Kirk DeMicco | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kirk DeMicco at the2014 Golden Globe Awards | |
| Born | (1969-05-15)May 15, 1969 (age 55)[1] Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Notable work | Space Chimps The Croods Vivo Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken |
Kirk DeMicco (born May 15, 1969) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for his work on animated films, such as writing and directingSpace Chimps (2008),The Croods (2013),Vivo (2021), andRuby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023).
Raised inWyckoff, New Jersey and a former resident ofFranklin Lakes, DeMicco attendedRamapo High School.[2][3]
After graduation in 1991 from theUniversity of Southern California, where he double majored in economics and political science,[4] he spent three years in Italy, where he worked as a journalist, interviewing individuals involved in the Italian movie industry for an Italian film-business magazine. After returning to the United States, he worked for theWilliam Morris Agency in New York City, before relocating to the firm's office in Los Angeles in a transfer arranged by talent agent Lee Stollman.[5]
DeMicco's first script sale was called "A Day in November" which he sold to Warner Bros. and producer Arnold Kopelson for $1 million before signing to writeQuest for Camelot.[6] Later he wrote and co-producedRacing Stripes for directorFrederik Du Chau.John Cleese and DeMicco co-wrote the film adaptation of the Roald Dahl's children classicThe Twits.[7] He also wrote "Splitting Adam" a movie that was set up at United Artists.[8] He then worked as a writer onHere Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie and later worked onCasper's Scare School. While working atWarner Bros., he and Du Chau also wrote a script for the upcoming live-action–animated film based on theHanna-Barbera character,Hong Kong Phooey, which they sold toAlcon Entertainment. He adapted the Jack Kirby comicNew Gods, and collaborated with filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld on an adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel.[9] He has also done many production rewrites for Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks and Spyglass. In television, he is the creator and executive producer of the Discovery Channel documentaryHALO: Freefall Warriors.[10]
In 2008, he wrote and directed the movieSpace Chimps forJohn H. Williams and his companyVanguard Animation; the film is inspired by the first chimpanzee to go to space,Ham.
In 2013, DeMicco co-wrote and co-directedDreamWorks Animation'sThe Croods withChris Sanders, which they also both co-wrote the film’s theme song Shine Your Way.[11] DeMicco began writing the film with John Cleese in 2005.[12]The Croods grossed over $582 million worldwide at the box office,[13] and was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Animated Feature.[14] It was also nominated for a Golden Globe.[15] DeMicco and Sanders then worked onThe Croods sequel for three and a half years, before its cancellation in late 2016, until it was revived a year later, where they were replaced byJoel Crawford.[16][17]
In December 2016, it was reported that DeMicco was directingVivo forSony Pictures Animation released on August 6, 2021.Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote new songs for the musical animated feature.[18][19] Lin-Manuel Miranda reported thatVivo has been 10 years in the making and that it's in amazing shape. And that and Quiara [Alegría Hudes], my cowriter on [In the] Heights, is working on the screenplay with Kirk [De Micco], our director."[20] In May of 2021, it was reported that Netflix has licensed all global rights, sans China, toSony Pictures Animation’sVivo. The movie, directed by Oscar nominee DeMicco, was written by DeMicco and Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the book for Miranda’s Tony-winning Broadway musical In the Heights. Said Miranda, “Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey. I couldn’t ask for better creative partners than Kirk, Quiara, Alex and the entire team at Sony Animation. I’m so excited Vivo will have a home at Netflix, where kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the film’s songs and adventures again and again.”[21]
In March 2023, DeMicco was announced as the director for the animatedteen comedy filmRuby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (replacing the film's original directorPaul Tibbitt), which was released on June 30, 2023.[22]
| Ceremony | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | 2014 | Best Animated Feature | The Croods | Nominated | [24] |
| Annie Awards | 2014 | Outstanding Directing in a Feature Production | The Croods | Nominated | [25] |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2014 | Best Animated Feature | The Croods | Nominated | [26] |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2014 | Best Animated Feature Film | The Croods | Nominated | [27] |
| People's Choice Awards | 2021 | Favorite Family Movie | Vivo | Nominated | [28] |
| Satellite Awards | 2022 | Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature | Vivo | Nominated | [29] |
| St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards | 2021 | Best Animated Film | Vivo | Nominated | [30] |
At 43, DeMicco a Sicomac Elementary School, Eisenhower Middle School and Ramapo High School alum has returned back to his original cave to wow his old pals with his latest creation.
