Conrad Vernon (born July 11, 1968)[1] is an American voice actor, director, producer, writer, and storyboard artist best known for his work on the DreamWorks animated film series Shrek as well as other films such as Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, and Penguins of Madagascar. He also co-directed non-DreamWorks animated films such as Sony Pictures' Sausage Party and MGM’s The Addams Family.
Life and career[]
Vernon, a native of Lubbock, Texas, studied at CalArts and worked as a storyboard artist for animated productions (including Ralph Bakshi's Cool World);[2] he also directed Morto the Magician (a four-minute animated film written by Steve Martin).[3]
Vernon began his career in 1991.[4] In 1996, he joined DreamWorks, where he worked as a storyboard artist on Antz.[4] After Antz proved a success as the first animated feature film to be produced by DreamWorks Animation, Vernon signed on as a writer for Shrek, where he was responsible for the Gingerbread Man, and eventually voiced that character. He also appeared in Shrek 4-D and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
In June 2004, he made his feature film directorial debut with the Academy Award-nominated Shrek 2.[4] He voiced Mason the chimpanzee for the DreamWorks Animation films Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (for which he is also credited as director) and its spin off Penguins of Madagascar (where he voiced Rico, one of the penguins) and reprised the voice of Mason in the television series.
In 2009, Vernon and Rob Letterman co-directed the 3D animated film Monsters vs. Aliens, which he co-wrote and supplied several voices.
Vernon and Greg Tiernan co-directed the adult animated comedy Sausage Party (2016), from a story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jonah Hill, as well as providing some of the voices. Vernon next co-produced and co-directed, again with Tiernan, an animated version of The Addams Family, which was released in October 2019.[2] He supplied voice roles for both Sausage Party and The Addams Family, including Lurch in the latter. He was scheduled to return as director alongside Tiernan for The Addams Family 2, released in October 2021.[5] In October 2020, it was announced that he would no longer be involved as director, though he ultimately received co-billing with Tiernan.[6]
In 2017, Vernon was hired to direct a live-action feature adaptation of The Jetsons, from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman, which is being made by Warner Bros., under its Warner Animation Group banner.[7][8]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Morto the Magician | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2004 | Shrek 2 | Yes | No | Co-director with Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Yes | No | Co-director with Rob Letterman |
| 2012 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | Yes | No | Co-director with Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath |
| 2016 | Sausage Party[9] | Yes | Yes | Co-director with Greg Tiernan |
| 2019 | The Addams Family[10] | Yes | Yes | |
| 2021 | The Addams Family 2[5] | Yes | Yes | |
| TBA | The Jetsons[11][12][13] | Yes | No | [14] |
| Lidsville | Yes | No | Co-director with Kevin Asbury |
Acting roles[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Herd | Pesion | Live-action role |
| 2001 | Shrek | Gingerbread Man | |
| Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party | Short film | ||
| 2003 | Shrek 4-D | ||
| Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Jed | ||
| 2004 | Shrek 2 | Gingerbread Man, Cedric, Announcer, Mongo, Muffin Man | |
| Far Far Away Idol | Gingerbread Man | Short film | |
| 2005 | Madagascar | Mason | |
| 2005 |
The Barnyard (pitch) |
||
| 2006 | Flushed Away | Take Out | |
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | Gingerbread Man, Rumpelstiltskin, Headless Horseman | |
| Bee Movie | Freddy | ||
| 2008 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | Mason | |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Advisor Hawk, Advisor Dither, Minister, Secret Service Man #2, Mama Dietl | |
| 2010 | Shrek Forever After | Gingerbread Man, Muffin Man | |
| 2011 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Jameel | |
| Puss in Boots | Raoul | ||
| 2012 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | Mason | |
| 2014 | Penguins of Madagascar[15] | Rico | |
| 2016 | Sausage Party[9] | Toilet paper, Sauerkraut, Grape, Catcall sausage, Beer can, Pop bottle | |
| 2017 | The Boss Baby | Eugene Francis | |
| The Emoji Movie | Trojan Horse | ||
| 2019 | Trouble | Otis | |
| The Addams Family | Lurch, Priest, Spirit of the House, Dr. Flambe, Ggerri | ||
| 2021 | The Addams Family 2 | Lurch, Spirit of the House | |
| 2022 | Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | Gingerbread Man |
Other credits[]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | No Neck Joe | Special thanks |
| 1992 | Cool World | Character designer Effects animator |
| 1998 | Antz[4] | Storyboard artist |
| 2000 | Additional storyboard artist | |
| 2001 | Shrek | Additional dialogue/story artist/writer: "Merry Men" |
| 2001 | The Human Spinning-Top | Writer of episode XII "The Human Spinning-Top is a dangerous hero" And Additional storyboard artist |
| 2003 | Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Additional storyboard artist |
| 2004 | Shark Tale | |
| Shrek 2 | Additional dialogue | |
| 2005 | Madagascar | Creative consultant |
| The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper | Creative consultant; Short film | |
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Story artist |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Story writer |
| 2016 | Trolls | Additional story artist |
| 2017 | Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie | Special thanks |
| The Emoji Movie | Additional sequence director | |
| 2019 | Story writer |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Rocko's Modern Life | Storyboard artist, additional writer |
| 1993–94 | 2 Stupid Dogs | Storyboard artist |
| 1993–96 | The Itsy Bitsy Spider | Director |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Storyboard artist, layout artist |
| 1997 |
Nightmare Ned |
Storyboard artist |
| 2012 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Executive Producer, storyboard artist |
| 2024–present | Rock Paper Scissors | Executive Producer[16] |
| Sausage Party: Foodtopia | Director |
Acting roles[]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Shrek the Halls | Gingerbread Man |
| 2009–12 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Mason |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space | Man on Cell, Woman |
| 2010 | Scared Shrekless | Gingerbread Man, Muffin Man |
| Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special | Boar | |
| 2012 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Various |
| Gravity Falls | Tate McGucket |
References[]
- ↑ Cannes Film festival: Conrad Vernon.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Very Animated Family Reunion: Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan Bring The Addams Family Back to Its Roots (October 8, 2019).
- ↑ Monsters vs Aliens: Conrad Vernon vs Animated Views! – Animated Views.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.DreamWorks Animation. "Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted - Production Information" (PDF). Festival Cannes. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Addams Family Directors Explain Their Approach to the Upcoming Sequel (en).
- ↑ Anthony D'Alessandro (October 8, 2020). 'The Addams Family 2': Bill Hader & Javon "Wanna" Walton Join Voice Cast.
- ↑ The Jetsons Planned as Animated Feature (January 23, 2015).
- ↑ Animated 'Jetsons' Movie to Lift Off With 'Sausage Party' Director Template:Webarchive, in Variety
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sneider, Jeff (May 29, 2014). Paul Rudd, Danny McBride, Anders Holm Join 'Sausage Party' Voice Cast. The Wrap.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kit, Borys (October 12, 2017). "'Sausage Party' Director Tackling 'The Addams Family' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ↑ Warner Bros Plots 'The Jetsons' Animated Feature; Matt Lieberman Writing (24 January 2015).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Natalie, Natalie. "'Jetsons' movie ready to blast off production". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- ↑ ChrisXMorgan (26 May 2017). Jetsons Animated Movie in the Works With Sausage Party Director.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McNary, Dave (January 23, 2015). "Animated 'Jetsons' Movie Lifting off With 'Sausage Party' Director". Variety. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Berkshire, Geoff (November 12, 2014). "Film Review: 'Penguins of Madagascar'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ↑ ToonHive on X: "Official promo for 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' The series will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday, February 12." / X (en-US) (2023-12-23).
External links[]
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