Chris Renaud (animator)
Encyclopedia
Chris Renaud is an American illustrator and film-maker. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2006 animated short No Time for Nuts
, which featured the character Scrat from the computer animated Ice Age
films. Most recently, he directed Despicable Me
, starring the voice of Steve Carell
, which debuted #1 at the U.S. box office on July 9th, 2010.
After graduating from Syracuse University
with an illustration degree, Renaud began work as a graphic designer
in the sports entertainment industry. He has created logo designs and mascot characters for NFL Properties, the NBA, and Foot Locker, among others. After working as a designer and illustrator for a variety of publications and agencies, Chris began drawing and writing comic book
s. Working for both Marvel Comics
and DC Comics
, his notable projects include illustrating Marvel's Starfleet Academy
and pitching the original story concept that evolved into Batman: Cataclysm. This yearlong tale across all Batman-related comics resulted in increased sales and visibility for the renowned character.
As the production designer on the Disney Channels’ The Book of Pooh
, Renaud transitioned into the world of children’s television. Since that groundbreaking project, he has been able to design virtual sets and puppet characters for Bear in the Big Blue House
, Lazy Town, Curious Pictures, Sony Animation, and many more. With the new show It's a Big Big World
, currently airing on PBS, he took the lead role in the visual development and design of every aspect of this Emmy-nominated children’s program.
Renaud worked for Blue Sky Studios
as a story artist on such films as Robots
, Ice Age: The Meltdown
, and the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears A Who!
. He also wrote and co-directed the animated short No Time for Nuts
, which received an Annie Award and a 2007 Oscar nomination within the animated short films category. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows
in 2006.
Renaud works for Illumination Entertainment
as a part of three-picture exclusive directing deal and lives in Paris, France. He directed Despicable Me
, starring Steve Carell
, which was released in the U.S. on July 9, 2010. He is currently co-directing an animated feature film Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
, set for release on March 2, 2012.
No Time for Nuts
No Time for Nuts is a computer animated short film from Blue Sky Studios , starring Scrat of Ice Age fame, premiering on the DVD release of Ice Age: The Meltdown, much in the same vein as Gone Nutty on the previous movie's DVD release...
, which featured the character Scrat from the computer animated Ice Age
Ice Age (film series)
Ice Age is a series of animated films produced by Blue Sky Studios, a division of 20th Century Fox, and featuring the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Chris Wedge. Three films have been released in the series thus far, Ice Age in 2002, Ice Age: The Meltdown in 2006, and Ice...
films. Most recently, he directed Despicable Me
Despicable Me
Despicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated 3D comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment that was released on July 9, 2010 in the United States. The film features the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and...
, starring the voice of Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
, which debuted #1 at the U.S. box office on July 9th, 2010.
After graduating from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
with an illustration degree, Renaud began work as a graphic designer
Graphic designer
A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
in the sports entertainment industry. He has created logo designs and mascot characters for NFL Properties, the NBA, and Foot Locker, among others. After working as a designer and illustrator for a variety of publications and agencies, Chris began drawing and writing comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s. Working for both Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, his notable projects include illustrating Marvel's Starfleet Academy
Starfleet Academy
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet Academy is where the future's recruits to Starfleet will be trained. It was created in the year 2161, when the United Federation of Planets was founded...
and pitching the original story concept that evolved into Batman: Cataclysm. This yearlong tale across all Batman-related comics resulted in increased sales and visibility for the renowned character.
As the production designer on the Disney Channels’ The Book of Pooh
The Book of Pooh
The Book of Pooh is an American television series that aired on the Disney Channel. It is the third television series to feature the characters from the Disney franchise based on A. A...
, Renaud transitioned into the world of children’s television. Since that groundbreaking project, he has been able to design virtual sets and puppet characters for Bear in the Big Blue House
Bear in the Big Blue House
Bear in the Big Blue House is a television program for young children produced for the Playhouse Disney channel by Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company. It first aired in 1997, and re-runs of the show continue to air on Playhouse Disney . It is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Shadow...
, Lazy Town, Curious Pictures, Sony Animation, and many more. With the new show It's a Big Big World
It's a Big Big World
It's A Big Big World is an American children's television show on PBS Kids, that debuted January 2, 2006. It was originally part of Miss Lori and Hooper's schedule block, but it was replaced in that block on September 3, 2007, though ran for a few years that followed...
, currently airing on PBS, he took the lead role in the visual development and design of every aspect of this Emmy-nominated children’s program.
