Chris Appelhans Biography: Education, Parents, Movies, Height, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Awards, Netflix, Twitter
Christopher Todd Appelhans, better known as Chris Appelhans, is an American film director, screenwriter, illustrator, designer, and producer best known for directing Wish Dragon and co-directing KPop Demon Hunters.
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He is also recognized for his work as a concept artist and production designer on acclaimed animated films including Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, Rise of the Guardians, and Monster House.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Christopher Todd Appelhans |
| Stage Name: | Chris Appelhans |
| Born: | April 28, 1980 (age 46 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Firth, Idaho, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | White |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Kristi Appelhans, Anthony Appelhans |
| Spouse: | Maurene Goo (m. 2012) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Film Director, Screenwriter, Illustrator, Designer, Producer |
| Net Worth: | $5 million |
Early Life and Education
Chris Appelhans was born on April 28, 1980, in Firth, Idaho, United States. He was raised by Kristi Appelhans and Anthony Appelhans. There is no publicly available information about his siblings. His ethnicity is White.
At the age of four, his family moved to Idaho Falls, where he attended Taylorview Middle School and Idaho Falls High School.
As a child, he enjoyed Dungeons & Dragons, storytelling, and drawing, interests that eventually inspired his career in animation and filmmaking.
After graduating from high school in 1998, he enrolled at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in 2002.
During his studies, he developed a passion for creating stories for children through books and animated films. His religion is Christianity.
Career
Chris Appelhans began his professional career in animation as a character designer and concept artist on Monster House (2006) after his portfolio caught the attention of industry professionals.
He later worked on several acclaimed animated productions, including Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, Puss in Boots, Rise of the Guardians, and The Angry Birds Movie, establishing himself as one of the industry’s respected visual development artists.
He made his feature directorial debut with Wish Dragon (2021), serving as both writer and director. The animated fantasy film became a global success on Netflix.
In 2025, he co-wrote and co-directed KPop Demon Hunters alongside Maggie Kang. The film received widespread critical acclaim and earned numerous major awards, including Annie Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award.
In addition to filmmaking, Appelhans has illustrated the children’s books Sparky! and A Greyhound, a Groundhog, with Sparky! winning the Children’s Choice Book Award.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award winner for KPop Demon Hunters
- Golden Globe Award winner for KPop Demon Hunters
- Annie Award winner and previously nominated for Coraline
- Children’s Choice Book Award winner for illustrating Sparky!
Social Media
- X (Twitter): @ChrisAppelhans
Personal Life
Chris Appelhans is married to author Maurene Goo. The couple met while studying at the ArtCenter College of Design, married in 2012, and have one son together.
There is no publicly available information about his past relationships. He is 46 years old.
He enjoys illustration, storytelling, reading, tabletop games, travelling, and animation. Information about his height is unknown.
Net Worth
Chris Appelhans has a net worth of $5 million USD. He has earned his wealth through his successful career as a film director, screenwriter, illustrator, designer, and producer.
His income comes from animated films, screenwriting, illustration, book publishing, production work, and other entertainment-related projects.
Filmography
- Monster House (2006) – Character Designer
- City of Ember (2008) – Concept Artist
- Coraline (2009)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- The Princess and the Frog (2009)
- Puss in Boots (2011)
- Rise of the Guardians (2012)
- The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
- Wonder Park (2019)
- Wish Dragon (2021)
- KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
What People Ask
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