John Powell

John Powell was catapulted into the realm of A-list composers by displaying an entirely original voice with his oft-referenced scores to the Matt Damon Bourne trilogy. He has become the go-to writer for family animated films, scoring such hits as Shrek, Chicken Run, Ice Age (2 & 3, 4:Continental Drift), Bolt, Rio, Happy Feet (1 & 2), Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and Kung Fu Panda (1 & 2). His pulsating action music has provided the fuel for Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and The Italian Job. His music has also empowered X-Men: The Last Stand, lent tenderness to I Am Sam and gripping drama to United 93.  His infectious score for How to Train Your Dragon earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Powell’s recent films include the score to Rio 2 and the sequel How To Train Your Dragon 2 for DreamWorks Animation.