988 story "On The Road".<ref name="Telltale 2" /> In 1995, Purcell combined all published ''Sam & Max'' printed media into a 154-page paperback compilation titled ''Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway''.<ref name="Telltale 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history3/|title=Sam & Max Hit it Big|work=The History of Sam & Max|publisher=[[Telltale Games]]|date=2007-07-10|access-date=2009-02-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123003511/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history3/|archive-date=2013-01-23}}</ref> After producing the cover art for ''[[Herc's Adventures]]'' and [[concept art]] for ''[[The Curse of Monkey Island]]'', Purcell left LucasArts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1864|title=''Herc's Adventures'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Jonathan|last=Sutyak|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210140326/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1864|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/curse-of-monkey-island/credits|title=Game Credits for ''The Curse of Monkey Island''|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref>

===Later work===
Purcell joined with story editor Dan Smith from [[Television in Canada|Canadian]] studio [[Nelvana]] to create an animated television series of ''Sam & Max'' in 1996. The result was the 1997 series ''[[The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police]]'', broadcast on [[Fox Kids]] in the United States, [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]] in Canada and [[Channel 4]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. Purcell wrote the jokes for each installment of the 24-episode series, and wrote the scripts for four episodes. Although violence and profanity common in the ''Sam & Max'' franchise had been toned down due to the target audience of children, Purcell was content that the characters maintained their moral ambiguity. Some groups of parents in the United States attempted to have the series pulled from networks due to content issues; Purcell was pleased that they "had managed to ruffle some feathers along the way".<ref name="Telltale 3"/> Two ''Sam & Max'' comic strips appeared in Fox's ''Totally Fox Kids Magazine'' in 1998 to accompany the series; other ''Sam & Max'' strips appeared in ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' and ''[[Oni Press|Oni Double Feature]]''. During the development of the television series in 1997, Purcell co-authored and illustrated the ''[[Hellboy Christmas Special]]'' with [[Mike Mignola]] and [[Gary Gianni]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/97-666/Hellboy-Christmas-Special|title=Hellboy Christmas Special profile|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> After the conclusion of the ''Sam & Max'' animated series, Purcell was briefly employed by [[Industrial Light & Magic]] to work on digital effects for a film version of ''[[Frankenstein]]''. Despite his work, the project was canceled; Purcell believes that some of the development work morphed into ILM's contributions to ''[[Van Helsing (film)|Van Helsing]]''.<ref name="World of MI"/> While at ILM, he was involved in a project to create an animated film based on ''Monkey Island'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scummbar.com/index.php?newssniffer=readcomment&news=808|title=''Monkey Island'' movie art?|work=SCUMM Bar|publisher=LF Network, LLC|date=2005-01-09|access-date=2010-01-21}}</ref> while the project did not reach fruition, Purcell began posting concept art he had produced for the film on his personal blog several years later.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Tales from Monkey Island|year=2009|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|issue=70|first=Ashley|last=Day|page=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofmi.com/comments.php?type=news&id=1255&action=read|title=Steve Purcell artwork|work=The World of Monkey Island|publisher=LF Network, LLC|date=2007-06-07|access-date=2010-01-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506125629/http://www.worldofmi.com/comments.php?type=news&id=1255&action=read|archive-date=2015-05-06}}</ref>

===Pixar and Telltale Games===
After a brief stint at ILM, Purcell moved to [[Pixar]].<ref name="Gamasutra"/> Although he worked at Pixar, Purcell acted as an advisor in the development of ''[[Sam & Max: Freelance Police]]'', a sequel to ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' which began development in 2002 under LucasArts. Purcell provided [[Michael Stemmle]]'s development team with concept art and assisted in the creation of the game's plot.<ref name="Telltale 4">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history4b |title=After Darkness Comes Light |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |work=The History of Sam & Max |date=2007-07-24 |access-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231125906/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history4b |archive-date=2007-12-31 }}</ref> Despite its smoothly proceeding development, LucasArts abruptly canceled the project in March 2004. Purcell was unable to understand why development halted; he described himself as "frustrated and disappointed" at the decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=463|title=Steve Purcell comments on ''Sam & Max 2''{{'}}s cancellation|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|first=Jake|last=Rodkin|date=2004-03-05|access-date=2008-12-22}}</ref>

