Tom McGrath

Thomas "Tom" McGrath (born August 7, 1965) is an American voice actor and animator who co-directed (with Eric Darnell) the 2005 feature Madagascar and its sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in 2008. He has also worked as a voice actor on other DreamWorks animated features like Flushed Away in 2006 and Shrek the Third in 2007. He also stepped in on Flushed Away to help make improvements prior to its release. McGrath's experience in both television and feature animation includes work as an animator on Ralph Bakshi's film Cool World (starring Brad Pitt), storyboard artist and director for the popular series The Ren and Stimpy Show, animator on the Joe Pytka-directed Space Jam (starring Michael Jordan), and storyboard artist on the live-action film Cats & Dogs and worked as storyboard artist and concept artist/prop and set designer for How the Grinch Stole Christmas (directed by Ron Howard). McGrath made his film directing debut as the co-director and co-writer of Madagascar where he also created the memorable squad of penguin characters and voiced their leader, Skipper. He also reprised his role as Skipper and co-directed and co-wrote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He worked on The Penguins of Madagascar, a Madagascar spin-off TV series, as the voice of Skipper, and directed the DreamWorks animated feature Megamind (starring Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and David Cross), released in November 2010. McGrath was raised in Lynnwood, Washington ...

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Flushed Away (2006)

CuteGoofySimpleAdventurous

London high-society mouse, Roddy is flushed down the toilet by Sid, a common sewer rat. Hang on for a madcap adventure deep in the sewer bowels of Ratropolis, where Roddy meets the resourceful Rita, the rodent-hating Toad and his faithful thugs, Spike and Whitey.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Bowers  •  Sam Fell
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Kate Winslet  •  Ian McKellen  •  Jean Reno

London high-society mouse, Roddy is flushed down the toilet by Sid, a common sewer rat. Hang on for a madcap adventure deep in the sewer bowels of Ratropolis, where Roddy meets the resourceful Rita, the rodent-hating Toad and his faithful thugs, Spike and Whitey.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Bowers  •  Sam Fell
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Kate Winslet  •  Ian McKellen  •  Jean Reno

Madagascar (2005)

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends—Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo—have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Chris Rock  •  David Schwimmer  •  Jada Pinkett Smith

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends—Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo—have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Chris Rock  •  David Schwimmer  •  Jada Pinkett Smith

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

FunnyFunBoringClassic

Alex, Marty, and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The precariously repaired craft stays airborne just long enough to make it to the African continent. There the New Yorkers encounter members of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  David Schwimmer  •  Chris Rock

Alex, Marty, and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The precariously repaired craft stays airborne just long enough to make it to the African continent. There the New Yorkers encounter members of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  David Schwimmer  •  Chris Rock

Shrek the Third (2007)

The King of Far Far Away has died and Shrek and Fiona are to become King & Queen. However, Shrek wants to return to his cozy swamp and live in peace and quiet, so when he finds out there is another heir to the throne, they set off to bring him back to rule the kingdom.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Miller
CAST:  Mike Myers  •  Eddie Murphy  •  Cameron Diaz  •  Julie Andrews

The King of Far Far Away has died and Shrek and Fiona are to become King & Queen. However, Shrek wants to return to his cozy swamp and live in peace and quiet, so when he finds out there is another heir to the throne, they set off to bring him back to rule the kingdom.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Miller
CAST:  Mike Myers  •  Eddie Murphy  •  Cameron Diaz  •  Julie Andrews

The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005)

During the holiday season, when the animals of the Central Park Zoo are preparing for Christmas, Private, the youngest of the penguins notices that the Polar Bear is all alone. Assured that nobody should have to spend Christmas alone, Private goes into the city for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Trousdale
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Chris Miller  •  Christopher Knights  •  John DiMaggio

