Tom McGrath (animator)

Tom McGrath

Tom McGrath at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International.
Born Thomas McGrath
August 7, 1964
Lynnwood, Washington, US
Occupation Film director, animator, voice actor, screenwriter
Years active 1988–present

Thomas "Tom" McGrath (born August 7, 1964) is an American film director, animator, and voice actor who is best known for co-directing (with Eric Darnell) the 2005 comedy Madagascar and its sequels, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in 2008 and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted in 2012, also providing the voice of Skipper in all films, short films and The Penguins of Madagascar television series. He has portrayed Skipper in every Madagascar installment, being the only voice actor to do so.He has also worked as a voice actor on other DreamWorks animated features like Flushed Away in 2006 and Shrek the Third in 2007. He also stepped in on Flushed Away to help make improvements prior to its release.

Life and career

McGrath was born and raised in Lynnwood, Washington. He studied Industrial Design at the University of Washington and graduated from the Character Animation program at Cal Arts.[1] McGrath's experience in both television and feature animation includes work as an animator on Ralph Bakshi's film Cool World (starring Brad Pitt), storyboard artist and director for the popular series The Ren and Stimpy Show, animator on the Joe Pytka-directed Space Jam (starring Michael Jordan), and storyboard artist on the live action film Cats & Dogs and worked as storyboard artist and concept artist/prop and set designer for How the Grinch Stole Christmas (directed by Ron Howard).

McGrath made his film directing debut as the co-director, writer and co-creator of Madagascar[2] (along with Eric Darnell), where he also created the memorable squad of penguin characters and voiced their leader, Skipper. He also reprised his role as Skipper and co-directed and co-wrote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He worked on The Penguins of Madagascar, a Madagascar spin-off TV series, as the voice of Skipper, and directed the DreamWorks animated feature Megamind (starring Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and David Cross), released in November 2010.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Animator Storyboard
artist
Actor Role Notes
1988 The Thing What Lurked in the Tub Yes
1992 Cool World Yes Also animation designer
layout artist
1996 Space Jam Yes
1998 Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus Yes Also layout artist
1999 Herd Yes Fed No. 5
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Yes
2001 Cats & Dogs Yes
2005 Madagascar Yes Yes Yes Skipper
2006 Flushed Away Yes Action Figure
Artist
Also Creative consultant
2007 Shrek the Third Yes Gary
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Yes Yes Yes Skipper
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Yes Wilson
2010 Megamind Yes Yes Lord Scott
Prison Guard
2011 Puss in Boots Yes Bar Tender
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Yes Yes Skipper
2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman Yes Odysseus
2014 Penguins of Madagascar[3] Yes Yes Skipper also Executive Producer
2016 Boss Baby[4] Yes

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994–1996 The Ren and Stimpy Show Director
Storyboard artist
Layout artist
Background designer
2008–2012 The Penguins of Madagascar Skipper Creator
Writer
Creative consultant
2009 Merry Madagascar Skipper
additional voices
writer
2013 Madly Madagascar Skipper

References

External links