Christopher Matthew Miller (born January 20, 1968) is an American animator, director, and voice actor employed by Paramount Animation and formerly DreamWorks Animation. He is best known for directing Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination) and for voicing The Magic Mirror from the Shrek film series and Kowalski the penguin in the Madagascar film series. At Paramount Animation, he was the leader, director, and star of the Smurfs (2025), in which he provided the voices of Grouchy Smurf and Camouflage.
Early life He studied animation at the California Institute of Arts.
Career In an interview with Robert K. Elder for The Film That Changed My Life, Miller attributes his success in film to Sleeper. "I would be penniless and drunk on the corner, begging for cash, if I had not seen the film Sleeper. I guarantee you."Miller, Chris. Interview by Robert K. Elder. The Film That Changed My Life. By Robert K. Elder. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2011. N. p244. Print.
In 2011, Miller directed Puss in Boots, a spin-off and sequel to the Shrek franchise. His wife, Laura Gorenstein Miller, worked as a dance choreographer.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1988 The Thing What Lurked in the Tub Lugmeyer Lea Press on Limbs Director 1989 The Cellar Willy Cashen 1992 Cool World Key clean-up artist 1997 Officer Buckle and Gloria Storyboard artist 1998 Antz 2001 Shrek Geppetto, Magic Mirror Story artist/additional dialogue 2003 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Tower Guard Additional story artist 2004 Shrek 2 Humphries, Magic Mirror Head of story/additional dialogue Shark Tale Additional storyboard artist 2005 Madagascar Kowalski Story artist 2007 Shrek the Third Puppet Master, Announcer, Mascot, Singing Villain Director/screenplay 2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Kowalski 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Advisor Cole, Army Commander Jones Additional story artist 2010 Shrek Forever After Royal Messenger, Magic Mirror, Geppetto 2011 Puss in Boots Little Boy Blue, Friar Miller, Prison Guard, Manual, Rafael Director 2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Kowalski 2013 Turbo Tour Bus Driver 2014 Penguins of Madagascar Kowalski 2017 The Boss Baby Captain Ross Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Nobel Audience Member2025Smurfs Grouchy / Camouflage (voice)Director TBA Untitled wish-themed project
Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 Shrek the Halls Dialogue director 2009 Merry Madagascar Kowalski 2013 Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices
Video games Year Title Role Notes2002Shrek Super Party Magic Mirror2005MadagascarKowalski, Sleeping Sailor, Sports Car DriverMadagascar: Operation PenguinKowalski2008Shrek's Carnival CrazeMagic MirrorMadagascar: Escape 2 AfricaKowalski, Clem2010Shrek Forever AfterMagic Mirror
References
External links
Chris Miller interview Filmmakers of Shrek interview