Jon Schnepp
{{Short description|American filmmaker}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jon Schnepp
| image = 10.12.12JonSchneppByLuigiNovi1.jpg
| caption = Schnepp at the 2012 New York Comic Con
| birth_name = Jonathan David Schnepp
| birth_date = {{birth date|1967|05|16}}{{cite web|work=Collider|date=July 20, 2018|url=http://collider.com/r-i-p-jon-schnepp/|title=R.I.P. Jon Schnepp, A Genuine Hero}}
| birth_place = West Haven, Connecticut, United States{{cite web |last1=Salzo |first1=Vincent |title=West Haven Native, Writer-Director Jon Schnepp Dies At 51 |url=https://patch.com/connecticut/westhaven/west-haven-native-writer-director-jon-schnepp-dies-51 |website=Patch |date=25 July 2018 |access-date=27 January 2021}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|07|19|1967|05|16}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| alma_mater = School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA)
| occupation = animator, producer, director, editor, writer, voice actor, media host
| partner = Holly Payne
| yearsactive = 1986–2018
}}
Jonathan David Schnepp (May 16, 1967 – July 19, 2018){{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Jon Schnepp, ‘Metalocalypse’ Writer-Director, Dies Age 51 |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2018/07/jon-schnepp-metalocalypse-writer-director-dies-age-51/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}} was an American animator, producer, director, writer, editor, voice actor, and media host.{{Cite web |last=Sarto |first=Dan |date=July 23, 2018 |title=‘Metalocalypse’ Director Jon Schnepp Dies at 51 |url=https://www.awn.com/news/metalocalypse-director-jon-schnepp-dies-51 |access-date=March 8, 2025 |website=Animation World Network |language=en-US}}
Schnepp was known for the documentary film The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?, which he directed and wrote. He also directed episodes of Metalocalypse, The Venture Bros. and a segment of The ABCs of Death. He was also known for his work with Collider, appearing regularly as a panelist on the site's Collider Movie Talk, Collider Nightmares, and Collider Heroes series, the latter of which he hosted.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/jon-schnepp-dead-dies-metalocalypse-1202880082/|title='Metalocalypse' Writer-Director Jon Schnepp Dies a 51|last=Carras|first=Christi|date=July 20, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=July 21, 2018}} His company, Schneppzone, works on short films and television series.
Schnepp died on July 19, 2018, due to complications following a stroke.
Career
Schnepp served as animation director for Nickelodeon's What's Inside Heidi's Head?, and as editor on numerous episodes of Cartoon Network's Space Ghost Coast to Coast. He co-directed the pilot for Upright Citizens Brigade for Comedy Central, and directed segments and the title sequence for the series run. He also released The Removers and Brainwarp, two pilots he produced and directed, on DVD by Film Threat. He then went to Brazil, working with Debbie Allen, editing and creating the title sequences for two sitcoms airing in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Schnepp co-created, co-wrote, and directed Nerd Hunter 3004 for the Channel 101 pilot. He also guest stars as a voice actor on three episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. In two episodes he voices the Wisdom Cube and in the other he plays The Creature from Plaque Lagoon.
From 2006 to 2012, Schnepp served as director on Metalocalypse, an animated series on Cartoon Network about Dethklok, a chiefly-fictional heavy metal band. As well as directing several episodes per season (the most recent of which aired in 2012), he designed and created the look of the five band members, and works closely with the show's co-creators/writers Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. He directed the 2009 Dethklok Tour with Mastodon, providing an animated accompaniment. Schnepp helped write all four Dethklok comic books, and designed variant cover arts.
Schnepp co-directed Season 4.1 of The Venture Bros. Schnepp was featured in The Damned Things' music video for "We've Got a Situation Here".
