David Soren (born April 19, 1973) is a Canadian animator, director, writer, voice actor, and storyboard artist at DreamWorks Animation. His most notable work are TV specials based on the Madagascar film franchise: Merry Madagascar and Madly Madagascar. He directed the 2013 animated feature film Turbo, which is based on his own original concept, as well as the 2017 animated film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie based on Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants book series.
Early life and career Soren was born in Toronto, Canada, was raised in Hamilton, and graduated from Sheridan College. His final student project, an animated short film, Mr. Lucky, received many accolades, and was accepted into competition for the 1997 Academy Award. Before joining DreamWorks Animation, he worked at Toronto-based Nelvana as an animator and storyboard artist.
At DreamWorks, he worked as a story artist on Chicken Run, Shrek and Over the Hedge, and as head of story on Shark Tale. In 2009, he directed and wrote his first film, a TV Christmas special, Merry Madagascar, followed by a 2013 TV Valentine's Day special, Madly Madagascar, also written and directed by Soren.
Soren made his feature directorial debut in 2013, directing Turbo. It received mixed-to-positive reviews which won him an Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production. He was also the creative consultant on its television series, Turbo Fast.
He voiced the muscle-sized baby Jimbo in The Boss Baby and directed his second feature film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and voiced Tommy which is based on Dav Pilkey's comic books Captain Underpants, which the movie and books would later get adapted into a Netflix television series titled The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants. However, Soren was not involved with the show. He reprised his role as Jimbo in The Boss Baby's sequel, The Boss Baby: Family Business.
Soren directed a full-length feature film for Paramount Animation titled Under the Boardwalk.
In February 2023, it was announced that Soren would write and direct a feature film based on Geronimo Stilton for Radar Pictures.
In August 2025, it was announced that Soren would direct an original feature film for Spin Master Entertainment.
Filmography Film YearFilmCredited as Director (Original)Story by Producer Other Voice Notes 2000 The Road to El Dorado rowspan="3" Storyboard artist Chicken Run Additional storyboard artist 2001 Shrek Story artist 2004 Shark Tale Shrimp, Worm, Starfish #1, Killer Whale #2 2006 Over the Hedge Story artist 2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Lemur 2010 How To Train Your Dragon Special thanks 2013 Turbo Worker Snail #1, Can't Tuck Snail, Gagné Crew Chief, Indy Network Executive, Newspaper Boy, Autotune Kid 2014 Penguins of Madagascar Special thanks 2017 The Boss Baby Jimbo Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Tommy Additional screenplay material 2021 The Boss Baby: Family Business Jimbo rowspan="2" 2023 Under the Boardwalk Yoga Crab TBD Geronimo Stilton colspan="2"
Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 Merry Madagascar Lookout lemur/additional lemurs Director/writer 2010 Neighbors from Hell Josh Hellman Actor 2013 Madly Madagascar Director/writer 2013–2016 Turbo FAST Creative consultant
References
External links
David Soren on Twitter