Chris Miller (animator)

Christopher Matthew Miller (born January 20, 1968) 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 (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination) and for voicing Kowalski the penguin in the Madagascar film series.

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[1]
Washington, D.C., United States
OccupationActor, voice actor, animator, director, screenwriter
Years active1988–present
EmployerDreamWorks Animation (1998-present)
Notable work
Shrek the Third
Puss in Boots

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.[2] 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.[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.[3] He also provided the voice for Kowalski in Madagascar (and its video game), The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Merry Madagascar and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

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.[2]

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."[4]

Miller is also a longtime collaborator with the Helios Dance Theater, for which he has created sets, films and projections on numerous occasions.[2] His wife Laura Gorenstein Miller, is the founder and director of that same company.[5] Chris and Laura also collaborated on Puss in Boots, for which Laura worked as a dance choreographer.[6]

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 Story artist
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
TBA Untitled Wish Project[7] Director

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Shrek the Halls Dialogue director
2009 Merry Madagascar Kowalski
2013 Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices
gollark: RS = SP/laggy = evil
gollark: You levitate it with force powers.
gollark: Vanilla can actually do automatic resource generation and whatnot.
gollark: I mean the actual endgame, not just "ender dragon killed".
gollark: Why not play...VANILLA to the endgame?

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. "Shrek the Third: Creative Team". Emanuel Levy. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  3. Chris Miller (VII) on IMDb
  4. 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.
  5. "Directors Bio". Helios Dance Theater. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  6. skwiglymagazine (November 13, 2012). "Puss in Boots - Dance Off Scene 2011 - UK release (HD)". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  7. 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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