James Algar (1912-1987) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer, celebrated for his work for Walt Disney Studios.

He began his career in animation, contributing to masterpieces such as "Fantasia" (directing "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment) and "Bambi" (as a supervising director).

However, his most significant impact was in the "True-Life Adventures" documentary series. Algar directed Oscar-winning films such as "The Living Desert" (1953) and "The Vanishing Prairie" (1954). His style was characterized by the ability to transform science into compelling storytelling, elevating the nature documentary to a popular art form. He is considered a pioneer of the genre.