Connect with the artists behind-the-scenes, and get insight into the making of some of today’s greatest animation features, shorts, and series.
With a long career in directing, writing, voice acting and creating, Tom McGrath is no stranger to animation. He has worked on some of the biggest animated films over the past decade, including Madagascar, Megamind, and now The Boss Baby. With a long career, McGrath brings a level of experience that makes the films stand out from the crowd.
Beyond experience and the ability to craft exciting films, Tom McGrath also brings with him a love of animation and the medium as a whole. There is a sense he truly loves creating and experimenting with the concepts he brings to the screen, and it shows within the final product. From many nominations to critical and commercial success, it is hard to deny the talent McGrath brings to the films he creates. In this conversation with Animation Supervisor—and old friend—Dave Burgess, McGrath talks about filmmaking, animation and his career.
SPEAKER
Tom McGrath
Director // DreamWorks Animation
(The Boss Baby franchise, Madagascar franchise, Penguins of Madagascar, Megamind)
Academy Award© nominee, Tom McGrath, has been working in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years. He most recently directed The Boss Baby: Family Business, the highly-anticipated sequel to the Academy Award© and Golden Globe-nominated film The Boss Baby, from DreamWorks Animation.
McGrath once again returns as director to the sequel, his sixth film as director for a DreamWorks Animation title, the most of any director at the studio. His films have grossed over $2.7 billion dollars at the worldwide box office.
Following the runaway success of 2005’s box-office hit Madagascar, for which he directed, co-wrote and voiced the lead penguin, Skipper, McGrath reprised the same roles in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. In addition, McGrath voiced Skipper for the Penguins of Madagascar TV show on Nickelodeon, and the short films: The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper, Merry Madagascar and Madagascar.
McGrath also starred in, and executive produced, DreamWorks Animation's Penguins of Madagascar, and directed 2010’s Megamind.
Prior to joining DreamWorks Animation in 2000, McGrath worked as a story artist and concept design artist for such feature films as Cats & Dogs and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He also worked as an animator and story artist on such animated films as Space Jam and Cool World. His television work includes directing on The Ren & Stimpy Show, as well as other projects for Nickelodeon.
He is a graduate of the Character Animation program at CalArts and also studied Industrial Design at the University of Washington.
MODERATOR
David Burgess
Animation Supervisor // Animal Logic
(DC's The League of Super-Pets, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Trolls, Mr. Peabody & Sherman)
Dave has almost three decades of experience in the animation industry, working on some of the most iconic 2D and CGI animated films of our time. Dave is currently the Animation Supervisor at Animal Logic's Vancouver studio and has recently wrapped on The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
In 1991, Dave started at Walt Disney Feature Animation where he was an Animator and Supervising Animator on many of their most successful 2D films including Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and Tarzan.
In 2001, he switched his pencil for a computer and started at PDI/DreamWorks, working as an Animator, Supervising Animator and Head of Character Animation. His credits during this time include Shrek 2, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Megamind and Trolls.
Dave graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver with Honours in Animation.
Connect with the artists behind-the-scenes, and get insight into the making of some of today’s greatest animation features, shorts, and series.
With a long career in directing, writing, voice acting and creating, Tom McGrath is no stranger to animation. He has worked on some of the biggest animated films over the past decade, including Madagascar, Megamind, and now The Boss Baby. With a long career, McGrath brings a level of experience that makes the films stand out from the crowd.
Beyond experience and the ability to craft exciting films, Tom McGrath also brings with him a love of animation and the medium as a whole. There is a sense he truly loves creating and experimenting with the concepts he brings to the screen, and it shows within the final product. From many nominations to critical and commercial success, it is hard to deny the talent McGrath brings to the films he creates. In this conversation with Animation Supervisor—and old friend—Dave Burgess, McGrath talks about filmmaking, animation and his career.
SPEAKER
Tom McGrath
Director // DreamWorks Animation
(The Boss Baby franchise, Madagascar franchise, Penguins of Madagascar, Megamind)
Academy Award© nominee, Tom McGrath, has been working in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years. He most recently directed The Boss Baby: Family Business, the highly-anticipated sequel to the Academy Award© and Golden Globe-nominated film The Boss Baby, from DreamWorks Animation.
McGrath once again returns as director to the sequel, his sixth film as director for a DreamWorks Animation title, the most of any director at the studio. His films have grossed over $2.7 billion dollars at the worldwide box office.
Following the runaway success of 2005’s box-office hit Madagascar, for which he directed, co-wrote and voiced the lead penguin, Skipper, McGrath reprised the same roles in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. In addition, McGrath voiced Skipper for the Penguins of Madagascar TV show on Nickelodeon, and the short films: The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper, Merry Madagascar and Madagascar.
McGrath also starred in, and executive produced, DreamWorks Animation's Penguins of Madagascar, and directed 2010’s Megamind.
Prior to joining DreamWorks Animation in 2000, McGrath worked as a story artist and concept design artist for such feature films as Cats & Dogs and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He also worked as an animator and story artist on such animated films as Space Jam and Cool World. His television work includes directing on The Ren & Stimpy Show, as well as other projects for Nickelodeon.
He is a graduate of the Character Animation program at CalArts and also studied Industrial Design at the University of Washington.
MODERATOR
David Burgess
Animation Supervisor // Animal Logic
(DC's The League of Super-Pets, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Trolls, Mr. Peabody & Sherman)
Dave has almost three decades of experience in the animation industry, working on some of the most iconic 2D and CGI animated films of our time. Dave is currently the Animation Supervisor at Animal Logic's Vancouver studio and has recently wrapped on The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
In 1991, Dave started at Walt Disney Feature Animation where he was an Animator and Supervising Animator on many of their most successful 2D films including Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and Tarzan.
In 2001, he switched his pencil for a computer and started at PDI/DreamWorks, working as an Animator, Supervising Animator and Head of Character Animation. His credits during this time include Shrek 2, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Megamind and Trolls.
Dave graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver with Honours in Animation.