In 2005, LucasArts' license with Purcell which gave them the right to produce games based on the ''Sam & Max'' franchise expired. That allowed Purcell to take the franchise to [[Telltale Games]] in [[San Rafael, California]], a new company formed by members of Stemmle's development team. A new [[Episodic video game|episodic]] series of ''Sam & Max'' games, ''[[Sam & Max Save the World]]'', was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sammaxep1/news.html?sid=6133326&mode=all|title=''Sam & Max'' resurrected|website=[[GameSpot]]|first=Brendan|last=Sinclair|date=2005-11-15|access-date=2008-12-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717221302/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sammaxep1/news.html?sid=6133326&mode=all|archive-date=2012-07-17}}</ref> Purcell's work on the new game series encompassed design and writing, as well as the design of the game's cover art; despite his work, Purcell described it as "minimal" due to the effectiveness of the team.<ref name="Joystiq">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/06/joystiq-interviews-sam-and-max-creator-steve-purcell/|title=Joystiq interviews Sam & Max creator, Steve Purcell|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=Ludwig|last=Kietzmann|date=2007-03-06|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> At the same time, he began a ''Sam & Max'' [[webcomic]] hosted on the Telltale Games website. The webcomic ran for twelve issues, and it earned him an [[Eisner Award]] for "Best Digital Comic" when the comic finished its run in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml |title=2007 Eisner Awards Shine Spotlight on Comic Industry's Best |publisher=[[Comic-Con International]] |access-date=2008-12-04 |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626060301/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml |archive-date=June 26, 2010 }}</ref> Purcell assisted with design and writing when ''[[Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space]]'' began development in 2007. Through Telltale Games, he released two [[sketchbook]]s of his ''Sam & Max'' work and a 20th anniversary edition of ''Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/36538/Sam-Max-Comic-Book-Series-to-be-Re-issued|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404104206/http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/36538/Sam-Max-Comic-Book-Series-to-be-Re-issued|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2008|title=''Sam & Max'' Comic Book Series to be Re-issued|first=Gary|last=McLean|publisher=[[IGN]]|work=Voodoo Extreme|date=2008-02-08|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> He later painted the cover art for Telltale's ''[[Tales of Monkey Island]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174530|title=Telltale Announces ''Tales of Monkey Island'' Pre-Order Bonus|website=[[1UP.com]]|date=2009-06-02|first=Kat|last=Bailey|access-date=2009-06-02}}</ref>

[[File:Mater-Banshee.JPG|thumb|right|Purcell's work at Pixar has included character design, such as the "Screamin' Banshee" from the short ''[[Mater and the Ghostlight]]''.|alt=An anthropomorphic monster truck with a large exractor bucket and bulldozer blade glares maliciously at a quivering, rusty tow truck.]]

