Tim Johnson (born August 27, 1961) is an American animator, film director, film producer, and television director. Johnson is best known for directing the DreamWorks Animation films Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Over the Hedge, and Home.
Life and career
Johnson was born in Chicago. He studied at Northwestern University where he earned a BA in English Literature. He also produced two animated films; both of which earned Richter Grant Organization Awards.[1]
Upon graduating, he worked for two years as a freelance animator and director. His introduction to computer animation came in 1985 while he worked on the staff at Post Effects in Chicago.[1] He later joined Pacific Data Images in 1988 and two years later co-founded the studio's Character Animation Group.[1] He also directed the first CG Pillsbury Doughboy commercial.
Johnson won two Annie awards on Antz and Over the Hedge, an Audience Award on Over the Hedge, and a Grand Prize for The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror VI".
While at DreamWorks Animation, he also directed Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Home (an adaptation of The True Meaning of Smekday), and the Christmas television special Kung Fu Panda Holiday,[2][3][4] and additionally served as executive producer for How to Train Your Dragon and Abominable.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Antz | Director |
| 2000 | Cyberworld | Director: Antz segment, Animation Director: Homer3 segment |
| 2003 | Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Director |
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Director |
| Hammy's Boomerang Adventure | Creative Consultant | |
| 2010 | How to Train Your Dragon | Executive Producer |
| 2015 | Home[2][3] | Director |
| 2019 | Abominable | Executive Producer[5] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Simpsons's Treehouse of Horror VI | Computer Animation Director |
| 2010 | Kung Fu Panda Holiday | Director |
| 2019 | How To Train Your Dragon: Homecoming | Director[6] |