Directors of DreamWorks Animation
by christophershobris | created - 03 Dec 2020 | updated - 04 Dec 2020 | PublicAnd the film/s they directed.
This is a list of the directors who have directed a film for DreamWorks Animation. One of the most recognizable, and inspirational film studios ever, responsible for creating some of the greatest animated films of all time. Here are the directors involved in those films.
1. Eric Darnell
Writer | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Eric Darnell was born on August 21, 1961 in Prairie Village, Kansas, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), Madagascar (2005) and Penguins of Madagascar (2014).
Antz (1998) Madagascar (2005) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
2. Tim Johnson
Director | Over the Hedge
Tim Johnson is known for Over the Hedge (2006), Home (2015) and Antz (1998).
Antz (1998) Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) Over the Hedge (2006) Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010; TV Special) Home (2015) How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019; TV Special)
3. Brenda Chapman
Writer | Brave
Brenda Chapman is an American animator, animation film director and writer from Beason, Illinois. She directed the Pixar film Brave and the DreamWorks Animation film The Prince of Egypt. She wrote the storylines of The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She is married to Kevin Lima, fellow ...
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
4. Steve Hickner
Director | The Prince of Egypt
Steve Hickner is known for The Prince of Egypt (1998), Balto (1995) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009).
The Prince of Egypt (1998) Bee Movie (2007)
5. Simon Wells
Director | The Time Machine
Simon Wells was born on October 19, 1961 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. He is a director, known for The Time Machine (2002), The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Flushed Away (2006). He has been married to Wendy Wells since June 1988. They have two children.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
6. Bibo Bergeron
Director | The Road to El Dorado
Bibo Bergeron was born on July 14, 1965 in Paris, France. He is a director, known for The Road to El Dorado (2000), Shark Tale (2004) and Flushed Away (2006).
The Road to El Dorado (2000) Shark Tale (2004)
7. Don Paul
Visual_effects | Aladdin
Don Paul is known for Aladdin (1992), The Road to El Dorado (2000) and The Little Mermaid (1989).
The Road to El Dorado (2000)
8. Peter Lord
Animation_department | The Amazing Adventures of Morph
Peter Lord was born on November 4, 1953 in Bristol, England, UK. He is a producer and director, known for The Amazing Adventures of Morph (1980), Chicken Run (2000) and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).
Chicken Run (2000)
9. Nick Park
Writer | The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Nick Park was born on December 6, 1958 in Preston, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), Chicken Run (2000) and Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993).
Chicken Run (2000) Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
10. Andrew Adamson
Director | Shrek 2
Andrew Adamson was born on December 1, 1966 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is a producer and director, known for Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek (2001) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). He has been married to Michelle Jonas since 2018. He was previously married to ...
Shrek (2001) Shrek 2 (2004)
11. Vicky Jenson
Director | Shrek
Vicky Jenson's career spans more than two decades in both animation and live action, and crosses the spectrum from TV to feature films to shorts including a commercial campaign for Old Navy of more than 40 spots with Anonymous Content and was at that time the only female feature film director they ...
Shrek (2001) Shark Tale (2004)
12. Kelly Asbury
Actor | Gnomeo & Juliet
Among Kelly Asbury's many achievements, he directed UglyDolls (2019) and Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). He also co-wrote the 3D computer-animated feature film Gnomeo & Juliet (2011).
Asbury's other past directorial efforts include the Oscar-nominated films, Shrek 2 (2004) and Spirit: Stallion ...
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) Shrek 2 (2004)
13. Lorna Cook
Director | Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Lorna Cook directed of "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron", nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and winner of four Annie Awards. Her extensive credits as an animator include 'The Land Before Time' and the Universal Picture's "An American Tail". Ms. Cook was an animator on two ...
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
14. Patrick Gilmore
Actor | Travelers
Patrick Gilmore was born on June 1, 1976 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Travelers (2016), You Me Her (2016) and 2012 (2009).
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
15. Conrad Vernon
Actor | Shrek 2
Conrad Vernon is an American voice actor, storyboard artist, writer and director from Texas. He provided the voices of the Gingerbread Man in the Shrek franchise and Mason from the Madagascar franchise. He would direct Shrek 2, Sausage Party, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Monsters vs. Aliens ...
Shrek 2 (2004) Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)
16. Rob Letterman
Writer | Monsters vs. Aliens
Rob Letterman is known for Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), Goosebumps (2023) and Shark Tale (2004).
Shark Tale (2004) Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
17. Tom McGrath
Writer | Madagascar
Academy Award nominee Tom McGrath has been working in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years. McGrath directed the Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated film The Boss Baby, and its sequel, The Boss Baby: Family Business, his sixth film as director for a DreamWorks Animation title, the...
Madagascar (2005) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) Megamind (2010) Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) The Boss Baby (2017) The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021)
18. Steve Box
Writer | The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Steve Box was born on January 23, 1967 in Bristol, England, UK. He is a writer and actor, known for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), Stage Fright (1997) and Chicken Run (2000).
