Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Tom McGrath

Highest Rated: 86% Puss in Boots (2011)

Lowest Rated: 46% The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021)

Birthday: Aug 7, 1964

Birthplace: Lynnwood, Washington, USA

Writer, director and artist Tom McGrath was one of the creative forces behind the wildly popular animated film "Madagascar" (2005) and its numerous sequels and spinoffs, while also providing the voice for one of its most well-loved characters, the gung-ho penguin Skipper. Born August 7, 1964 in Lynwood, Washington, McGrath's interest in animation was sparked by the Saturday morning cartoon programming of the period. He initially pursued a degree in industrial design at the University of Washington, but left to follow a more creative path with the animation program at the California Institute of the Arts. After completing his studies with a number of former Disney animators, including Hal Ambro ("Cinderella," 1950), McGrath worked in various capacities for a number of major film and television projects, from animator on "Space Jam" (1996) and director for "Ren & Stimpy" (Nickelodeon, 1991-95) to prop designer for Ron Howard's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000). In 2005, he was given his first opportunity to serve as co-director and co-writer with Dreamworks Animation's "Madagascar," about a quartet of pampered zoo animals that must fend for themselves in Africa. Though the voice cast included such major stars as Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, McGrath's own performance as Skipper, the leader of a group of renegade penguins, earned a positive response from audiences. As a result, the characters were featured prominently in the sequels, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (2008), and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" (2012), both of which were directed by McGrath, Darnell and Conrad Vernon. McGrath also created, wrote and provided the voice for Skipper on two television efforts: the highly rated series "The Penguins of Madagascar" (Nickelodeon, 2008- ) and a special, "Merry Madagascar" (NBC, 2009). The success of the "Madagascar" franchise led to a dual career for McGrath: he made his debut as a solo filmmaker with the animated feature "Megamind" (2010), featuring the voices of Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, while also providing vocal turns for many of Dreamworks' animated efforts, including "Shrek the Third" (2007), "Monsters vs. Aliens" (2009), "Puss in Boots" (2011) and "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" (2014).

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

86% 68% Puss in Boots Watchlist 81% 73% Mr. Peabody & Sherman Watchlist
78% 72% Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Watchlist
74% 63% Penguins of Madagascar
Watchlist
73% 72% Megamind Watchlist 64% 66% Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Watchlist
55% 67% Madagascar
Watchlist
53% 51% The Boss Baby Watchlist 46% 89% The Boss Baby: Family Business Watchlist
Madagascar
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
46% 89% The Boss Baby: Family Business Director,
Executive Producer
$57.3M 2021
53% 51% The Boss Baby Director $174.9M 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Boss Baby Director - 2017
74% 63% Penguins of Madagascar Skipper (Voice),
Executive Producer
$83.3M 2014
81% 73% Mr. Peabody & Sherman Odysseus (Voice) $111.5M 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Penguins of Madagascar Executive Producer - 2014
78% 72% Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Skipper (Voice),
Director
- 2012
No Score Yet No Score Yet Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted 3D Director - 2012
No Score Yet No Score Yet Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted 3D Director $216.4M 2012
86% 68% Puss in Boots Bar Thief (Voice) $149.2M 2011
73% 72% Megamind Director $148.3M 2010
64% 66% Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Skipper (Voice),
Director,
Screenwriter
- 2008
No Score Yet 78% Madagascar 2: Escape Africa Director,
Screenwriter
- 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Director,
Screenwriter
- 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Madagascar Director - 2005
55% 67% Madagascar Skipper/Fossa/Panicky Man on Subway (Voice),
Director,
Writer
$193.1M 2005
No Score Yet 62% Erskineville Kings Cinematographer - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Living Planet Writer - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Genesis Writer - 1978
No Score Yet 50% To Fly! Writer - 1976

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 86% The Penguins of Madagascar Skipper (Character),
Unknown (Voice)
2008-2013 2015 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet All Hail King Julien: Exiled Creator 2017