Chris Miller (animator)


Christopher Matthew Miller is an American voice actor, animator, director, screenwriter, and storyboard artist employed by DreamWorks Animation. He is most known for directing Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots and for voicing Kowalski the penguin in the Madagascar film series.

Early life

His birth year is unknown. He is believed to have been born either in 1967 or 1968. He studied animation at the California Institute of Arts.

Career

Miller joined DreamWorks Animation in 1998 as a storyboard artist for the studio's first animated comedy, Antz. Miller, again working as a story artist for Shrek, also wrote additional dialogue and provided the voice of the Magic Mirror and Geppetto characters for the film. He then served as head of story for Shrek 2. He went on to co-direct Shrek the Third along with Raman Hui, writing the screenplay for the film, and providing the voices of the puppet master and the mascot. He also provided the voice for Kowalski in Madagascar, The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper, ', Merry Madagascar and '.
Miller has worked on a wide array of features, commercials, videos and internet projects, including a short for Steven Spielberg entitled "Steven's Dream". His commercial work includes spots for Coca-Cola, Canon, The Comedy Channel and Fila, for which he won a Clio Award for best animated commercial.
In an interview with Robert K. Elder for The Film That Changed My Life, Miller attributes his success in film to Sleeper. "I would be penniless and drunk on the corner, begging for cash, if I had not seen the film Sleeper. I guarantee you."
Miller is also a longtime collaborator with the Helios Dance Theater, for which he has created sets, films and projections on numerous occasions. His wife Laura Gorenstein Miller, is the founder and director of that same company. Chris and Laura also collaborated on Puss in Boots, for which Laura worked as a dance choreographer.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988The Thing What Lurked in the TubLugmeyer
1988Lea Press on LimbsDirector
1989The CellarWilly Cashen
1992Cool WorldKey clean-up artist
1997Officer Buckle and GloriaStoryboard artist
1998AntzStory artist
2001ShrekGeppetto, Magic MirrorStory artist/additional dialogue
2003'Tower GuardAdditional story artist
2004Shrek 2Humphries, Magic MirrorHead of story/additional dialogue
2004Shark TaleAdditional storyboard artist
2005MadagascarKowalskiStory artist
2007Shrek the ThirdPuppet Master, Announcer, Mascot, Singing VillainDirector/screenplay
2008'Kowalski
2009Monsters vs. AliensAdvisor Cole, Army Commander JonesAdditional story artist
2010Shrek Forever AfterRoyal Messenger, Magic Mirror, Geppetto
2011Puss in BootsLittle Boy Blue, Friar Miller, Prison Guard, Manual, RafaelDirector
2012'Kowalski
2013TurboTour Bus Driver
2014Penguins of MadagascarKowalski
2017The Boss BabyCaptain Ross
2017'Nobel Audience Member
TBAUntitled Wish ProjectDirector

Television