Quick Facts
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Tim Johnson (born August 27, 1961) is an American film director. Johnson has directed many films for DreamWorks Animation such as Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, and Over the Hedge. Recently, he directed the 2019 film How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming.
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.
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. He later joined Pacific Data Images in 1988 and two years later co-founded the studio's Character Animation Group. 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,, and additionally served as executive producer for How to Train Your Dragon.