During the holiday season, when the animals of the Central Park Zoo are preparing for Christmas, Private, the youngest of the penguins notices that the Polar Bear is all alone. Assured that nobody should have to spend Christmas alone, Private goes into the city for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Trousdale
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Chris Miller  •  Christopher Knights  •  John DiMaggio

I Know That Voice (2014)

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro discusses voice-over acting with the talented people behind the characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lawrence Shapiro
CAST:  Kevin Conroy  •  Charlie Adler  •  Jim Cummings  •  Pamela Adlon

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro discusses voice-over acting with the talented people behind the characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lawrence Shapiro
CAST:  Kevin Conroy  •  Charlie Adler  •  Jim Cummings  •  Pamela Adlon

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

A young boy and his dog, who happens to have a genius-level IQ, spring into action when their time-machine is stolen and moments in history begin to be changed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff
CAST:  Ty Burrell  •  Max Charles  •  Ariel Winter  •  Allison Janney

A young boy and his dog, who happens to have a genius-level IQ, spring into action when their time-machine is stolen and moments in history begin to be changed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff
CAST:  Ty Burrell  •  Max Charles  •  Ariel Winter  •  Allison Janney

Puss in Boots (2011)

Action-packedCuteAdventurousLighthearted

Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Miller
CAST:  Antonio Banderas  •  Salma Hayek Pinault  •  Zach Galifianakis  •  Billy Bob Thornton

Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Miller
CAST:  Antonio Banderas  •  Salma Hayek Pinault  •  Zach Galifianakis  •  Billy Bob Thornton

The Penguins of Madagascar - Operation: Get Ducky (2010)

Penguins discover a lost egg and decide hatching until the mother appears. When it opens unexpectedly, the new duck -Ducky- is trained as a penguin while a jealous King Julien wants to raise him to be his second in command.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Jeff Bennett  •  John DiMaggio  •  James Patrick Stuart

Penguins discover a lost egg and decide hatching until the mother appears. When it opens unexpectedly, the new duck -Ducky- is trained as a penguin while a jealous King Julien wants to raise him to be his second in command.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Jeff Bennett  •  John DiMaggio  •  James Patrick Stuart

Merry Madagascar (2009)

The Zoosters are back in an all-new holiday adventure. When Santa and his reindeer crash onto the island of Madagascar it's up to Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman and those wacky penguins to save Christmas. Get ready for a sleigh full of laughs in this hilarious new ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Soren
CAST:  Cedric the Entertainer  •  Andy Richter  •  Carl Reiner  •  David Schwimmer

The Zoosters are back in an all-new holiday adventure. When Santa and his reindeer crash onto the island of Madagascar it's up to Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman and those wacky penguins to save Christmas. Get ready for a sleigh full of laughs in this hilarious new ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Soren
CAST:  Cedric the Entertainer  •  Andy Richter  •  Carl Reiner  •  David Schwimmer

The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Antarctica (2012)

Private's big heart overcomes his instinct to flee as he helps a stranded young leopard seal get from New York back to her home in Antarctica. The rest of the team (plus stowaway King Julien) follow in their submarine to make sure the young seal and Private make it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brandon Sawyer
CAST:  Jeff Bennett  •  Ciara Bravo  •  John DiMaggio  •  Danny Jacobs

Private's big heart overcomes his instinct to flee as he helps a stranded young leopard seal get from New York back to her home in Antarctica. The rest of the team (plus stowaway King Julien) follow in their submarine to make sure the young seal and Private make it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brandon Sawyer
CAST:  Jeff Bennett  •  Ciara Bravo  •  John DiMaggio  •  Danny Jacobs

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

FunnyEnjoyableCuteFantastical

Animal pals Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath  •  Conrad Vernon
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Sacha Baron Cohen  •  David Schwimmer  •  Frances McDormand

Animal pals Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Tom McGrath  •  Conrad Vernon
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Sacha Baron Cohen  •  David Schwimmer  •  Frances McDormand

Megamind (2010)

