Michael Jelenic
Birthdate: May 12, 1977 (49 Years Old)
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Michael Jelenic (birthname: Michael Christopher Jelenic) is a director-writer-producer of animated features, debuting with Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016), which he wrote (with credited co-writer James Tucker), which featured the voices of the TV series’ original cast including Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, and with Steven Weber, and theatrically released by Warner Bros.
Jelenic was co-writer and co-producer (with creative partner Aaron Horvath, who co-directed with Peter Rida Michail) of Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (2018), a feature spinoff of the long-running animated TV series, Teen Titans Go! (2013-present), which Jelenic developed and created with Horvath. Michael Jelenic’s feature debut as director was Universal Pictures’ animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), starring the voices of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen.
Jelenic was co-director of the Mario Bros. sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026), co-directed by Aaron Horvath, with a new voice cast of actors Benny Safdie, Brie Larson, Donald Glover, Luis Guzman, and Issa Rae, again produced by Illumination producer Chris Meledandri and Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto, and released widely by Universal Pictures.
Personal life
Michael Jelenic was born and raised in Los Angeles County by his parents, including his father Albert, who was born in the Croatian part of the former Yugoslavia. Jelenic has been married to Maggie Jelenic since 2012; the couple has three children, including daughter Juliet.
Awards
Nominee, Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program, Primetime Emmy Awards (2012, 2017-2019); Nominee, Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production, Annie Awards (2019).
Michael Jelenic Movies
Director
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Previous (1)
- 2023 |
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.
Producer
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Previous (1)
- 2018 |
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies
A villain's maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom.
Writer
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Previous (1)
- 2018 |
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies
A villain's maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom.
