Christopher Matthew Miller (born January 20, 1968) is an American animator, director, and voice actor employed by Paramount Animation and formerly DreamWorks Animation. He is best known for directing Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination) and for voicing The Magic Mirror from the Shrek film series and Kowalski the penguin in the Madagascar film series.
Early life[]
Miller was born on January 20, 1968, in Washington, D.C. He studied animation at the California Institute of Arts.
Career[]
In an interview with Robert K. Elder for The Film That Changed My Life, Miller attributes his success in film to Sleeper. "I would be penniless and drunk on the corner, begging for cash, if I had not seen the film Sleeper. I guarantee you."
In 2011, Miller directed Puss in Boots, a spin-off and sequel to the Shrek franchise. His wife, Laura Gorenstein Miller, worked as a dance choreographer.
Filmography[]
Miller with Salma Hayek pose with a Puss mascot at a premiere of Puss in Boots in Paris
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Thing What Lurked in the Tub | Lugmeyer | |
| Lea Press on Limbs | Director | ||
| 1989 | The Cellar | Willy Cashen | |
| 1992 | Cool World | Key clean-up artist | |
| 1997 | Officer Buckle and Gloria | Storyboard artist | |
| 1998 | Antz | ||
| 2001 | Shrek | Geppetto, Magic Mirror | Story artist/additional dialogue |
| 2003 | Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Tower Guard | Additional story artist |
| 2004 | Shrek 2 | Humphries, Magic Mirror | Head of story/additional dialogue |
| Shark Tale | Additional storyboard artist | ||
| 2005 | Madagascar | Kowalski | Story artist |
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | Puppet Master, Announcer, Mascot, Singing Villain | Director/screenplay |
| 2008 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | Kowalski | |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Advisor Cole, Army Commander Jones | Additional story artist |
| 2010 | Shrek Forever After | Royal Messenger, Magic Mirror, Geppetto | |
| 2011 | Puss in Boots | Little Boy Blue, Friar Miller, Prison Guard, Manual, Rafael | Director |
| 2012 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | Kowalski | |
| 2013 | Turbo | Tour Bus Driver | |
| 2014 | Penguins of Madagascar | Kowalski | |
| 2017 | The Boss Baby | Captain Ross | |
| Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie | Nobel Audience Member | ||
| 2025 | The Smurfs Movie | Director | |
| TBA | Untitled Wish project |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Shrek the Halls | Dialogue director | |
| 2009 | Merry Madagascar | Kowalski | |
| 2013 | Phineas and Ferb | Additional Voices |