Well-known Pixar animator reportedly charged with child molestation

Disney and Pixar’s animated films are some of the most endearing and enduring family films ever made. For many children, these are often the first films they see because they know they are suitable for everyone. Unfortunately, not all of the people behind their creations are so healthy. Now it has come to light that a frequent Disney and Pixar animator has been accused of sexual abuse in France.

According to France’s Le Figaro (via Cartoon Brew), animator Bolhem Bouchiba is accused of ordering the rape of hundreds of young girls in the Philippines via live streaming. This is apparently an unfortunately big problem in the island state. Bouchiba had been on Europol’s radar since 2019 (the animator still lives in France) when the organization noticed suspicious activities related to the transfer of money to the Philippines. The money was spent on livestreams in which the animator was apparently able to raise awareness about the sexual abuse of children between the ages of three and 15. It is believed that the number of livestreams carried out is in the hundreds and the number of victims could reach up to 1,000.

Bolhem Bouchiba may not be a familiar name to most Disney or Pixar fans, as since the days of Walt Disney, animators have often worked behind the scenes without much fanfare. However, he had already worked for both studios since 1990. His skills have made him a key animator and story artist on numerous projects over the past 30 years. He was one of the main character animators for Hades in Hercules and Disney Tarzan. He started working with Pixar The Incredibles He most recently worked as a story artist on Pixar’s hit Sleeper Elementary. It does not appear that he is currently working on any upcoming Pixar films or other animated projects. His name appears as an Easter egg in Ratatouille.

Bouchiba also worked on animated films that had nothing to do with Disney. He was a story artist How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Worldto which the “Forbidden Friendship” sequence is attributed. He was also an animator of the Oscar-winning animated short film Dear basketball written by the late Kobe Bryant. By all accounts, Bouchiba was a sought-after animator.