Mike Nawrocki
Born
Michael Lewis Nawrocki

(1966-07-08) July 8, 1966
Dayton, Ohio, United States
Alma materSt. Paul Bible College
University of Illinois
Occupation(s)Executive Vice President and co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment
Visiting Professor at Lipscomb University[1]
Years active1989–present
Notable work
Spouse
Lisa Klepp
​
(m. 1995)​
[2]
Children2
Websitehttps://www.lipscomb.edu/directory/nawrocki-mike
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-nawrocki-450b465

Michael Lewis Nawrocki (born July 8, 1966) is an American animator, filmmaker, teacher, and voice actor best known as the co-creator of the Christian video series, VeggieTales where he voiced Larry the Cucumber.[3][4] He voiced many other main characters on the show, including Jerry Gourd, and Jean-Claude Pea, and other various characters, is the co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment alongside Phil Vischer, and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the company.[5] He has directed several of their productions, including the award-winning Silly Songs with Larry segments from VeggieTales.

Life and career

Nawrocki originally wanted a career in the medical field, and studied at St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College) where he met Phil Vischer while serving on a puppet ministry.[6] Nawrocki later enrolled at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and joined Vischer at GRAFx, Nawrocki helped to finance his education by taking a job with Renaissance Video, a video production facility where he gained experience in video production and animation and later worked for Post Effects and Film and Tape Works.

Nawrocki graduated from UIC in 1992 with a BS in biology and a BA in history.

In 1993, Nawrocki left Film & Tape Works, a company that had purchased GRAFx Studios, and his future in medicine to join Vischer and founded Big Idea Productions.[7] After Big Idea's liquidation in 2003, Nawrocki reactivated the company in 2004.[8]

On September 30, 2008, Big Idea Entertainment appointed Nawrocki to the position of Executive Vice President.

In 2014, DreamWorks Classics, the parent company of Big Idea, signed an exclusive deal with Netflix to produce and distribute VeggieTales in the House. Nawrocki was signed on to continue voicing most of his characters.[9]

Revival of VeggieTales

In March 2019, Nawrocki's partner Phil Vischer announced on his Twitter that he had re-teamed with Nawrocki at TBN to revive the VeggieTales series. Just like previously, Vischer and Nawrocki would return to voice their characters and also work as writers for the new show.[10]

Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result
1997 Animated Short Film or Video World's Children's Prize Foundation's Children's Jury Award Very Silly Songs Won
1997 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award A Very Veggie Christmas Won
1998 Long Form Music Video of the Year GMA Dove Award A Very Silly Sing Along Won
2000 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award Larry-Boy: The Soundtrack Won
2001 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award A Queen, A King, and A Very Blue Berry - VeggieTunes; Won
2003 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award Jonah, A Veggie Tales Movie Original Soundtrack Won
2004 Long Form Music Video of the Year GMA Dove Award Belly Button Nominated
2007 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award VeggieTales Worship Songs Won
2014 Children's Album of the Year GMA Dove Award 25 Favorite Bible Songs - Veggie Tales Won

Published works

  • Bob Lends a Helping . . . Hand? (2003) ISBN 0-310-70538-X (co-author with Cindy Kenney)
  • Peas and Thank You! (2003) ISBN 0-310-70540-1 (writing as the voice of Larry the Cucumber)
  • The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything and Me! (2004) (co-author with Karen Poth)
  • The Dead Sea Squirrels (2019–present) (author)[11]

Filmography

Year Title Voice role Crew role, notes
1993–2015 VeggieTales series Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Jean-Claude Pea, QWERTY, Scallion 2, Oscar, The Peach, Additional Voices Direct-to-video series
Director, producer, writer, composer, score, executive producer
2000–03, 2006–08 3-2-1 Penguins! Vacuum TV series
Developer, writer
2002 Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Larry the Cucumber, Dad Asparagus, Jean Claude Pea, Jerry Gourd, Self-Help Tape Voice, Cockney Pea 1, Whooping BBQ Pea Feature film
Director, writer, composer
2002–03 Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures Larry-Boy/Larry TV series
2008 The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie Elliot (Larry the Cucumber), Theater Foe (Jerry Gourd), Pirate Jean Claude Pea, Pirate with Dummy, Pirate Spy Sidekick, Rock Monster Father Feature film
Director, producer
2014–2016 VeggieTales in the House Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Officer Wedge, Additional Voices Netflix TV series
2017 VeggieTales in the City Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Officer Wedge, Additional Voices Netflix TV series
2019-2022 The VeggieTales Show Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Lil' Pea, Qwerty, Mother Nezzer, Scallion 2, Scallion 3, Additional Voices Writer, Composer
2020-21 Esme & Roy Writer (2 episodes)

References

  1. ↑ "Mike Nawrocki CINEMATIC ARTS Visiting Professor". www.lipscomb.edu.
  2. ↑ "Mike Nawrocki Official Facebook Page - About". facebook.com.
  3. ↑ "Mike Nawrocki of VeggieTales". First Person Interview with Wayne Shepherd. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ Filby, Julie (November 20, 2013). "Virtuous veggies 'leaf' big impression". Denver Catholic. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bloomberg Business Profile". Bloomberg. August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "'Veggie' Sprouts In Mainstream". Billboard. 30 May 1998. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Easley, Michael (December 9, 2014). "Michael Easley inContext interview with Mike Nawrocki". Michael Easley inContext. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ Pistorius, Martin (May 1, 2004). "Running Out of Miracles". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ↑ Kessel, Jaclyn (2014-11-14). "EXCLUSIVE: Mike Nawrocki of 'VeggieTales In The House' Talks Series Netflix Reboot". Decider | Where To Stream Movies & Shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, HBO Go. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  10. ↑ Vischer, Phil (2019-03-28). "Correction - TBN is licensing VT from Universal... they didn't buy it. Bob and Larry still live with Shrek and Donkey and Minions. BUT... TBN is producing new eps and Mike and I are writing!https://twitter.com/ericmetaxas/status/1111281056013967360 …". @philvischer. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  11. ↑ "COMPLETE THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS BOOK SERIES IN ORDER". www.secondsale.com.
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