Phil Johnston

• Name — Phil Johnston • Born — 26 October 1971 • Birthplace — Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. • Education — University of Wisconsin-Madison (BA) Columbia University (MFA) • Occupation — * Screenwriter • film director • film producer • voice actor • Years Active — 2004–present • Employer — Walt Disney Animation Studios (2012–2020) Netflix (2022–present) • Spouse — Jill Cordes

Johnston was born in Minneapolis to Beverly & William Johnston. He was raised in Neenah, Wisconsin. His father was an Episcopal priest. When he was young, he received an annual pass that allowed him free entry into the Marcus Theatres, a Wisconsin-based theater chain, through a connection at his father's church. Johnston is a graduate of Neenah High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1994 with a degree in journalism. After graduation he worked in regional news television for nine years. His first job was as a weatherman in Rochester, Minnesota despite knowing nothing about meteorology. He then worked as a bureau reporter at the Omaha, Nebraska, ABC affiliate, KETV. Afterwards, he transferred to KARE station in Minneapolis. Johnston graduated with a MFA in film from Columbia University School of the Arts' Film Program in 2004. He was classmates with Jennifer Lee, whom he later brought on to co-write Wreck-It Ralph with. His short, Flightless Birds, about a community of five trying to save their town was shot in South Dakota. After graduation, Johnston sold his first work to ABC. The half hour comedy, Life is Super, is about a woman who adopts several children and subsequently turning her experience into a podcast. Johnston optioned his first feature script to ThinkFilm before it went bankrupt. Jeremy Orm Is a Pervert is about the intersection of a preacher's career and his son's pornography business. This was loosely based on his side hustle back in middle school selling pornographic magazines he acquired from upperclassmen to his classmates. He managed to buy a pair of Air Jordans with the profits before eventually getting the operation shut down by his parents. His script for Cedar Rapids (2011) was included in the 2009 Black List (survey), a list voted by members of the entertainment industry for favorite, unproduced screenplays.

Johnston met his wife, Jill Cordes, while working as a reporter at KETV, Nebraska, where she was a morning anchor. While attending Columbia, he lived in Brooklyn with his wife, Jill. He was neighbors with film critic Christy Lemire.

• Year — Title — Role • 2016 — Moana — Creative Leadership • 2018 — Ralph Breaks the Internet • 2019 — Frozen II • 2020 — Borat Subsequent Moviefilm — Special Thanks • 2022 — The Sea Beast • 2025 — Zootopia 2

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Other — Voice Role — Notes • 2006 — The Night Listener — Assistant to Patrick Stettner • 2007 — Savage Grace — Researcher • 2010 — Ghosts/Aliens — Television Film • 2011 — Cedar Rapids • 2012 — Wreck-It Ralph — Surge Protector • 2014 — A Merry Friggin' Christmas — Credited as "Michael Brown" • 2016 — Zootopia — Gideon Grey, Annoyed Citizen • 2017 — The Brothers Grimsby • 2018 — Ralph Breaks the Internet — Surge Protector — Song Lyrics: "A Place Called Slaughter Race", "In This Place", Creative Leadership • 2025 — The Twits — Mr. Napkin

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Film Editor — Other — Role — Notes • 2004 — A Thousand Words • 2005 — Two Men • Rupture — Chet Rimson (Radio Announcer) • Flightless Birds • 2007 — Bomb • 2013 — Garlan Hulse: Where Potential Lives — Garlan Hulse • 2024 — data-sort-value="Dust Monster" | Dust Monster — Special Thanks