Jonathan David Schnepp (May 16, 1967 – July 19, 2018) was an American animator, producer, director, writer, editor, voice actor, and media host.

Schnepp was known for the documentary film The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?, which he directed and wrote. He also directed episodes of Metalocalypse, The Venture Bros. and a segment of The ABCs of Death. He was also known for his work with Collider, appearing regularly as a panelist on the site's Collider Movie Talk, Collider Nightmares, and Collider Heroes series, the latter of which he hosted. His company, Schneppzone, works on short films and television series.

Schnepp died on July 19, 2018, due to complications following a stroke.

Career Schnepp served as animation director for Nickelodeon's What's Inside Heidi's Head?, and as editor on numerous episodes of Cartoon Network's Space Ghost Coast to Coast. He co-directed the pilot for Upright Citizens Brigade for Comedy Central, and directed segments and the title sequence for the series run. He also released The Removers and Brainwarp, two pilots he produced and directed, on DVD by Film Threat. He then went to Brazil, working with Debbie Allen, editing and creating the title sequences for two sitcoms airing in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Schnepp co-created, co-wrote, and directed Nerd Hunter 3004 for the Channel 101 pilot. He also guest stars as a voice actor on three episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. In two episodes he voices the Wisdom Cube and in the other he plays The Creature from Plaque Lagoon.

From 2006 to 2012, Schnepp served as director on Metalocalypse, an animated series on Cartoon Network about Dethklok, a chiefly-fictional heavy metal band. As well as directing several episodes per season (the most recent of which aired in 2012), he designed and created the look of the five band members, and works closely with the show's co-creators/writers Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. He directed the 2009 Dethklok Tour with Mastodon, providing an animated accompaniment. Schnepp helped write all four Dethklok comic books, and designed variant cover arts.

Schnepp co-directed Season 4.1 of The Venture Bros. Schnepp was featured in The Damned Things' music video for "We've Got a Situation Here".

In 2011, Schnepp directed music videos for the bands I Set My Friends on Fire and Forbidden. In a 2012 Dread Central interview, he spoke of directing an upcoming animated horror film Grimm Fairy Tales.

From 2012 to 2015, Schnepp was a regular contributor to AMC Movie Talk on YouTube, an online show dedicated to film news and commentaries. After the series' cancellation by AMC Theatres and subsequent pickup by Collider, Schnepp remained as a regular contributor.

In 2015, Schnepp directed the documentary film The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?, which documents behind-the-scenes events surrounding the cancelled Tim Burton film Superman Lives. Partially raised through a successful Kickstarter campaign, it premiered on May 1, 2015, and was released through VOD on July 9, 2015, to positive reviews.

Death On July 12, 2018, Schnepp suffered a stroke that left him unconscious and on life support. He died of complications a week later on July 19, aged 51.

Selected filmography

Film, television, and web Year Film Director Producer Writer Actor Other credits and notes 1986 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Extra 1995–99 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Animator, voice role (C. Ling Tile), editor 1995 HorrorGirl The Demon Club Dead Video game; voice role 1998 Upright Citizens Brigade Two episodes 1999 Cast in Stone 2000 HBO First Look Editor 2001 The Removers Short film 2003 The Orlando Jones Show Editor Brainwarp Role: The Indescribable Disaster (voice) 2003–09 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Role: The Wisdom Cube / Gary the Dairy Fairy (voices) 2004 Nerd Hunter 3004 Short film; role: Videogame Nerd 2005 My Big Fat Independent Movie Role: Mexican Standoff Extra 2005–06 Mind of Mencia Visual effects 2006–12 Metalocalypse Character designer; role: Dr. Gibbits (voice) Animated series 2007 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am Video game; role: Dumbassahedratron (voice) 2009 A Day in the Life Editor; role: Officer Miller 2009–10 The Venture Bros. Animated series Co-directed with Christopher McCulloch 2010 Caller ID Role: JebBlack Panther Co-created with Mark Brooks 2011 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope Guest appearance only Underworld: Endless War 2012 The ABCs of Death Segment "W is for WTF?" 2012–15 AMC Movie Talk Himself (panelist) 2014 Turbo Fast Role: Donald (voice) Episode: "Tur-Bros/The Snailman" 2015 The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? Editor; Himself Documentary Wrestling Isn't Wrestling Short film; role: Rabbi AMC Heroes Himself (host) 2015–18 Collider Movie Talk Himself (panelist) 2015–18 Collider Heroes Himself (host) 2016 Nerdland Sequence animator 2018 Temple of Art Documentary

Music videos

Year Artist Song Notes 1991 Infectious Grooves "Therapy" Extra 1992 Iron Maiden "Be Quick or Be Dead" 1994 Melvins "Revolve" 1997 Metallica "The Memory Remains" 2007 Dethklok "Bloodrocuted" Co-director (with Brendon Small) Exodus "Riot Act" Director 2008 Dethklok "Murmaider" Director "Briefcase Full of Guts" "Birthday Dethday" "Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle" "Hatredcopter" "Thunderhorse" "Go Into the Water" 2009 "Bloodlines" "Dethsupport" "The Gears" "Burn The Earth" "Black Fire Upon Us" 2010 Exodus "Downfall" The Damned Things "We've Got a Situation Here" Guest appearance only 2011 I Set My Friends on Fire "Astral Rejection" Director Forbidden "Omega Wave" Director

References

External links