Craig Kellman


Craig Kellman is an American animator, character designer and director. He is best known for his work on Madagascar, Hotel Transylvania, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Trolls, The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack.

Background

Kellman attended the California Institute of the Arts as a part of their character animation program. At 18, he started work in animation on Bobby's World. He would go on to produce and direct The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat at 23 and work on major animated series, such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and HBO's The Ricky Gervais Show.

Awards and nominations

Kellman has received multiple awards and nominations for his works in animation. He has been nominated twice for an Emmy, winning one 2017 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" for episode "XCII" of Samurai Jack. Kellman also won an Annie Award for "Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production" for his work on the episode "XCVI", as well as one for " Outstanding Achievement in Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production" for Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas in 2016.

Filmography

YearTitleCreditNotes
1990Adventures of the Gummi BearsLayout artistUncredited
1990–1995Bobby's WorldModel designer, models, storyboard artist24 episodes
1991Adventures in Dinosaur CityCharacter designer, designer
1991A Wish for Wings That WorkAnimator
1992BulimiatorDirector
1992–1995Batman: The Animated SeriesCharacter designer23 episodes
1993BonkersCharacter designer4 episodes
1993Batman: Mask of the PhantasmCharacter designer
1993–1994AnimaniacsModel designer3 episodes
1994The Ren & Stimpy ShowStoryboard artist1 episode
1994The Itsy Bitsy SpiderStoryboard artist
1994–1995The CriticCharacter designer22 episodes
1995Pinky and the BrainModels3 episodes
1995–1997The Twisted Tales of Felix the CatCharacter designer, background artist, layout artist, storyboard artist, director, producer, writer, voice director12 episodes
1995–1997, 2001–2002What a Cartoon!Layout artist, character designer, storyboard artist, animation layout, character layout, art director, production designer9 episodes
1997Loose ToothVisual development artist
1997The Brave Little Toaster to the RescueCharacter designerCredited as "Craig D. Kellman"
1998The Brave Little Toaster Goes to MarsCharacter designCredited as "Craig D. Kellman"
1998–1999ToonsylvaniaLayout artist, character layout8 episodes
1998–2003, 2008The Powerpuff GirlsModels, art director, character designer28 episodes
1999Mickey Mouse WorksStoryboard artist1 episode
1999Dexter's Laboratory: Ego TripModels, production designer
2000HairballsCharacter layout artist, additional animator, director
2000–2001Cartoon Cartoon FridaysModels5 episodes
2001The Flintstones: On the RocksCharacter designer
2001–2017Samurai JackCharacter designer, property designer17 episodes
2002The Powerpuff Girls MovieCharacter designer, development
2002–2003Dexter's LaboratoryLayout artist3 episodes
2004Home on the RangeAdditional visual development artist
2004The SpongeBob SquarePants MovieConception character designer
2004–2007Foster's Home for Imaginary FriendsAnimation director, character designer, director, creative producer25 episodes
2005MadagascarLead character designer
2005The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas CaperCharacter designer
2005HBO First LookSelf"Madagascar: Welcome to the Jungle" episode
2006How to Eat Fried WormsLayoutVia Orphanage Animation Studios
2007El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny RiveraCharacter designer2 episodes
2007Bee MovieAdditional character designer
2007The ModifyersAdditional character designCredited as "Craig D. Kellman"
2008Madagascar: Escape 2 AfricaCharacter designer
2008–2010The Penguins of MadagascarCharacter designer33 episodes
2009Monsters vs. AliensCharacter design
2009Joey to the WorldCreator, director
2009The Haunted World of El SuperbeastoStoryboard artist
2009SpongeBob SquarePantsStoryboard director1 episode
2009Merry MadagascarCharacter design
2009The Powerpuff Girls: Who, What, Where, How, Why... Who Cares?SelfVideo documentary short
2010The Ricky Gervais ShowCharacter designer, director13 episodes
2011McBustersVoice Appeared in "McBusters 3"
2011The Smurfs: A Christmas CarolAdditional voices
2012Hotel TransylvaniaCharacter designer, voice actorVoice of "Guy in Crowd" and "Hydra"
2012Madagascar 3: Europe's Most WantedCharacter design
2013Madly MadagascarCharacter designer
2013The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy HollowAdditional voices
2013Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2Character designer, voice actorVoice of "Flintly McCallahan" and "Idea Pants Guy"
2013Super MannyVoice
2014Mr. Peabody & ShermanCharacter designer
2014Penguins of MadagascarCharacter designer
2014Elf: Buddy's Musical ChristmasCharacter designer
2014Steve's First BathWriter
2015Hotel Transylvania 2Character designer
2015The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Sponge Out of WaterArt departmentDesigned and supervised Rap Battle Sequence
2016Sausage PartyLead character designer
2016The Angry Birds MovieAdditional artist
2016Ask the StoryBotsAdditional character design, writer, developer6 episodes
2016TrollsCharacter designer
2017Puppy!: A Hotel Transylvania ShortCharacter design
2018Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer VacationCharacter designer, voice actorVoice of "Mr. Hydraberg"
2018Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseCharacter design
2018A Wizard's TaleCharacter designer
2019The Addams FamilyCharacter designer
2019Spider-Ham: Caught in a HamLead character designer
2020The WilloughbysCharacter designer
2021Monster Pets: A Hotel Transylvania Short FilmCharacter design
2021The Addams Family 2Designer
2021The Loud House MovieAdditional character design
2022Hotel Transylvania: TransformaniaCharacter designer
2022DC League of Super-PetsCharacter designer
2022Paws of Fury: The Legend of HankCharacter designer: Mass Animation
2022Strange WorldCharacter designerUncredited
2023Ruby Gillman, Teenage KrakenCharacter design
2023Trolls Band TogetherCharacter design