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
19. Karey Kirkpatrick
Writer | Smallfoot
Karey Kirkpatrick was born on December 14, 1964 in Monroe, Louisiana, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Smallfoot (2018), Over the Hedge (2006) and Chicken Run (2000).
Over the Hedge (2006)
20. David Bowers
Director | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
David Bowers was born in Cheshire, England, UK. He is known for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011), Flushed Away (2006) and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012).
Flushed Away (2006)
21. Sam Fell
Director | Flushed Away
Sam Fell was born on November 22, 1965. He is a director and writer, known for Flushed Away (2006), ParaNorman (2012) and The Tale of Despereaux (2008).
Flushed Away (2006)
22. Chris Miller
Actor | Shrek the Third
Chris Miller is an American film director, storyboard artist, and voice actor best known for his work with DreamWorks Animation. Following a stint working with Ralph Bakshi on his film Cool World (1992), he would begin his career at DreamWorks as a storyboard artist on films Antz (1998) and Shrek (...
Shrek the Third (2007) Puss in Boots (2011)
23. Raman Hui
Director | Zhuo yao ji
Raman Hui was born on July 4, 1963 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony. He is a director, known for Monster Hunt (2015), Shrek the Third (2007) and Shrek (2001).
Shrek the Third (2007) Secrets of the Furious Five (2008; short film) Scared Shrekless (2010; TV Special) Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (2012; short film)
24. Simon J. Smith
Actor | Shrek
Simon J Smith Personal Bio
Simon J Smith is an award winning writer/director and 30 year computer graphics veteran with over 38 combined years of film, television, and post production experience in telling engaging stories with compelling characters. He is known mostly for his directing feature ...
Bee Movie (2007) Megamind: The Button of Doom (2010; short film) Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
25. John Stevenson
Director | Kung Fu Panda
John Stevenson is known for Kung Fu Panda (2008), Middle Watch (2022) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009).
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
26. Mark Osborne
Director | Kung Fu Panda
Mark Randolph Osborne is an American film director, writer, producer and animator from Trenton, New Jersey who is known for co-directing the Oscar nominated Kung Fu Panda (2008) and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (the live-action sequences), as well as directing The Little Prince (2015) ...
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
27. Chris Sanders
Writer | Lilo & Stitch
Born and raised in Colorado, Chris Sanders fell in love with animation at the age of ten after seeing Ward Kimball animated shorts on 'The Wonderful World of Disney'. He began drawing, and applied to CalArts after his grandmother told him about the animation program at the school. He majored in ...
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) The Croods (2013)
28. Dean DeBlois
Writer | Lilo & Stitch
Dean DeBlois is a Canadian writer, director, and producer known best for having co-written and co-directed Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002) and Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon (2010), both Oscar nominated. While working as an assistant animator and layout artist for Hinton Animation Studios ...
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
29. Mike Mitchell
Actor | The Tomorrow War
Mike Mitchell is known for The Tomorrow War (2021), The Birthday Boys (2013) and Love (2016).
Shrek Forever After (2010) Trolls (2016)
30. Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Director | Kung Fu Panda 2
Jennifer Yuh Nelson was born on May 7, 1972 in South Korea. She is a director, known for Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Love, Death & Robots (2019) and The Darkest Minds (2018).
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
31. Peter Ramsey
Director | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Peter Ramsey is the director of Dreamworks Animation's 2012 feature film "Rise Of The Guardians". He also directed the Halloween TV special, "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" as well as serving as a story artist on several of Dreamworks Animation's feature films. Prior to ...
Rise of the Guardians (2012) Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (2009; TV special)
32. Kirk DeMicco
Writer | The Croods
Kirk was born in New York City and and raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey. He attended the University of Southern California where he graduated in 1991 with a degree in economics and political science. He then spent three years in Italy as a journalist for an Italian film-business magazine before moving...
The Croods (2013)
33. David Soren
Writer | Turbo
David Soren is a director, writer, and actor known for Captain Underpants (2017), Turbo (2013), and Merry Madagascar (2009). A DreamWorks veteran of twenty years, Soren has worked as a story artist on "The Road to El Dorado," "Chicken Run" and "Shrek." He then served as the head of story on the hit...
Merry Madagascar (2009; TV Special) Turbo (2013) Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
34. Rob Minkoff
Director | The Lion King
Rob Minkoff was born on August 11, 1962 in Palo Alto, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for The Lion King (1994), Stuart Little 2 (2002) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008). He has been married to Crystal Kung Minkoff since September 29, 2007. They have two children.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
35. Alessandro Carloni
Animation_department | Kung Fu Panda
Alessandro Carloni is a film Director, Writer, Animator, and Art Director. Born in Bologna, Carloni grew up in Urbino. He studied literature and Philosophy at the University of Milan. While developing as a novelist, by the age of 18 Carloni had moved into filmmaking. He worked as an animator and ...
