Cal Brunker

Cal Brunker
Occupations
  • Animator
  • storyboard artist
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • film producer
Years active2002–present

Cal Brunker is a Canadian animator, storyboard artist, and filmmaker. He is best known for directing The Weinstein Company's animated film Escape from Planet Earth (2013), The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017), Nickelodeon's Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021) and its sequels Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023) and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026), all of which he co-wrote with his business partner Bob Barlen.

Career

Cal Brunker has frequently collaborated with his partner Bob Barlen since 2009's Ollie & the Baked Halibut. Before his directorial debut with Ninjamaica and then 2013's Escape from Planet Earth, Brunker has worked as a storyboard artist and an animator on films such as Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Horton Hears a Who!, and Despicable Me. He directed films such as Escape from Planet Earth and The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature. Brunker and Barlen have written screenplays for Arctic Dogs, Cranston Academy: Monster Zone, and The Son of Bigfoot in which they co-executive produced.

He also directed the film Paw Patrol: The Movie, a feature film adaptation of the Nick Jr. Channel's Paw Patrol animated series. Serving as the director and co-writer and once more collaborating with Barlen alongside Billy Frolick, it was produced by Spin Master and Nickelodeon Movies, and released by Paramount Pictures in August 2021.

By May 2026, Brunker wrote the screenplay for Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild, an animated reimagining of the Dr. Dolittle franchise, for Sycamore Studios.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
2003Looney Tunes: Back in ActionClean-up in-between artist
2005Kronk's New GrooveAnimator
Direct-to-video
2008Horton Hears a Who!Storyboard artist
2009Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
9
Ollie and the Baked HalibutAnimator
Short film
2010Jonah HexPre-visualization
Despicable MeStoryboard artist
2012Ice Age: Continental DriftAdditional storyboard artist
2013Escape from Planet EarthDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen)
2015MinionsAdditional storyboard artist
2016Ratchet & ClankStoryboard artist
Designer
The Secret Life of PetsStoryboard artist
2017The Son of BigfootWriter & co-executive producers (with Bob Barlen)
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by NatureDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen and Scott Bindley)
Voice of Charming Chipmunk
2019The Puppet MasterDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen)
Short film
Arctic DogsWriter (with Bob Barlen, Matt Lyon, Aaron Woodley, and Bryan Thompson)
2020Cranston Academy: Monster ZoneWriter (with Bob Barlen)
Bigfoot FamilyWriter (with Bob Barlen)
Executive producers
2021Paw Patrol: The MovieDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen and Billy Frolick)
2023Paw Patrol: The Mighty MovieDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen)
2026Paw Patrol: The Dino MovieDirector
Writer (with Bob Barlen)
TBADoctor Dolittle: King of the WildWriter (with Bob Barlen)
Upcoming film

Television

YearTitleRole
2005CyberchaseDesigner
2009NinjamaicaDirector
Storyboard artist
Television film
Directional debut
2009–2010SplicedStoryboard artist

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "About Cal & Bob". Cal & Bob. December 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ Grater, Tom (November 1, 2019). "Jamie Bell, Ruby Rose To Voice Animation 'Cranston Academy: Monster Zone' For DDI – AFM". Deadline. Deadline. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (February 21, 2020). "'PAW Patrol' Feature Coming From Paramount, Spin Master". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ Jacob, Arushi (May 12, 2026). "'Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild' Begins Production Under Sycamore Studios and Reel FX Animation (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 27, 2025). "Spin Master & Paramount's 'Paw Patrol 3' Unveils Title". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 27, 2025.