Joel Crawford

Joel Crawford (born March 9, 1975, in Long Beach, California) is an American filmmaker best known for his work in animation as a director and storyboard artist. Across his career, he has helped shape character-driven, comedic storytelling within major studio features.

Crawford rose to wider attention at DreamWorks Animation, where he directed The Croods: A New Age (2020), a fast-paced sequel that expanded the franchise’s family humor and action. He followed it with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), a visually bold spin-off that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, cementing his status as a leading voice in contemporary animated filmmaking.

In addition to directing, Crawford has contributed on-screen voice work, including roles in The Croods: A New Age and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. He is also known internationally under names such as 조엘 크로포드 and ジョエル・クローフォード.

Source: Adapted from the Wikipedia article “Joel Crawford (director)” (CC BY-SA).