Joel Crawford

• Name — Joel Crawford • Occupation — * Film director • storyboard artist • Screenwriter • Education — CalArts • Employer — DreamWorks Animation (2006–present) • Years Active — 2006–present

In 2006, Joel Crawford joined DreamWorks Animation, where he served as a story artist on Bee Movie (2007), the Kung Fu Panda trilogy (2008–16), Shrek Forever After (2010), and Rise of the Guardians (2012). In October 2017, Crawford signed on to direct The Croods: A New Age (2020), replacing both Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders as director. In November 2017, Crawford directed Trolls Holiday, a half-hour Christmas-themed spinoff of Trolls (2016). In March 2021, Crawford replaced Bob Persichetti as director of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). On June 3, 2023, Crawford received an honorary degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design for his contributions to animation. In April 2025, he signed on to write and direct Forgotten Island (2026) for DreamWorks Animation, alongside his longtime best friend Januel Mercado. Their friendship is a major inspiration for the movie's story.

• Year — Title — Credited as — Notes • Director — Story artist — Writer — Actor — Other • 2007 — Bee Movie • 2008 — Kung Fu Panda • 2010 — Shrek Forever After • 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 • 2012 — Rise of the Guardians • 2015 — The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water • 2016 — Kung Fu Panda 3 • Trolls — Head of story • 2017 — Trolls Holiday — TV special • 2019 — The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part • Trouble — Special thanks • 2020 — The Croods: A New Age — Role: Guy's Dad • 2022 — Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — Role: Baker's Dozen Member, Band Player • 2023 — Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken — Creative leadership: DreamWorks Animation Special thanks • Trolls Band Together — Special thanks • 2024 — Kung Fu Panda 4 — Special thanks • The Wild Robot — Special thanks • 2026 — Forgotten Island

• Award — Date of ceremony — Category — Film — Result — Ref. References • Golden Globe Awards — February 28, 2021 — Best Animated Feature Film — The Croods: A New Age • Visual Effects Society Awards — April 6, 2021 — Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature • Golden Globe Awards — January 10, 2023 — Best Animated Feature Film — Puss in Boots: The Last Wish • British Academy Film Awards — February 19, 2023 — Best Animated Film • Academy Awards — March 12, 2023 — Best Animated Feature