At Pixar's story development department, Purcell contributed screenplay material and voice work for the 2006 film ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'', and designed the character of the Screamin' Banshee in the short ''[[Mater and the Ghostlight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/work/290414|title=''Cars'' Overview|publisher=[[Allmovie]]|first=Jason|last=Buchanan|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=Crystal, Billy; Goodman, John|date=2004 |title=Pixar Short Films Collection – Volume 1 |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Pixar]] |location=United States}}</ref> Providing scripts and voice work for three games based on ''Cars'', Purcell became involved with [[THQ|THQ's]] video game adaptations of Pixar films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49405|title=''Cars'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Gracie|last=Leach|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210202233/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49405|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49345|title=''Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Gracie|last=Leach|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2010-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213004426/http://allgame.com/game.php?id=49345|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/ps3/disneypixar-cars-mater-national-championship/credits|title=Game Credits for Disney/Pixar ''Cars: Mater-National Championship''|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> Purcell was credited for involvement with Pixar's 2007 film ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808490293/cast|title=''Ratatouille'' (2007) – Cast and Credits|publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=2008-02-11}}</ref> he provided the voice for the character of Carl in ''[[George & A.J.]]''—a 2009 short based on the film ''[[Up (2009 film)|Up]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pixartalk.com/2009/11/11/george-aj/|title=iTunes Version of ''Up'' Includes Exclusive Short: ''George and A.J.''!|publisher=Pixar Talk|first=Greg|last=Mariotti|date=2009-11-11|access-date=2010-01-21|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222134/http://www.pixartalk.com/2009/11/george-aj/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Purcell was key for Pixar's 2012 film ''[[Brave (2012 film)|Brave]]'', co-directing the film alongside [[Brenda Chapman]] and [[Mark Andrews (filmmaker)|Mark Andrews]] in addition to providing work for the screenplay; ''Brave'' constituted Purcell's biggest role in a Pixar project to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pixartimes.com/2012/05/04/sam-max-creator-steve-purcell-co-directing-brave/|title=''Sam & Max'' Creator Steve Purcell Credited As Co-Director Of ''Brave''|publisher=Pixaar Times|first=Samad|last=Rizvi|date=2012-05-04|access-date=2012-06-30|archive-date=2016-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001344/http://pixartimes.com/2012/05/04/sam-max-creator-steve-purcell-co-directing-brave/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014, Purcell wrote and directed the Pixar [[Christmas]] special ''[[Toy Story That Time Forgot]]'' which aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] on December 2, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/-galyn-susman-talks-about-pixars-first-ever-christmas-special_b_6258438.html|title=Galyn Susman Talks About Pixar's First Ever Christmas Special, "Toy Story That Time Forgot"|publisher=huffingtonpost.com|first=Jim|last=Hill|date=2014-12-02|access-date=2014-12-04}}</ref> Purcell was not considering the possibility of Pixar adapting ''Sam & Max'' into a film, as the characters' moral ambiguity is inconsistent with traditional Pixar stories.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ashley|last=Day|title=Tales from ''Monkey Island''|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=70|year=2009|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|page=32}}</ref> In 2023, Purcell was among 75 Pixar employees laid off by [[The Walt Disney Company]] as part of an ongoing company-wide restructuring.<ref name=layoffs>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Drew|date=July 5, 2023|title=Inside Pixar's Existential Crisis and How It Can Bounce Back After Disney+ Stole Its Mojo|url=https://www.thewrap.com/pixar-existential-crisis-elemental-lightyear/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=[[TheWrap]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Purcell grew up in California and lives there. He has a younger brother, David. In a 2000 interview, Purcell said that he had been drawing all his life, and that he still has drawings he made when he was three years old.<ref name="SM interview">{{cite web|url=http://samandmax.net/index.php?section=historyfaq&page=interview1&id=1 |archive-date=2004-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040822191151/http://samandmax.net/index.php?section=historyfaq&page=interview1&id=1 |title=Interview! |work=Sam & Max: The Unofficial Website |first=Jake |last=Rodkin |author2=Grubaugh, Sebastian |year=2000 |access-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Noting that his line of creative work depends entirely on things one learns, Purcell describes himself as an "average" student at school, but wishing that he had tried harder at some classes.<ref name="SM interview"/> After studying film-making courses at junior college, Purcell enrolled in the California College of the Arts to read fine art; he received a bachelor's degree in fine arts there. He befriended [[Mike Mignola]] and later [[Art Adams]] while at the college.<ref name="Telltale 1b"/> Citing the [[Marx Brothers]], [[Peter Sellers]], and [[Monty Python]] as among his interests, he says that he is inspired by "creative people who have made their seemingly most self-indulgent artistic whims into a career".<ref name="SM interview"/> During the development of ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' in 1993, Purcell married fellow lead designer Collette Michaud.<ref name="Telltale 2"/> They have two sons.<ref name="ACG"/>

The characters of Sam and Max were created in Purcell's youth; his brother Dave originally came up with several comics around the idea of a dog and rabbit detective duo. Dave would often leave unfinished comics around the house. Deliberately making the characters mix up each other's names, shoot at each other and mock the way in which they had been drawn, Steve, in a case of [[sibling rivalry]], would sometimes finish the stories in parodies of their original form. That developed from Steve mocking his brother to the creation of his own stories with the characters. 

In the late 1970s, Dave Purcell gave Steve the rights to the characters; he signed them over in a contract on Steve's birthday and allowed him to develop the characters in his own way.<ref name="Telltale 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history1 |title=The Early Years (part 1) |work=The History of Sam & Max |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |date=2007-06-12 |access-date=2008-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103224931/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history1 |archive-date=2008-01-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=Purcell, Steve |date=2008-03-11|title=A COMIC-CONversation With Steve Purcell!!! |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Shout! Factory]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/11/interview-sam-m/|title=Interview: ''Sam & Max'' Creators On How Games Wag The Dog (And Rabbit) |magazine=[[Wired News]]|first=Chris|last=Kohler|date=2007-11-21|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> Purcell believes that his younger brother has recovered and forgiven him from their earlier years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.kpbs.org/index.php/comic-con/comments/sam_max_creator_steve_purcell/|title=''Sam & Max'' Creator Steve Purcell|publisher=[[KPBS (TV)|KPBS]]|first=Andy|last=Trimlett|date=2008-07-26|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802173810/http://blogs.kpbs.org/index.php/comic-con/comments/sam_max_creator_steve_purcell/|archive-date=2008-08-02 }}</ref> Having kept one as a pet in his youth, Purcell has an interest in [[fancy rat|rats]], which are commonly featured in his artistic work.<ref name="Telltale 1b" />

==Credited works==

===Films===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Story Artist
! Other
! Voice
! Notes
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Tractors
| Additional Screenplay Material
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| Pixar Productions
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Brave (2012 film)|Brave]]''
| {{Partial|Co-Director}}
| {{Yes|Screenplay}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| The Crow
| Song Lyricist: "Song of Mor'du"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Coco (2017 film)|Coco]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| rowspan=6 | Pixar Senior Creative Team
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Incredibles 2]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Toy Story 4]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| The Dummies
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2022
| ''[[Turning Red]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Lightyear (film)|Lightyear]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Elemental (2023 film)|Elemental]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Inside Out 2]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Deep Dark Secret
|
|}

====Shorts====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Story Artist
! Other
! Voice
! Notes
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Mater and the Ghostlight]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Screamin' Banshee<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raffe|first1=Jon|title=Hitting the road with Steve Purcell|url=http://www.thunderchunky.co.uk/articles/hitting-the-road-with-steve-purcell/|publisher=Thunder Chunky|access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref>
| Additional Character Designer
|-
| 2009
| ''[[George and A.J.]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Carl
|
|-
| 2009-10
| ''[[Cars Toons|Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Additional Voices
| Episodes 5-9
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Legend of Mor'du]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| The Crow
|
|-
| 2013-14
| ''[[Cars Toons|Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Additional Voices/Sandy Dunes
| Episodes 3-4
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Borrowed Time (film)|Borrowed Time]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Additional Voices
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Cars on the Road]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Randy/Wraith Rod
| [[Disney+]] Original short films; directed Episodes 1, 2, and 8; Pixar Senior Creative Team
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Other
! Voice
! Notes
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| Production crew
|-
| 1997-98
| ''[[The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| Writing and design
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Toy Story That Time Forgot]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| The Cleric
| TV special
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Win or Lose (TV series)|Win or Lose]]''
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| Pixar Senior Creative Team (Episode 8: "Home")
|}

