Conrad Vernon

Last updated
Conrad Vernon
Born (1968-07-11) July 11, 1968 (age 56)
Occupations
  • Voice actor
  • director
  • writer
  • storyboard artist
  • producer
Years active1991–present

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 .

Contents

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

YearTitleDirectorProducerNotes
2001Morto the MagicianYesNoShort film
2004 Shrek 2 YesNoCo-director with Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens YesNoCo-director with Rob Letterman
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted YesNoCo-director with Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath
2016 Sausage Party [9] YesYesCo-director with Greg Tiernan
2019 The Addams Family [10] YesYes
2021 The Addams Family 2 [5] YesYes
2026 Shrek 5 YesNoCo-director with Walt Dohrn
TBA The Jetsons [11] [12] [13] YesNo [14]

Acting roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999HerdPesionLive-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 ManShort film
2005 Madagascar Mason
2005The 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 Boar
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

YearTitleRole
1991 No Neck Joe Special thanks
1992 Cool World Character designer
Effects animator
1998 Antz [4] Storyboard artist
2000 The Road to El Dorado Additional storyboard artist
2001 Shrek Additional dialogue/story artist/writer: "Merry Men"
2001The Human Spinning-TopWriter 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 The Addams Family Story writer

Television

YearTitleNotes
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

YearTitleRole
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

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References

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