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Conrad Vernon

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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.

Life and career

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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

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Film

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Year Title Director Producer Notes
2001 Morto the Magician Yes No Short film
2004 Shrek 2 Yes No Co-director with Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Yes No Co-director with Rob Letterman
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Yes No Co-director with Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath
2016 Sausage Party[9] Yes Yes Co-director with Greg Tiernan
2019 The Addams Family[10] Yes Yes
2021 The Addams Family 2[5] Yes Yes
TBA The Jetsons[11][12][13] Yes No [14]

Acting roles

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Herd Pesion Live-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 Man Short film
2005 Madagascar Mason
2005 The 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 Jameel
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

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Year Title Role
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"
2001 The Human Spinning-Top Writer 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

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Year Title Notes
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

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Year Title Role
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

References

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  1. ^ "Cannes Film festival: Conrad Vernon". Archived from the original on 2006-02-02. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  2. ^ a b "A Very Animated Family Reunion: Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan Bring The Addams Family Back to Its Roots". Boxoffice. October 8, 2019. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "Monsters vs Aliens: Conrad Vernon vs Animated Views! – Animated Views". Archived from the original on 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  4. ^ a b c d DreamWorks Animation. "Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted - Production Information" (PDF). Festival Cannes. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "The Addams Family Directors Explain Their Approach to the Upcoming Sequel". Movies. Archived from the original on 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  6. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (October 8, 2020). "'The Addams Family 2': Bill Hader & Javon "Wanna" Walton Join Voice Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Jetsons Planned as Animated Feature". ComingSoon.net. January 23, 2015. Archived from the original on January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Animated 'Jetsons' Movie to Lift Off With 'Sausage Party' Director Archived 2019-03-27 at the Wayback Machine, in Variety
  9. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (May 29, 2014). "Paul Rudd, Danny McBride, Anders Holm Join 'Sausage Party' Voice Cast". The Wrap. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  10. ^ Kit, Borys (October 12, 2017). "'Sausage Party' Director Tackling 'The Addams Family' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (24 January 2015). "Warner Bros Plots 'The Jetsons' Animated Feature; Matt Lieberman Writing". Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  12. ^ Natalie, Natalie. "'Jetsons' movie ready to blast off production". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  13. ^ ChrisXMorgan (26 May 2017). "Jetsons Animated Movie in the Works With Sausage Party Director". Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  14. ^ McNary, Dave (January 23, 2015). "Animated 'Jetsons' Movie Lifting off With 'Sausage Party' Director". Variety. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  15. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (November 12, 2014). "Film Review: 'Penguins of Madagascar'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "ToonHive on X: "Official promo for 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' The series will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday, February 12." / X". Twitter. 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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