Brenda Chapman is an American writer, animation story artist, and director. In 1998, she became the first woman to direct an animated feature from a major studio, DreamWorks Animation`s The Prince of Egypt. Chapman was born in Beason, Illinois as the youngest of five. She went to Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, receiving her Associate of Arts degree. She was always fascinated with stories and grew a big liking for it. Soon she went on to become a professional writer and started to work for the Hollywood film industry.

After graduating with a BFA in character animation, she was a story trainee on the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid. Chapman also worked in story and development for other Disney animated films such as The Rescuers Down Under, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Fantasia 2000. She joined DreamWorks Animation at its inception in the fall of 1994. Her recent project includes the film The Lion King.