Mike Shiell is a cartoonist, animator and author/illustrator. He is the creator of the animated short films, Melon Shorts and the Wandering Melon web comics series, as well as the illustrator of the Gross Science book series (written by Edward Kay). As a longtime animation director, Mike also directed a number of children's TV shows, such as the Emmy Award-winning The Backyardigans and Mike the Knight. He lives in Georgetown, Ontario.