Simon J. Smith

Born 1968 · British animator, director, and voice actor

Simon James Smith is a British animator, film director, and voice actor. He is best known for his work at DreamWorks Animation. Smith came to PDI/DreamWorks in 1997 as head of layout for the company's feature film division. A CG animation veteran with nearly 35 years of experience, Smith supervised the layout department on PDI/DreamWorks' first animated feature Antz (1998), serving as the head of layout in Shrek (2001). He then directed the Universal Studios Theatre experience Shrek 4-D, followed by the short Far Far Away Idol. His first feature film as a director was in 2007, with Bee Movie. He then directed another DVD short, Megamind: The Button of Doom, before co-directing, with Eric Darnell, the comedy/spy action spin-off from the Madagascar series, Penguins of Madagascar, the mini series Baymax Dreams for Disney, and is executive producer on Batwheels for Warner Bros.

Simon J. Smith, in order

1. 2003 Shrek 4-D (short film): directed
2. 2004 Far Far Away Idol (short film): directed
3. 2007 Bee Movie: directed
4. 2011 Megamind: The Button of Doom (short film): directed
5. 2014 Penguins of Madagascar: directed