Film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, voice actor, artist
Michael Jonathan Wildshill (born April 5, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, animator, voice actor, artist, and the current CEO of Universal Animation and head of animation of Illumination.
Wildshill was born in Gibsonton, Florida, the oldest of four children to lawyer Alexander Michael Wildshill (1930-2018) and school teacher Scarlett Cynthia Wildshill (Jones) (1937-2007). His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 10 years old.
Career[]
Wildshill gained an interest in animation at a young age from viewing old Disney movies at a local theatre. After graduating high school in 1979, he attended USC, majoring in art. He also partook in working in animation via the production of The Master of Colors. It was during production that he met Geo G.
Personal life[]
Wildshill is married to Ashley Julia "Star" Wildshill-Shertick (b. September 11, 1969), a chef and cooking instructor. They have three children: Jonathan Edward (b. November 22, 2001), Skye Hannah (b. October 2, 2006) and Genesis Scarlett (b. April 6, 2007). Jonathan provided the voice of young Amai Yamada in Woo La La.
Wildshill is a fan of manga and anime and Team Ico games, most notably Ico and Shadow of the Colossus; he cited Ico as his main inspiration for Paradoria. He is also a fan of the work done by Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios as well.
He resides in Santa Monica, California, a few of blocks north of the Illumination headquarters.
Aero (2000) • Print 3D Errors (2004) • Computeropolis: A Technical Ride (2006) • Just Sommi (2006) • Peri and Nicky Get a Flu (2007) • The Sounds of the Ocean (2009) • The Chat (2011) • King on the Loose (2012) • Go Party! (2012) • How to Act Like a Player (2014) • No More Mr. Yeti (2015) • Camp Jamo (2016) • Noodles (2016) • Getting Annoyed (2016) • Zip (2017) • Busho's Guide to Cool Things (2017) • Keena's Magical Journey (2017) • Neon (2018) • Zola's Makeover (2018) • Monkey Business (2018) • Mine! (2019) • Birth (2019) • Falia's Challenge (2020) • Virtual Vinna (2020)
Franchises
Ama (1997–present) • Paint World (1999–present) • Computeropolis (2004–present) • Superfancy Lady (2011–present) • Paradoria (2015–present) • Imagimals (2017–present) • Amazing Academy (2017–present)
Despicable Me (2010) • Hop (2011) • The Lorax (2012) • Despicable Me 2 (2013) • Minions (2015) • The Secret Life of Pets (2016) • Sing (2016) • Despicable Me 3 (2017) • The Grinch (2018) • The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
Upcoming films
Agent Chrysocolla (2020) • Minions: The Rise of Gru (2021) • Sing 2 (2021) • Untitled animated Mario film (2022)
Short films
Home Makeover (2010) • Orientation Day (2010) • Banana (2010) • Brad & Gary (2011) • Phil's Dance Party (2012) • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (2012) • Wagon Ho! (2012) • Forces of Nature (2012) • Serenade (2012) • Puppy (2013) • Panic in the Mailroom (2013) • Training Wheels (2013) • Cro Minion (2015) • Competition (2015) • Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015) • Mower Minions (2016) • Norman Television (2016) • Weenie (2016) • Gunter Babysits (2017) • Love at First Sight (2017) • Eddie's Life Coach (2017) • The Secret Life of Kyle (2017) • Yellow is the New Black (2018) • The Dog Days of Winter (2018) • Santa's Little Helpers (2019) • Super Gidget (2019) • Minion Scouts (2019)
Franchises
Despicable Me (2010–present) • Minions (2015–present) • The Secret Life of Pets (2016–present) • Sing (2016–present)
