Kris Pearn is an animation director and producer. He has directed films such as ''

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 ''Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2'' is a 2013 American animated science fiction comedy film. The sequel to ''Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'' (2009), it was directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn (in their feature directorial debuts) a ...

'' (2013, with

Cody Cameron Cody William Cameron (born October 12, 1970) is an American voice actor, film director and storyboard artist best known for directing '' Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2''. He voiced many animated characters, including Pinocchio and the Three ...

) and ''

The Willoughbys ''The Willoughbys'' is a 2020 animated comedy film directed by Kris Pearn and co-directed by Rob Lodermeier (in his feature directorial debut), from a screenplay written by Pearn and Mark Stanleigh. Based on the book of the same name by Lois L ...

'' (2020).

Early life and education

Pearn was born in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada, where his family owns a small donkey farm. Pearn attended the

Strathroy District Collegiate Institute Strathroy District Collegiate Institute (SDCI) is one of two secondary schools in Strathroy, Ontario. It is a public high school in the Thames Valley District School Board. The school services feeder schools in the Strathroy area, as well as ...

Career

Pearn's storyboarding for ''

Open Season Open Season may refer to: Time periods * Open season (hunting), when hunting a particular species is legal * Annual enrollment or open season, when employees may make changes to benefit programs Film and television * ''Open Season'' (1974 film ...

'' (2006) earned him an Annie nomination for " Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production". Pearn and

co-directed ''

'' (2013), the first director credit for each. The duo took over from directing team

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Philip Anderson Lord (born July 12, 1975) and Christopher Robert Miller (born September 23, 1975) are an American filmmaking and acting duo. Their films are known for subversion of genre and detailed visual sensation, spanning various styles of ...

, announced as directors in December 2011. The voices of Sentinel Peter and Labcoat Jenny were provided by Pearn. The duo received a nomination for

Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature The Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature is an annual Satellite Award given by the International Press Academy. Winners and nominees 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Directors with multiple wins ;3 wins *Hayao Miyazak ...

. Pearn's storyboard work for ''

Arthur Christmas ''Arthur Christmas'' is a 2011 animated Christmas comedy film directed by Sarah Smith who co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Baynham, and starring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley ...

'' (2011) earned him an Annie Award nomination for " Storyboarding in a Feature Production". He was also the voice of one of the elves in the film. Pearn returned to the ''Open Season'' film series, working on the story for '' Open Season: Scared Silly'' (2015). In 2017, he wrote the animated television film ''The Great Northern Candy Drop''. Pearn wrote and directed ''

'' (2020), an animated comedy released on Netflix. Pearn also developed the story, and co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Stanleigh. He was brought onto the production four years before its release, securing distribution by Netflix early in their venture into commissioning animation. While the source book made fun of children's literature, he pivoted the production to poke at children's movie tropes. Pearn and character designer Craig Kellman had worked together previously, but he suggests that this was the first time they "could really do whatever we craved." The film's score is by

Mark Mothersbaugh Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (; born May 18, 1950) is an American musician and composer. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead vocalist and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, whose " Whip It" was a top 20 single in the US ...

, who had previously worked with Pearn on ''Cloudy 2''. In December 2024, he was hired to direct an upcoming ''

Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, three eccentric ...

'' animated film. He has taught Character Design at

Sheridan College Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, formerly Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology, is a public polytechnic institute partnered with private Canadian College of Technology and Trades operating campuses ...

in Oakville, Ontario. Away from animation, Pearn has illustrated the book ''

Project Superhero ''Project Superhero'' is a 2014 children's fiction/non-fiction hybrid book written by neuroscientist E. Paul Zehr and illustrated by Kris Pearn. It was first published in hardcover print in September 2014 by ECW Press. In 2015, the book was award ...

'', written by E. Paul Zehr, a professor of kinesiology and neuroscience. The two met at

TEDx TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "Ideas Change Everything" (previously "Ideas Worth Sprea ...

Edmonton 2012 where Zehr was giving a talk on "the superhero in you".

Filmography

Accolades

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pearn, Kris Living people Canadian animated film directors Film directors from Ontario Academic staff of Sheridan College Year of birth missing (living people)