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Thomas McGrath (born August 7, 1964) is an American voice actor, animator, screenwriter, and film director. He is known for co-directing the DreamWorks animated film Madagascar with Eric Darnell. The film later spawned three sequels and an animated series. McGrath also stepped in on Flushed Away to help make improvements prior to its release. He has also directed other DreamWorks animated films such as Megamind and The Boss Baby.

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. McGrath immediately obtained a job as an animator at Paramount Feature Animation. His first work was a animator for character animator for East of the Sun and West of the Moon. While working at Paramount, 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 (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 Art / Animation
department
Voice actor Voice role Notes
1989 East of the Sun and West of the Moon No No Yes No character animator
1990 Little Helpers To the Rescue No No Yes No directing animator
1991 Island of Parrots No No Yes No animator
1992 Cool World No No Yes No animation designer
animator
layout artist
The World of Fairy Tales No No Yes No animator

layout artist

1994 Meredith's Journey No No Yes No supervising animator
1995 A Nutcracker Tale No No Yes No
1996 Space Jam No No Yes No animator
Natalia's Story No No Yes No
1997 Animated Quest No No Yes No supervising animator

storyboard artist

Mistress Masham's Repose No No Yes No
1998 Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus No No Yes No key animator

layout artist

1998 Future Princess No No Yes No supervising animator

storyboard artist

2000 ToonMania: The Zany Quest Begins Yes No No No co-directed with Alexandra Farwell, Penny Fleischer andMatthew O'Callaghan
How the Grinch Stole Christmas No No Yes No storyboard artist
2001 Cats & Dogs No No Yes No
The Viking Warrior No No Yes No storyboard artist

supervising animator

2002 The Wizards No No Yes No supervising animator
2005 Madagascar Yes Yes No Yes Skipper

Fossa
Panicky Man on Subway

co-directed with Eric Darnell
2006 Flushed Away No No No Yes Action Figure

Artist

2007 Shrek the Third No No No Yes Gary
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Yes Yes No Yes Skipper

Lemur

co-directed with Eric Darnell
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens No No No Yes Wilson
2010 Megamind Yes No No Yes Lord Scott

Prison Guard

2011 Puss in Boots No No No Yes Bar Thief
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Yes No No Yes Skipper

First Policeman

co-directed with Eric Darnell &

Conrad Vernon

2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman No No No Yes Odysseus
2014 Penguins of Madagascar No No No Yes Skipper executive producer
2017 The Boss Baby Yes No No Yes TV Chef
2021 The Boss Baby: Family Business Yes No No No
2022 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish No No No Yes special thanks
TBA The Magic School Bus Yes No No No

Short film[]

Year Title Director Writer Art /

Animation
department

Actor Role Notes
1988 The Thing What Lurked in the Tub No No Yes No monster animator
Lea Press on Limbs No No No Yes (voice)
1990 Lena No No Yes No animator
1993 The D.A.R.E. Report: The Land of Decisions and Choices No No Yes No character layout
1994 The Secret Crystal No No Yes No animator
Friendly Fox in: Farm Mayhem No No Yes No
1995 The Louie N' Louie Show Yes No Yes No storyboard artist
1997 The Sounds of the Whale No No Yes No animator
1999 Herd No No No Yes Fed No. 5 live-action role
2000 Quest for the Master No No Yes No animator
2001 Imp, Inc. No No Yes No animation layout
Studiotopia Yes No No No
2002 Crawler, Liger and Ratty in: Fighting for Food No No Yes No animator
The Wizards: Into the Dimension No No Yes No
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
1992-1997 ToonMania Yes Yes No No director (87 episodes)


layout artist (30 episodes)


background designer (45 episodes)


storyboard artist (68 episodes)

1993-1996 The Ren & Stimpy Show Yes Yes No No director (2 episodes)
layout artist (21 episodes)

background designer (14 episodes)

storyboard artist (10 episodes)

1996 KaBlam! Yes Yes director & storyboard artist (segment "The Louie and Louie Show")
2008-2015 The Penguins of Madagascar Yes Yes Skipper (voice) 88 episodes
2014 All Hail King Julien Yes

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
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