Brian Michael Lynch (born June 21, 1973) is an American film and comic book writer. Lynch was the initial writer and co-creator with Joss Whedon of Angel: After the Fall for IDW Publishing, and is best known for writing the screenplays for the films Puss in Boots (2011), Minions (2015), The Secret Life of Pets (2016), The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). He has also written an unproduced film adaptation of The Sims. In addition to the unproduced Sims film, Lynch also wrote an unproduced film for The Muppets that was titled “The Next Muppet Movie.” Life and career Growing up in Middletown Township, New Jersey, Lynch attended Middletown High School South and William Paterson University of New Jersey. Lynch went to school with (and was friends with) Vincent Pereira, who worked with Kevin Smith at the Quick Stop/RST Video and who inspired Smith's own film career. Despite seeing himself as a writer rather than filmmaker, Lynch contributed in a non-writing capacity to Smith's early films and then wrote/directed one of three non-Smith-directed films under the View Askew label. Except for four years during early childhood spent in Indiana, Lynch lived in New Jersey all his life. In 2004, he moved to Hollywood, California. Comics and animated series Lynch has worked on a number of comics and animated series: Angry Naked Pat (animated series) Spider-Man Unlimited (vol 3) #1 Monkey Man Unleashed Patchouli One Shot Spike: Asylum Spike: Shadow Puppets Angel: After the Fall #1–17 Spike: After the Fall Spike (IDW Publishing) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Microseries #1-3 (IDW Publishing) Monster Motors: The Curse of Minivan Helsing Filmography A Better Place (1997) – Actor (Eddie) Chasing Amy (1997) – Actor (Bryan White) (uncredited). key craft service, (miscellaneous crew) Big Helium Dog (1999) – Director, Writer, Editor, Miscellaneous Crew. Actor (Director's Assistant) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) – Actor (Comic Book Shopper #1) (uncredited) Hop (2011) – Writer with Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio Puss in Boots (2011) – Story with Will Davies and Tom Wheeler Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (2012) - Writer Minions (2015) - Writer Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015) - Writer/Director The Secret Life of Pets (2016) - Writer with Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) - Writer Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) - Story with Matthew Fogel DC League of Super-Pets