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Chris Renaud

Chris Renaud

Actor, producer, director and writer · Born December 5, 1966 (59) · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Chris Renaud is an American illustrator and film-maker. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2006 animated short No Time for Nuts, which featured the character Scrat from the computer animated Ice Age films. Most recently, he directed Despicable Me, starring the voice of Steve Carell, which debuted #1 at the U.S. box office on July 9th, 2010. After graduating from Syracuse University with an illustration degree, Renaud began work as a graphic designer in the sports entertainment industry. He has created logo designs and mascot characters for NFL Properties, the NBA, and Foot Locker, among others. After working as a designer and illustrator for a variety of publications and agencies, Chris began drawing and writing comic books. Working for both Marvel Comics and DC Comics, his notable projects include illustrating Marvel's Starfleet Academy and pitching the original story concept that evolved into Batman: Cataclysm. This yearlong tale across all Batman-related comics resulted in increased sales and visibility for the renowned character. As the production designer on the Disney Channels’ The Book of Pooh, Renaud transitioned into the world of children’s television. Since that groundbreaking project, he has been able to design virtual sets and puppet characters for Bear in the Big Blue House, Lazy Town, Curious Pictures, Sony Animation, and many more. With the new show It's a Big Big World, currently airing on PBS, he took the lead role in the visual development and design of every aspect of this Emmy-nominated children’s program. Renaud worked for Blue Sky Studios as a story artist on such films as Robots, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears A Who!. He also wrote and co-directed the animated short No Time for Nuts, which received an Annie Award and a 2007 Oscar nomination within the animated short films category. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows in 2006. Renaud works for Illumination Entertainment and lives in Paris, France. He directed Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, which was released in the U.S. on July 9, 2010.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 5, 1966 (59)
From
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Works as
Actor, producer, director and writer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What are Chris Renaud's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
47%
Self
29%
Society
16%
Morality
4%
Power
2%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 20 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 9

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 20

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 9

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Hero
2 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
18
Warm
10
Thrilling
10
Absurd
9
Hopeful
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Chris Renaud's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Chris Renaud's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page.

  • Minions & Monsters(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Despicable Me 4(2024)

    Director · as Principal Übelschlecht (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Migration(2023)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Mooned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

  • Minions & More 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Minions / Pipsqueak / Neanderthal Dad / The Animals (voice)

  • Minions & More 1(2022)

    as Norman / Pipsqueak (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Post Modern Minion(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Toying with the Holidays(2021)

    as Customer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Sing 2(2021)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Minions & Monsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • The Secret Life of Pets 2(2019)

    Director · as Norman / Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Santa's Little Helpers(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Dog Days of Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Illumination Presents: 10 Minion Mini-Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Dave the Minion (voice)

  • Minion Scouts(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Super Gidget(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Love(2018)

    as Caroler

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Grinch(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • ‎3 Mini Movie Collection from the Grinch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • Despicable Me 3(2017)

    Executive Producer · as Additional Minions (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Norman Television (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Executive Producer · as Norman (voice)

  • Weenie(2016)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Sing(2016)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Pets(2016)

    Director · as Norman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Binky Nelson Unpacified (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Cro Minion(2015)

    Producer · as Minion / Neanderthal Dad (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Competition(2015)

    Producer · as Minion (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Minions(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer

  • Illumination 7 Mini-Movie Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as The Animals

  • Panic in the Mailroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Executive Producer

  • Puppy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Executive Producer

  • Training Wheels(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Despicable Me 2(2013)

    Director · as Additional Minions / Evil Minions / Italian Waiter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Forces of Nature(2012)

    Executive Producer · as Pipsqueak (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Executive Producer · as (voice)

  • Wagon Ho!(2012)

    Producer · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Lorax(2012)

    Director · as Forest Animals (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Despicable Me Presents: Minion Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Producer

  • Despicable Me(2010)

    Director · as Dave (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Home Makeover(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Warrior Champions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs(2009)

    Additional Storyboarding

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Horton Hears a Who!(2008)

    Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • No Time for Nuts(2006)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: The Meltdown(2006)

    Story Artist

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Robots(2005)

    Additional Storyboarding

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 45 titles from 2005 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Minions (2015)

$1.2B worldwide

Highest rated

Despicable Me (2010)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

MilestoneNomination

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting23 of 45: 13 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thDirecting10 of 45: 1 only directing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndWriting3 of 45: 1 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing19 of 45: 14 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew3 of 45: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

45 titles, 13 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

2000s6 · crew2010s28 · 16 acting · 21 crew2020s11 · 7 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 12% of 17 roles
101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

4 major nominations and no wins, 2007–2023.

  1. 2023
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
  2. 2014
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Animated Film
  3. 2007
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Short Film, Animated

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Chris Renaud's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 33; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · producer

Weenie (2016)

56th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Despicable Me (2010)

Midcredits 95th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 52. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Chris Renaud's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and alcohol & drugs run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles29–40 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles15–29 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles13–27 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles8–22 · median 16 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles28–40 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Chris Renaud work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chris Renaud's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christopher Meledandri shares the most, 21.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles