Chris Miller (animator)

This article is about the American animator born in 1968. For the film director/animator duo, see Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Chris Miller
Miller in November 2011 at a premiere of Puss in Boots in Sydney
Born
Christopher Matthew Miller

(1968-01-20) January 20, 1968 (age 56)[1]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupations
  • Animator
  • director
  • voice actor
Years active1988–present
Employer(s)DreamWorks Animation (1998–2018)
Reel FX Animation Studios (2018–2022)
Paramount Animation (2022–present)
Notable workShrek the Third
Puss in Boots

Christopher Matthew Miller (born January 20, 1968) is an American animator, director, and voice actor employed by Paramount Animation and formerly DreamWorks Animation. He is best known for directing Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination) and for voicing The Magic Mirror from the Shrek film series and Kowalski the penguin in the Madagascar film series.

Early life

Miller was born on January 20, 1968, in Washington, D.C. He studied animation at the California Institute of Arts.

Career

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."[2]

In 2011, Miller directed Puss in Boots, a spin-off and sequel to the Shrek franchise. His wife, Laura Gorenstein Miller, worked as a dance choreographer.[3]

Filmography

Miller with Salma Hayek pose with a Puss mascot at a premiere of Puss in Boots in Paris
Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Thing What Lurked in the Tub Lugmeyer
Lea Press on Limbs Director
1989 The Cellar Willy Cashen
1992 Cool World Key clean-up artist
1997 Officer Buckle and Gloria Storyboard artist
1998 Antz
2001 Shrek Geppetto, Magic Mirror Story artist/additional dialogue
2003 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Tower Guard Additional story artist
2004 Shrek 2 Humphries, Magic Mirror Head of story/additional dialogue
Shark Tale Additional storyboard artist
2005 Madagascar Kowalski Story artist
2007 Shrek the Third Puppet Master, Announcer, Mascot, Singing Villain Director/screenplay
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Kowalski
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Advisor Cole, Army Commander Jones Additional story artist
2010 Shrek Forever After Royal Messenger, Magic Mirror, Geppetto
2011 Puss in Boots Little Boy Blue, Friar Miller, Prison Guard, Manual, Rafael Director
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Kowalski
2013 Turbo Tour Bus Driver
2014 Penguins of Madagascar Kowalski
2017 The Boss Baby Captain Ross
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Nobel Audience Member
2025 The Smurfs Movie[4] Director
TBA Untitled Wish project[5]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Shrek the Halls Dialogue director
2009 Merry Madagascar Kowalski
2013 Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices

References

  1. ^ Belloni, Matthew (December 22, 2011). "THR's Animation Roundtable: 7 Top Filmmakers Debate R-Rated Toons and If 'Tintin' Should Be Eligible for Ani Oscar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  2. ^ Miller, Chris. Interview by Robert K. Elder. The Film That Changed My Life. By Robert K. Elder. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2011. N. p244. Print.
  3. ^ skwiglymagazine (November 13, 2012). "Puss in Boots - Dance Off Scene 2011 - UK release (HD)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  4. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (June 14, 2022). "'Puss in Boots' Filmmaker to Direct Smurfs Movie For Paramount and Nickelodeon (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 28, 2018). "'Puss In Boots' Director Chris Miller To Helm Reel FX's Next Animated Pic". Deadline. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
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