Conrad Vernon (born July 11, 1968) is an American director, producer, writer, storyboard artist and voice actor, best known for his work as a writer and voice actor on the DreamWorks animated film series Shrek as well as other films such as Monsters vs. Aliens and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. He also co-directed non-DreamWorks animated films such as Sony Pictures' Sausage Party and MGM's The Addams Family.
Life and career Conrad Vernon was born on July 11, 1968, a native of Lubbock, Texas, studied at CalArts and worked as a storyboard artist for animated productions (including Ralph Bakshi's Cool World); he also directed Morto the Magician (a four-minute animated film written by Steve Martin).
Vernon began his career in 1991. In 1996, he joined DreamWorks, where he worked as a storyboard artist on Antz. After Antz proved a success as the first animated feature film to be produced by DreamWorks Animation, Vernon signed on as a writer for Shrek, where he was responsible for the Gingerbread Man, and eventually voiced that character. He also appeared in Shrek 4-D and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
In June 2004, he made his feature film directorial debut with the Academy Award-nominated Shrek 2 alongside Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury. He voiced Mason the chimpanzee for the DreamWorks Animation films Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (for which he is also credited as director) and its spin off Penguins of Madagascar (where he voiced Rico, one of the penguins) and reprised the voice of Mason in the television series.
In 2009, Vernon and Rob Letterman co-directed the 3D animated film Monsters vs. Aliens, which he co-wrote and supplied several voices.
Vernon and Greg Tiernan co-directed the adult animated comedy Sausage Party (2016), from a story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jonah Hill, as well as providing some of the voices. Vernon next co-produced and co-directed, again with Tiernan, an animated version of The Addams Family, which was released in October 2019. He supplied voice roles for both Sausage Party and The Addams Family, including Lurch in the latter. He was scheduled to return as director alongside Tiernan for The Addams Family 2, released in October 2021. In October 2020, it was announced that he would no longer be involved as director, though he ultimately received co-billing with Tiernan.
In 2017, Vernon was hired to direct an animated feature adaptation of The Jetsons, from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman, which is being made by Warner Bros., under its Warner Animation Group banner.Animated 'Jetsons' Movie to Lift Off With 'Sausage Party' Director , in Variety
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Producer Notes 2001 Morto the Magician Short film 2004 Shrek 2 Co-director with Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Co-director with Rob Letterman 2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Co-director with Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath 2016Sausage Party Co-director with Greg Tiernan 2019The Addams Family 2021 The Addams Family 2 2027 Shrek 5 Co-director with Walt Dohrn
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1999 Herd Pesion Live-action role 2001 Shrek Gingerbread Man Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party Short film 2003 Shrek 4-D Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Jed2004 Shrek 2 Gingerbread Man, Cedric, Announcer, Mongo, Muffin Man Far Far Away Idol Gingerbread Man Short film 2005 Madagascar Mason The Barnyard (pitch) 2006 Flushed Away Take Out 2007 Bee Movie Freddy 2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Mason 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Advisor Hawk, Advisor Dither, Minister, Secret Service Man #2, Mama Dietl 2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Boar Puss in Boots Raoul 2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Mason 2014 Penguins of Madagascar Rico 2016 Sausage Party Toilet paper, Sauerkraut, Grape, Catcall sausage, Beer can, Pop bottle 2017The Boss Baby Eugene FrancisThe Emoji Movie Trojan Horse2019TroubleOtisThe Addams Family Lurch, Priest, Spirit of the House, Dr. Flambe, Ggerri2021The Addams Family 2 Lurch, Spirit of the House 2022 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Gingerbread Man 2025 Smurfs Butler 2027 Shrek 5 Gingerbread Man
Other credits Year Title Role 1991 No Neck Joe Special thanks 1992 Cool World Character designerEffects animator 1998 Antz Storyboard artist 2000 The Road to El Dorado Additional storyboard artist 2001 Shrek Additional dialogue/story artist/writer: "Merry Men" 2003 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Additional storyboard artist 2004 Shark TaleShrek 2Additional dialogue 2005 Madagascar Creative consultant The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper Creative consultant;Short film 2006 Over the Hedge Story artist 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Story writer 2016 Trolls Additional story artist 2017 Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Special thanks The Emoji Movie Additional sequence director 2019 The Addams Family Story writer
Television Year Title Notes 1993 Rocko's Modern Life Storyboard artist, additional writer 1993–1994 2 Stupid Dogs Storyboard artist 1993–1996 The Itsy Bitsy Spider Director 1996 Dexter's Laboratory Storyboard artist, layout artist 1997 Nightmare Ned Storyboard artist 2012–2014 The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Executive producer, storyboard artist 2024–present Rock Paper Scissors Executive producer 2024–2025 Sausage Party: Foodtopia Director 2025–present Wylde Pak Executive producer
Acting roles Year Title Role 2007 Shrek the Halls Gingerbread Man 2009–2012 The Penguins of Madagascar Mason 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space Man on Cell, Woman 2010 Scared Shrekless Gingerbread Man, Muffin Man Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special Boar 2012 The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Various
Video games Acting role Year Title Role Note2005MadagascarMason, Captain, Construction Worker #1, Tour Bus DriverShrek Super SlamGingerbread Man2007Shrek the ThirdGingerbread Man, Evil Knight #1, Jock #1Shrek: Ogres & DronkeysGingerbread ManShrek n' RollGingerbread Man, Evil Knight #12008Shrek's Carnival CrazeGingerbread ManMadagascar: Escape 2 AfricaMason2009Madagascar Kartz2010Shrek Forever AfterGingerbread Man2012Madagascar 3: The Video GameMason
References
External links Conrad's blog