===Bibliography===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Amazing High Adventure]]'' (1984) – cover artwork
* [[Different Worlds|''Different Worlds'' #33, #35, #36 and #37]] (1984) – cover artwork
* [[New Mutants|''New Mutants'' #43]] (1986) – [[penciller|pencils]]
* [[Fish Police|''Fish Police'' #6]] (1987) – pencils
* ''Fish Police'' #7 (1987) –  pencils, [[Inker|inks]] and [[Letterer|letters]]
* ''Fish Police'' #9 (1987) – pencils and inks
* [[Alpha Flight (comic book)|''Alpha Flight'' #47]] (1987) – pencils
* [[Sam & Max#Comic books|''Sam & Max: Freelance Police'' special edition]] (1987)
* [[Critters (comics)|''Critters'' #19]]: ''Sam & Max'' in "Night of the Cringing Wildebeest" (1987)
* ''[[Tournament of Dreams]]'' (1987) – cover artwork
* ''[[RuneQuest]]'' (1987–88) – cover artwork
* ''[[Gumby|Gumby's Winter Fun Special]]'' (1988) – writing
* [[GrimJack|''GrimJack'' #52]]: ''Sam & Max'' in "Fair Wind to Java" (1988)
* ''Sam & Max: Freelance Police'' special (1989)
* ''Critters'' #50: ''Sam & Max'' in "The Damned Don't Dance" (1990)
* [[Marvel Comics Presents|''Marvel Comics Presents'' #41]]: "[[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]]" (1990) – pencils and inks
* ''Sam & Max: Freelance Police'': "Bad Day on the Moon" (1992)
* ''Sam & Max: Freelance Police'' special color edition (1992)
* ''Fast Forward'' #3 (1992) – pencils, inks and [[Colorist|color]]
* ''[[Defenders of Dynatron City]]'' (1992)
* ''The Collected Sam & Max: Surfin' The Highway'' (1995)
* [[Dark Horse Presents|''Dark Horse Presents'' #107]]: "Rusty Razorclam, President of Neptune" (1996) – writing
* ''[[Hellboy Christmas Special]]'' (1997) – writing, pencils, ink and color
* ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'': ''Sam & Max'' in "Belly of the Beast" (1997)
* [[Oni Press|''Oni Double Feature'' #10]]: ''Sam & Max'' in "Skeptical Investigators" (1998)
* [[Fox Kids|''Totally Fox Kids Magazine'' #10]]: ''Sam & Max'' in "Something's Not Right Here" (1998)
* ''Totally Fox Kids Magazine'' #31: ''Sam & Max'' in "Action Figure Surgery" (1998)
* ''[[Secret Files & Origins|Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1]]'': "If A Man Be Clay!" (2005)
* ''Sam & Max: The Big Sleep'' (2005–2007)
* ''The Age of S&M'' (2006)
* ''The Effigy Mound'' (2007)
* ''Sam & Max: Surfin' The Highway'' anniversary edition (2008)
* ''Brave: One Perfect Day'' (2012)
{{div col end}}

===Video games===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Developer
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Maniac Mansion]]'' || rowspan=2 | Artwork || rowspan=3 | [[Lucasfilm Games]]
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders]]'' 
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1989 || ''[[Their Finest Hour (1989 video game)|Their Finest Hour]]'' || [[Game tester|Testing]] 
|-
| ''[[Pipe Mania (video game)|Pipe Dream]]'' || Artwork || The Assembly Line
|-
| ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure]]'' || Animation, artwork and [[whip]] research || rowspan=3 | Lucasfilm Games
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1990 || ''[[Loom (video game)|Loom]]'' || Animation, graphics and artwork
|-
| ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island]]'' || Graphics and artwork
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1991 || ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]'' || Animation, graphics and artwork || LucasArts
|-
| ''[[ToeJam & Earl]]'' || Original concept art character Designs || [[Johnson Voorsanger Productions]]
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1993 || ''[[Zombies Ate My Neighbors]]'' || Artwork || LucasArts
|-
| ''[[ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron]]'' || Original concept art Character Designs || Johnson Voorsanger Productions
|-
| ''[[Sam & Max Hit the Road]]'' || Design, graphics and artwork || LucasArts
|-
| 1994 || ''[[The Horde (video game)|The Horde]]'' || rowspan=4 | Artwork || [[Toys For Bob]]
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion]]'' || LucasArts
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1997 || ''[[Herc's Adventures]]'' || LucasArts<br>Big Ape Productions
|-
| ''[[The Curse of Monkey Island]]'' || LucasArts
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2006 || ''[[Cars (video game)|Cars]]'' || rowspan=3 | Writing and additional voices || ''Various''
|-
| ''[[Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures]]'' || AWE Games
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Cars Mater-National Championship]]'' || ''Various''
|-
| 2006–2007 || ''[[Sam & Max Save the World]]'' || rowspan=2 | Writing and design || rowspan=4 | [[Telltale Games]]
|-
| 2007–2008 || ''[[Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space]]''
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Tales of Monkey Island]]'' || rowspan=2 | Artwork
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse]]''
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual]]'' || Writing, design and the voice of Duncan Dills || HappyGiant
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons-inline|Steve Purcell}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline|Steve Purcell}}
*{{Moby developer|1368}}
*{{IMDb name|0700760}}

{{Sam & Max}}
{{LucasArts adventure games}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Purcell, Steve}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:American animated film directors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American video game designers]]
[[Category:American webcomic creators]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Animators from California]]
[[Category:California College of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lucasfilm people]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Pixar people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from California]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]