Tom McGrath (animator)

Thomas McGrath (born August 7, 1964) is an American voice actor, animator and filmmaker. He is known for the DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, which he co-wrote and directed with Eric Darnell while voicing the character of Skipper the Penguin. The film spawned two direct sequels, along with a spin-off animated series and film based on the penguins in which McGrath reprised his role as Skipper. McGrath has also directed other DreamWorks animated films such as Megamind, The Boss Baby and its 2021 sequel.

Tom McGrath
McGrath at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1964-08-07) August 7, 1964
Lynnwood, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)Voice actor, animator, film director, screenwriter
Years active1988–present
EmployerDreamWorks Animation (1994-present)
Notable work
Spouse
Brieanne Cameron
​
(m. 2017)​

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 Cool World and Space Jam, storyboard artist and director for seasons 3-5 of The Ren and Stimpy Show, and storyboard artist on the live action film Cats & Dogs. He worked as a storyboard artist, concept artist and prop and set designer for How the Grinch Stole Christmas. McGrath also stepped in on Flushed Away by Aardman, the creators of The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, to help make improvements prior to its release.

McGrath made his film directing debut as the co-director and co-writer of Madagascar[2] along with Eric Darnell, where he also voiced the leader of the squad of penguin characters, Skipper. He 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 spin-off TV series, as a creative consultant and as the voice of Skipper. He directed Megamind, released in November 2010.

In 2017, he directed The Boss Baby and the 2021 sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business.

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Director Writer Producer Art /
Animation
department		 Voice
actor		 Voice
role		 Notes
1992 Cool World No No No Yes No animation designer
animator
layout artist
1996 Space Jam No No No Yes No animator
1998 Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie:
The Battle for Mount Olympus		 No No No Yes No key animator
layout artist
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas No No No Yes No storyboard artist
2001 Cats & Dogs No No No Yes No storyboard artist
2005 Madagascar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Skipper
Fossa
Panicky Man on Subway		 co-directed with Eric Darnell
co-written with Mark Burton, Billy Frolick and Eric Darnell
2006 Flushed Away No No No No Yes Action Figure
Artist
2007 Shrek the Third No No No No Yes Gary
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Skipper
Lemur		 co-directed with Eric Darnell
co-written with Etan Cohen and Eric Darnell
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens No Yes No No Yes Wilson
2010 Megamind Yes No Yes No Yes Lord Scott
Prison Guard
2011 Puss in Boots No No No No Yes Bar Thief
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Yes No No No Yes Skipper
First Policeman		 co-directed with Eric Darnell & Conrad Vernon
2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman No Yes No No Yes Odysseus
2014 Penguins of Madagascar No No Yes No Yes Skipper executive producer[3]
2017 The Boss Baby Yes No No No Yes TV Chef [4][5]
2021 The Boss Baby: Family Business Yes Yes Yes No Yes Dr. Tiffany Hamilton executive producer
Story co-written with Michael McCullers[6] Writer of Global Warming Song
co-written by Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro and Nelson Yokota
2022 Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank No No No No Yes Additional Voices

Short films
Year Title Director Writer Art /
Animation
department		 Actor Role Notes
1988 The Thing What Lurked in the Tub No No Yes No monster animator
1988 Lea Press on Limbs No No No Yes (voice)
1993 The D.A.R.E. Report: The Land of Decisions and Choices No No Yes No character layout
1995 The Louie N' Louie Show Yes No Yes No storyboard artist
1999 Herd No No No Yes Fed No. 5 live-action role
2001 Imp, Inc. No No Yes No animation layout
2005 The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper No No No Yes Skipper (voice)
2009 Merry Madagascar No Yes No Yes Skipper (voice)
Additional voices
2013 Madly Madagascar No No No Yes Skipper (voice)
2014 Almost Home No No No Yes Jeff (voice)

Television series
Year Title Director Art /
Animation
department		 Creative
consultant		 Actor Role Notes
1993–1996 The Ren & Stimpy Show Yes Yes No No director (1 episode)
layout artist (21 episodes)
background designer (14 episodes)
storyboard artist (10 episodes)
1996 KaBlam! Yes Yes No No director & storyboard artist (segment "The Louie and Louie Show")
1998 Oh Yeah! Cartoons No Yes No No background designer (segment "A Cop and His Donut")
2008–2015 The Penguins of Madagascar No No Yes Yes Skipper (voice) 88 episodes
2014 All Hail King Julien No No Yes No

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Madagascar Skipper (voice) Uncredited
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
2009 Madagascar Kartz
2011 The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again!
2012 Madagascar 3: The Video Game

References
  1. DreamWorks Animation. "Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted – Production Information" (PDF). Festival Cannes. p. 17. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  2. Keeping Control of the Zoo Tom McGrath Directs Madagascar to Laughs by Sara Michelle Fetters. Archived March 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine MovieFreak.com. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  3. Vary, Adam B. (July 12, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation Comic-Con panel: Caveman families and penguin movies!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  4. Rechtshaffen, Michael (March 12, 2017). "'The Boss Baby': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  5. "Dates Set for Madagascar 4, The Croods 2, Puss in Boots 2, Captain Underpants, and Hitman". ComingSoon.net. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  6. "Tom McGrath is Back to Direct 'Boss Baby 2', Jeff Hermann to Produce for DreamWorks Animation". May 16, 2019.
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