FunnyEnjoyableOriginalRomantic

After Megamind, a highly intelligent alien supervillain, defeats his long-time nemesis Metro Man, Megamind creates a new hero to fight, but must act to save the city when his "creation" becomes an even worse villain than he was.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Brad Pitt  •  Tina Fey  •  Jonah Hill

After Megamind, a highly intelligent alien supervillain, defeats his long-time nemesis Metro Man, Megamind creates a new hero to fight, but must act to save the city when his "creation" becomes an even worse villain than he was.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Brad Pitt  •  Tina Fey  •  Jonah Hill

Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Simon J. Smith
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Chris Miller  •  Christopher Knights  •  Benedict Cumberbatch

Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Darnell  •  Simon J. Smith
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Chris Miller  •  Christopher Knights  •  Benedict Cumberbatch

Madly Madagascar (2013)

Your favorite Madagascar pals are back in an all-new adventure! Alex's favorite holiday, Valentine's Day, brings hilarious surprises and excitement for the entire gang. Melman plans a big surprise for Gloria, Marty tries to impress a new friend and everyone wants ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Soren
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Chris Rock  •  David Schwimmer  •  Jada Pinkett Smith

Your favorite Madagascar pals are back in an all-new adventure! Alex's favorite holiday, Valentine's Day, brings hilarious surprises and excitement for the entire gang. Melman plans a big surprise for Gloria, Marty tries to impress a new friend and everyone wants ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Soren
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Chris Rock  •  David Schwimmer  •  Jada Pinkett Smith

The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Special Delivery (2014)

The hilarious and highly protective Penguins are back and ready to right the wrongs of injustice and deliver cheer to those that need it most. In Operation: Special Delivery , Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, and Private get trapped in a snowstorm, try to escape from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bret Haaland  •  Nick Filippi
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Danny Jacobs  •  Jeff Bennett  •  John DiMaggio

The hilarious and highly protective Penguins are back and ready to right the wrongs of injustice and deliver cheer to those that need it most. In Operation: Special Delivery , Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, and Private get trapped in a snowstorm, try to escape from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bret Haaland  •  Nick Filippi
CAST:  Tom McGrath  •  Danny Jacobs  •  Jeff Bennett  •  John DiMaggio

Almost Home (2014)

A group of aliens searching for a new planet on which to make home, with little success. Promotional short for Dreamworks Animation's forthcoming feature, Home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Wilderman
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Tom McGrath  •  David Soren

A group of aliens searching for a new planet on which to make home, with little success. Promotional short for Dreamworks Animation's forthcoming feature, Home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Wilderman
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Tom McGrath  •  David Soren

Monsters vs Aliens (2009)

When Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches. The military jumps into action and captures Susan, secreting her away to a covert government compound. She is renamed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Conrad Vernon  •  Rob Letterman
CAST:  Reese Witherspoon  •  Seth Rogen  •  Hugh Laurie  •  Paul Rudd

When Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches. The military jumps into action and captures Susan, secreting her away to a covert government compound. She is renamed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Conrad Vernon  •  Rob Letterman
CAST:  Reese Witherspoon  •  Seth Rogen  •  Hugh Laurie  •  Paul Rudd

The Boss Baby (2017)

FunnyCuteEnjoyableGoofy

A story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Alec Baldwin  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Miles Bakshi  •  Jimmy Kimmel

A story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom McGrath
CAST:  Alec Baldwin  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Miles Bakshi  •  Jimmy Kimmel

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022)

A hard-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats in need of a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain's wicked plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant mentor, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff  •  Chris Bailey  •  Mark Koetsier
CAST:  Michael Cera  •  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Mel Brooks  •  Djimon Hounsou

A hard-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats in need of a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain's wicked plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant mentor, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff  •  Chris Bailey  •  Mark Koetsier
CAST:  Michael Cera  •  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Mel Brooks  •  Djimon Hounsou
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