In 2011, Schnepp directed music videos for the bands I Set My Friends on Fire and Forbidden. In a 2012 Dread Central interview, he spoke of directing an upcoming animated horror film Grimm Fairy Tales.{{cite web|work=Dread Central|date=April 26, 2012|first=Scott|last=Hallam|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/55023/metalocalypse-director-jon-schnepp-and-zenescopes-benjamin-jackendoff-talk-animating-grim|title=Metalocalypse Director Jon Schnepp and Zenescope's Benjamin Jackendoff Talk Animating Grimm Fairy Tales}}
From 2012 to 2015, Schnepp was a regular contributor to AMC Movie Talk on YouTube, an online show dedicated to film news and commentaries. After the series' cancellation by AMC Theatres and subsequent pickup by Collider, Schnepp remained as a regular contributor.{{Cite news|url=https://collider.com/amc-movie-talk-is-now-collider-movie-talk/|title=AMC Movie Talk is Now Collider Movie Talk|last=Campea|first=John|date=July 6, 2015|work=Collider|access-date=May 16, 2020}}
In 2015, Schnepp directed the documentary film The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?, which documents behind-the-scenes events surrounding the cancelled Tim Burton film Superman Lives.{{cite web|last1=Toro|first1=Gabe|title=See Nicolas Cage As Superman In The Death Of Superman Lives' Trailer|date=25 July 2014 |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-Nicolas-Cage-Superman-Death-Superman-Lives-Trailer-66437.html|publisher=Cinema Blend|access-date=12 June 2015}} Partially raised through a successful Kickstarter campaign,{{cite web|title=The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1270411036/the-death-of-superman-lives-what-happened/description|publisher=Kickstarter|access-date=12 June 2015}} it premiered on May 1, 2015, and was released through VOD on July 9, 2015, to positive reviews.{{cite web|last1=Leane|first1=Rob|title=The Death Of Superman Lives: What Happened? review|date=June 2015 |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/superman-lives/35577/the-death-of-superman-lives-what-happened-review|publisher=Den of Geek|access-date=12 June 2015}}{{cite web|title=THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN LIVES: WHAT HAPPENED? (2015)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_death_of_superman_lives_what_happened/|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=12 June 2015}}{{cite web|title=Nordling Reviews THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN LIVES: WHAT HAPPENED?|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/71387|publisher=Ain't It Cool News|access-date=12 June 2015}}
Death
On July 12, 2018, Schnepp suffered a massive stroke that left him unconscious and on life support.{{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/metalocalypse-director-jon-schnepp-life-support-catastrophic-stroke/|title='Metalocalypse' Director Jon Schnepp on Life-Support Following Massive Stroke|publisher=Music Feeds|date=July 19, 2018|access-date=July 20, 2018}} He died of complications a week later on July 19, aged 51.{{Cite news |url=https://twitter.com/hollykpayne/status/1020373989590355968 |title=Holly Payne @TDOSLWH on Twitter |work=Twitter |access-date=2018-07-20 }}
Selected filmography
=Film, television, and web=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Film ! Director ! Producer ! Writer ! Actor ! Other credits and notes |
|---|
| 1986
| | | |{{yes}} | Extra |
| 1995–99
| | | |{{yes}} | Animator, voice role (C. Ling Tile), editor |
| 1995
| HorrorGirl | | | | {{yes}} | The Demon |
| 1995
| Club Dead | | | | {{yes}} | Video game; voice role |
| 1998
| {{yes}} | | | | Two episodes |
| 1999
| Cast in Stone | {{yes}} | | | | |
| 2000
| | | | | Editor |
| 2001
| The Removers | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | | Short film |
| 2003
| | | | | Editor |
| 2003
| Brainwarp | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | Role: The Indescribable Disaster (voice) |
| 2003–09
| | | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Role: The Wisdom Cube / Gary the Dairy Fairy (voices) |
| 2004
| Nerd Hunter 3004 | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Short film; role: Videogame Nerd |
| 2005
| My Big Fat Independent Movie | | | | {{yes}} | Role: Mexican Standoff Extra |
| 2005–06
| | | | | Visual effects |
| 2006–12
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | Character designer; role: Dr. Gibbits (voice) |
| 2007
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am | | | | {{yes}} | Video game; role: Dumbassahedratron (voice) |
| 2009
| | | | {{yes}} | Editor; role: Officer Miller |
| 2009–10
| {{yes}} | | | | Animated series |
| 2010
| Caller ID | | | | {{yes}} | Role: Jeb |
| 2010
| {{yes}} | | | |Co-created with Mark Brooks |
| 2011
| Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope | | | | | Guest appearance only |
| 2011
| | | {{yes}} | | |
| 2012
| {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | | Segment "W is for WTF?" |
| 2012–15
| | | | | Himself (panelist) |
| 2014
| | | | {{yes}} | Role: Donald (voice) |
| 2015
| The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?{{cite news|last=Couch|first=Aaron|title='Death of Superman Lives' Trailer: Nicolas Cage is Man of Steel (Video)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/death-superman-lives-trailer-nicolas-621007|access-date=5 September 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=4 September 2013}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | | Editor; Himself |
| 2015
| | | | {{yes}} | Short film; role: Rabbi |
| 2015
| AMC Heroes | | | | | Himself (host) |
| 2015–18
| | | | | Himself (panelist) |
| 2015–18
| Collider Heroes | | | | | Himself (host) |
| 2016
| Nerdland | | | | | Sequence animator |
| 2018
| | {{yes}} | | | Documentary |
=Music videos=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|0774143}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schnepp, Jon}}
Category:American television producers
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American documentary film directors
Category:American documentary film producers
Category:American music video directors
Category:American film producers