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
36. Jill Culton
Writer | Abominable
Jill Culton is known for Abominable (2019), Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Open Season (2006).
Abominable (2019)
37. Walt Dohrn
Actor | Trolls
Walter Dohrn is an American animator, writer and voice actor from Orange County who is mostly known for voicing Rumpelstiltskin from Shrek Forever After. He also wrote several episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants including Sailor Mouth and voiced in other DreamWorks Animation films such as Trolls, ...
Trolls World Tour (2020)
38. Joel Crawford
Director | Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Joel Crawford is known for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), The Croods: A New Age (2020) and Rise of the Guardians (2012).
Trolls Holiday (2017) The Croods: A New Age (2020)
39. Elaine Bogan
Art_department | Megamind
Elaine Bogan is known for Megamind (2010), Spirit Untamed (2021) and Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016).
Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014; short film) Spirit Untamed (2021)
40. Ennio Torresan
Director | Até que a Sbórnia nos Separe
Ennio Torresan was born on October 15, 1963 in the USA. He is a director, known for Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart (2013), Megamind (2010) and Penguins of Madagascar (2014).
Spirit Untamed (2021)
41. Pierre Perifel
Director | The Bad Guys
Pierre Perifel is known for The Bad Guys (2022), Rise of the Guardians (2012) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Bilby (2018) The Bad Guys (2022)
42. Robert C. Ramirez
Director | Tasty Time with ZeFronk
Robert C. Ramirez is known for Tasty Time with ZeFronk (2008), The Powerpuff Girls (2016) and Dance-A-Lot Robot (2010).
Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
43. Rob LaDuca
Visual_effects | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Rob LaDuca was born on November 6, 1956. He is a producer and director, known for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), Poltergeist (1982) and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001).
Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
44. Johane Matte
Art_department | Rise of the Guardians
Johane Matte is known for Rise of the Guardians (2012), Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010).
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021)
45. Andrew L. Schmidt
Animation_department | The Iron Giant
Andrew Schmidt is an Emmy and Annie nominated director, writer and animator with over 30 years experience in the animation industry. During his career he has worked with many of the major animation studios including Warner Bros., Dreamworks Feature Animation and Pixar Animation Studios. He has a ...
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021)
46. Francisco Ruiz-Velasco
Art_department | A Gentlemen's Duel
Francisco Ruiz-Velasco is known for A Gentlemen's Duel (2006), Pacific Rim (2013) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021)
47. Gary Trousdale
Director | The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Gary Trousdale was born in La Crescenta, California. His fascination with animation was fostered as a child, where he drew cartoons from an elementary school age. He planned to become an architect, but decided instead to study animation at CalArts, where he studied for three years. He was hired in ...
The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005; short film) Shrek the Halls (2007; TV Special) Scared Shrekless (2010; TV Special) Thriller Night (2011; short film) The Pig Who Cried Werewolf (2011; Short film) Rocky & Bullwinkle (2014; Short Film)
48. Tom Owens
Art_department | Monsters vs. Aliens
Tom Owens is known for Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
Gift of the Night Fury (2011; TV Special)
49. Liron Topaz
Director | Bilby
Liron Topaz is known for Bilby (2018), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Bilby (2018; Short Film)
50. JP Sans
Director | Bilby
JP Sans is known for Bilby (2018), Trolls World Tour (2020) and Rise of the Guardians (2012).
Bilby (2018; Short Film)
51. William Salazar
Animation_department | Penguins of Madagascar
William Salazar is known for Penguins of Madagascar (2014), Enchanted (2007) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009).
Bird Karma (2018; Short Film)
52. Rodolphe Guenoden
Animation_department | The Road to El Dorado
Rodolphe Guenoden is known for The Road to El Dorado (2000), Balto (1995) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2015; short film)
53. Todd Wilderman
Director | Abominable
Todd Wilderman is known for Abominable (2019), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Trolls (2016).
Almost Home (2015; short film)
55. Kyle Jefferson
Visual_effects | Thor: Ragnarok
Kyle Jefferson is known for Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and First Flight (2006).
First Flight (2006; short film)
56. Will Finn
Writer | Home on the Range
Will Finn was born on November 1, 1958 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a writer, known for Home on the Range (2004), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Pocahontas (1995).
Hammy’s Boomerang Adventure (2006; short film)
57. John Puglisi
Art_department | Planet of the Apes
John Puglisi is known for Planet of the Apes (2001), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).
Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010; short film)
58. Robert Porter
Art_department | CatDog
Robert Porter is known for CatDog (1998), Penguins of Madagascar (2014) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009).
Night of the Living Carrots (2011; short film)
59. Tony Leondis
Writer | The Emoji Movie
Tony Leondis was born in New York City, New York, USA. He is a writer and director, known for The Emoji Movie (2017), Shrek (2001) and Igor (2008).
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011; short film)
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