Renaud worked for Blue Sky Studios
Blue Sky Studios
Blue Sky Studios is an American CGI-animation studio which specializes in high-resolution, computer-generated character animation and rendering. It is owned by 20th Century Fox and located in Greenwich, Connecticut...
as a story artist on such films as Robots
Robots (film)
Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
, Ice Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age: The Meltdown, also known as Ice Age 2: The Meltdown or simply as Ice Age 2, is the 2006 sequel to the 2002 computer-animated film Ice Age. It was produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and premiered in Belgium on March 1, 2006...
, and the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears A Who!
Horton Hears a Who! (film)
Horton Hears a Who!, also known as Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, is a 2008 American CGI-animated comedy feature film based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. It is the fourth feature film from Blue Sky Studios, and the third feature film based on a Dr. Seuss book, following How the Grinch...
. He also wrote and co-directed the animated short No Time for Nuts
No Time for Nuts
No Time for Nuts is a computer animated short film from Blue Sky Studios , starring Scrat of Ice Age fame, premiering on the DVD release of Ice Age: The Meltdown, much in the same vein as Gone Nutty on the previous movie's DVD release...
, which received an Annie Award and a 2007 Oscar nomination within the animated short films category. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows
Animation show of shows
The Animation Show of Shows is a traveling selection of the year's best animated short films, curated and presented by Acme Filmworks founder, Ron Diamond. It began in 1998 with the aim of showing the most original, funny, intelligent short animated films from all over the world and presenting them...
in 2006.
Renaud works for Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment is an American film production company, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007. It is owned by Universal Studios and based in Santa Monica, California. It is best known for its 2010 animated feature Despicable Me.- History :...
as a part of three-picture exclusive directing deal and lives in Paris, France. He directed Despicable Me
Despicable Me
Despicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated 3D comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment that was released on July 9, 2010 in the United States. The film features the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and...
, starring Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
, which was released in the U.S. on July 9, 2010. He is currently co-directing an animated feature film Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
The Lorax (film)
The Lorax, also known as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, is an upcoming American computer-animated 3-D film based on Dr. Seuss' children's book of the same name. It is being produced by Illumination Entertainment and will be released by Universal Pictures on March 2, 2012, what would have been the 108th...
, set for release on March 2, 2012.
Filmography
- Dr. Seuss' The LoraxThe Lorax (film)The Lorax, also known as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, is an upcoming American computer-animated 3-D film based on Dr. Seuss' children's book of the same name. It is being produced by Illumination Entertainment and will be released by Universal Pictures on March 2, 2012, what would have been the 108th...
: Director - Despicable MeDespicable MeDespicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated 3D comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment that was released on July 9, 2010 in the United States. The film features the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and...
: Director, voiced a Minion named Dave - Ice Age: Dawn of the DinosaursIce Age: Dawn of the DinosaursIce Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, also known as Ice Age 3, is a 2009 3-D computer animated film. It is the third installment of the Ice Age series, produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox...
: Story Artist - Horton Hears a Who!Horton Hears a Who! (film)Horton Hears a Who!, also known as Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, is a 2008 American CGI-animated comedy feature film based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. It is the fourth feature film from Blue Sky Studios, and the third feature film based on a Dr. Seuss book, following How the Grinch...
: Story Artist - No Time for NutsNo Time for NutsNo Time for Nuts is a computer animated short film from Blue Sky Studios , starring Scrat of Ice Age fame, premiering on the DVD release of Ice Age: The Meltdown, much in the same vein as Gone Nutty on the previous movie's DVD release...
: Director/Writer (Story) - Ice Age: The MeltdownIce Age: The MeltdownIce Age: The Meltdown, also known as Ice Age 2: The Meltdown or simply as Ice Age 2, is the 2006 sequel to the 2002 computer-animated film Ice Age. It was produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and premiered in Belgium on March 1, 2006...
: Storyboard Artist - RobotsRobots (film)Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
: Storyboard Artist - The Book of PoohThe Book of PoohThe Book of Pooh is an American television series that aired on the Disney Channel. It is the third television series to feature the characters from the Disney franchise based on A. A...
: Digital Set Art Director/Production Designer (season 2) - It's a Big Big WorldIt's a Big Big WorldIt's A Big Big World is an American children's television show on PBS Kids, that debuted January 2, 2006. It was originally part of Miss Lori and Hooper's schedule block, but it was replaced in that block on September 3, 2007, though ran for a few years that followed...
: Character Designer/Production Designer - Bear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue House is a television program for young children produced for the Playhouse Disney channel by Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company. It first aired in 1997, and re-runs of the show continue to air on Playhouse Disney . It is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Shadow...
: Graphic Designer (final season)