Christopher 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 (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination) 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 (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.
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[]
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 | Director |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Shrek the Halls | Dialogue director | |
| 2009 | Merry Madagascar | Kowalski | |
| 2013 | Phineas and Ferb | Additional Voices |