Kris Pearn

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Kris Pearn
Kris Pearn, 2013 San Diego Comic Con-cropped.jpg
Kris Pearn at San Diego Comic in 2013
Born
Ontario, Canada
Education Strathroy District Collegiate Institute
Known for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
The Willoughbys

Kris Pearn is an animation director and producer. He has directed films such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013, with Cody Cameron) and The Willoughbys (2020).

Contents

Early life and education

Pearn was born in Ontario, Canada, where his family owns a small donkey farm. [1] Pearn attended the Strathroy District Collegiate Institute.

Career

Pearn's storyboarding for Open Season (2006) earned him an Annie nomination for "Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production". [2]

Pearn and Cody Cameron co-directed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013), the first director credit for each. [3] The duo took over from directing team Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, announced as directors in December 2011. The voices of Sentinel Peter and Labcoat Jenny were provided by Pearn. The duo received a nomination for Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature. [4]

Pearn's storyboard work for Arthur Christmas (2011) earned him an Annie Award nomination for "Storyboarding in a Feature Production". [5] He was also the voice of one of the elves in the film.

Pearn returned to the Open Season film series, working on the story for Open Season: Scared Silly (2015). In 2017, he wrote the animated television film The Great Northern Candy Drop. [6]

Pearn wrote and directed The Willoughbys (2020), an animated comedy released on Netflix. Pearn also developed the story, and co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Stanleigh. He was brought onto the production four years before its release, [1] securing distribution by Netflix early in their venture into commissioning animation. [1] While the source book made fun of children's literature, he pivoted the production to poke at children's movie tropes. [1] Pearn and character designer Craig Kellman had worked together previously, but he suggests that this was the first time they "could really do whatever we craved." [1] The film's score is by Mark Mothersbaugh, who had previously worked with Pearn on Cloudy 2.

In December 2024, he was hired to direct an upcoming Ghostbusters animated film. [7]

He has taught Character Design at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Away from animation, Pearn has illustrated the book Project Superhero , written by E. Paul Zehr, a professor of kinesiology and neuroscience. The two met at TEDxEdmonton 2012 where Zehr was giving a talk on "the superhero in you". [8] [9]

Filmography

YearTitleCredited asNotes & ref(s)
Director Writer Storyboard artist Voice Role
2006 Open Season NoNoYes— [2]
2007 Surf's Up NoNoYes—
2008 Open Season 2 NoNoYes—
2009 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs NoNoYes—Also head of story [3]
2011 Arthur Christmas NoNoYesElf [5]
2012 The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! NoNoYes—
2013 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 YesNoNoSentinel Peter / Labcoat Jenny [3]
2015 Open Season: Scared Silly NoStoryNo—
2015 Shaun the Sheep Movie NoNoYes—
2015 Home NoNoYes—
2017The Great Northern Candy DropNoYesNo—Also executive producer [6]
2018 Early Man NoNoYes—
2020 The Willoughbys YesYesNoSpoons McGeeAlso executive producer [1]
2024 The Tiger's Apprentice NoNoYes—
TBAUntitled Ghostbusters animated filmYesNoNo—In production [7]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Annie Awards February 11, 2007 Storyboarding in an Animated Feature ProductionOpen SeasonNominated [2]
February 4, 2012 Arthur ChristmasNominated [5]
April 16, 2021 Best Animated Feature The WilloughbysNominated [10]
Critics' Choice Super Awards January 10, 2021 Best Animated MovieThe WilloughbysNominated [11]
Satellite Awards February 23, 2014 Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2Nominated [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Derdeyn, Stuart (17 April 2020). "Director Kris Pearn brings humour and heart to new Netflix animated feature The Willoughbys". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "37th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients". The Annie Awards. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Abrams, Rachel (December 13, 2011). "Helmers set for 'Cloudy 2' toon". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "The International Press Academy Announces Nominations For The 18th Annual Satellite Awards". PR Newswire. 2013-12-02. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Giardina, Carolyn (4 February 2012). "'Rango' Wins Annie Award for Best Animated Feature". The Hollywood Reporter . Prometheus Global Media, LLC . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "This week in Toronto: Daniel Caesar, Leonard Cohen and a candy drop". Toronto Star . December 11, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (December 19, 2024). "'Ghostbusters' Animated Movie In The Works From Sony Animation And Netflix". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 7, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ Zucconi, Elisa. "CSEP Members give TED Talks". CSEP-SCPE. CSEP-SCPE. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Zehr, E.Paul (2014). Project Superhero. Toronto, Canada: ECW Press.
  10. ↑ "2021 Annie Award Nominations: 'Soul,' 'Wolfwalkers' and Netflix Lead". Variety. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ Yang, Rachel (2020-11-19). "Critics Choice Super Awards". Critic's Choice Association. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
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