Vanguard Films & Animation
Founded by producer John H. Williams, Vanguard has spent more than three decades developing and producing live-action and animated projects for theatrical, television, and streaming release, through its sister company Vanguard Animation.
John H. Williams
John H. Williams built his early career in documentaries, television dramas, and commercials before relocating Vanguard to Los Angeles in the early 1990s. There, Vanguard became the first independent production company to sign a first-look producing deal with DreamWorks SKG — a relationship that yielded Shrek and its sequels along with The Tuxedo.
In 2001, shortly after Shrek’s release, Williams founded Vanguard Animation to build an independent finance model for CG animated features, and went on to secure slate deals with The Walt Disney Company and Starz. He later made his directing debut with Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back and continued producing CG animated features for the global market through the 2010s and beyond.
- DreamWorks Pictures
- DreamWorks Animation
- Paramount Pictures
- Sony Pictures / TriStar Pictures
- 20th Century Fox
- The Walt Disney Company
- Lionsgate
- Starz Animation
- Netflix
- American Zoetrope
- Film4
- mk2 Films
Three Decades of Production
Vanguard Films founded
John Williams establishes Vanguard as a New York–based production company working across film, television, commercials, and music videos.
Move to Los Angeles & DreamWorks deal
Vanguard relocates to Los Angeles and becomes the first independent production company to sign a first-look producing deal with DreamWorks SKG — a relationship that would last more than a decade.
Seven Years in Tibet
Produces the Jean-Jacques Annaud–directed biographical drama starring Brad Pitt, released by TriStar Pictures.
Shrek & Vanguard Animation
Produces Shrek, winner of the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and founds Vanguard Animation shortly after.
The Tuxedo
Produces the Jackie Chan action comedy for DreamWorks Pictures.
Growing the Shrek franchise
Produces Shrek 2 and executive produces Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, together grossing well over $2.5 billion worldwide.
Valiant & the Disney slate deal
Valiant becomes Vanguard Animation’s debut release, part of a slate agreement with The Walt Disney Company for low-budget CG animated features.
Vanguard Comics
Co-founds the Vanguard Comics publishing imprint with Platinum Studios.
Directorial debut
Directs and produces Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back, his first directing credit.
Puss in Boots
Co-produces the Shrek spin-off, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
On the Road
Executive produces Walter Salles’s adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s novel, which competes for the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
New generation of animated features
Produces Gnome Alone, Charming, Trouble, Fearless, and Rally Road Racers for Netflix and international distributors.