Chris Renaud

Biography

Chris Renaud is a distinguished American illustrator and filmmaker known for his significant contributions to animation. He gained widespread recognition when he received an Academy Award nomination for his 2006 animated short, No Time for Nuts, which featured the beloved character Scrat from the Ice Age franchise. In 2010, Renaud made a remarkable impact on the box office as the director of Despicable Me, which premiered at number one in the U.S. on July 9, starring Steve Carell.

A graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in illustration, Renaud initially made his mark as a graphic designer within the sports entertainment sector, crafting logos and mascots for prominent organizations like NFL Properties, the NBA, and Foot Locker. He later ventured into the comic book realm, working with both Marvel and DC Comics. His noteworthy projects include illustrating Marvel's Starfleet Academy and conceptualizing the story arc that led to Batman: Cataclysm, a year-long crossover that significantly boosted the character's sales and visibility.

Renaud's career in children's television began as the production designer for Disney Channel's The Book of Pooh, allowing him to create virtual sets and puppet characters for various shows, including Bear in the Big Blue House and It's a Big Big World, the latter earning an Emmy nomination. At Blue Sky Studios, he contributed as a story artist on films like Robots and Horton Hears A Who!. Currently, he is part of Illumination Entertainment and resides in Paris, France.