Dean Allan DeBlois[1](/dəˈblwɑː/də-BLWAH;[2]born June 7, 1970)[3]is a Canadian filmmaker and animator. He is best known for writing and directing theOscar-nominated animated feature filmsLilo & StitchforWalt Disney Animation Studios(withChris Sanders), theHow to Train Your Dragonfilm trilogy forDreamWorks Animation(the first filmalso with Sanders), and directing the documentaryHeimaabout the Icelandic bandSigur Rós.
Dean DeBlois | |
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 DeBlois in 2011 | |
| Born | Dean Allan DeBlois[1] June 7, 1970 Aylmer, Quebec,Canada |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Early life
editDeBlois was born and raised inAylmer, Quebec,Canada.[4]As a boy he was interested in comic books, which he later said influenced his drawing ability, imagination and storytelling. Growing up poor, he would visit a nearby smoke shop on weekends, where the proprietor let him read comics for free. Memorizing them, he went home and drew.[5]DeBlois attended Darcy McGee High School.
Career
editDeBlois began his career as an assistant animator and layout artist for Hinton Animation Studios/Lacewood Productionsin Ottawa, Ontario, while simultaneously attendingSheridan College's three year Classical Animation program in Oakville, Ontario. From 1988 to 1990, DeBlois contributed to such productions asThe Raccoons(TV series),The Teddy Bears' Picnic(TV special), andThe Nutcracker Prince(feature animated film).
Upon graduation fromSheridan Collegein 1990, DeBlois was hired bySullivan Bluth Studiosin Dublin, Ireland. There, he worked as a layout artist, character designer, and storyboard assistant toDon Bluthon such feature animated films asA Troll in Central ParkandThumbelina.
In 1994, DeBlois left Dublin for Los Angeles to begin work forWalt Disney Feature Animationas a storyboard artist, where he worked alongside his frequent collaborator,Chris Sanders,as Head of Story onMulan.Shortly thereafter, they re-teamed to createLilo & Stitch.
Following its release in 2002, DeBlois sold several original live action feature film projects to write, direct, and produce, including an Irish ghost story titledThe Banshee and Finn Magee,[6][1]a psychological thriller titledThe Lighthouse,[7]and a family adventure series titledSightings,[8]which were optioned atWalt Disney Pictures,Touchstone Pictures,andUniversal Studiosrespectively.
DeBlois' feature-length music documentary filmHeimachronicles the homecoming concert of Iceland'sSigur Rós.
In October 2008, DeBlois returned to feature animation to co-write and co-directDreamWorks Animation's then-troubledHow to Train Your Dragon,once again re-teaming with Sanders. The duo re-envisioned the film's story and shepherded the production to its March 2010 release. The resulting film became the studio's top-grossing film in North America outside of theShrekfranchise.[9]
During that same time, DeBlois also directed another feature-length music film forSigur Rósfront-manJónsi,entitledGo Quiet,as well as a feature-length concert film entitledJónsi: Live at The Wiltern.
DeBlois wrote and directed thefantasy/action filmHow to Train Your Dragon 2,a sequel to the original, which was released on June 13, 2014, followed byHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Worldon February 22, 2019.
On September 23, 2019, DeBlois was attached to write and direct a film adaptation of theMicronauts.[10]
In February 2023, alive-action adaptationofHow to Train Your Dragonwas announced.
Personal life
editDeBlois is openlygay,and toldThe Advocatethat people in the industry "knew that one of us was gay" but mistakenly assumed it was his straight screenwriting partner Chris Sanders, because DeBlois "hobbled in there looking like a redneck".[11]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulan | 1998 | No | Story | No | Credited as "Story Co-Head" |
| Lilo & Stitch | 2002 | Yes | Yes | No | alongsideChris Sanders |
| Heima(documentary) | 2007 | Yes | No | No | also camera operator |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2010 | Yes | Yes | No | alongside Chris Sanders |
| Go Quiet(direct-to-video short) | Yes | No | No | also camera operator & editor | |
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 2014 | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | 2019 | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2025 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Producer only
edit| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gift of the Night Fury | 2011 | Executive producer Direct-to-video short |
| The Other Side of the Wind | 2018 | Co-producer |
| The Wild Robot | 2024 | Executive producer[12] |
Animation department
edit| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Teddy Bears' Picnic(short direct-to-TV) | 1989 | assistant animator |
| The Nutcracker Prince | 1990 | assistant animator / layout artist |
| Thumbelina | 1994 | layout artist |
| The Lion King | ||
| A Troll in Central Park | ||
| Atlantis: The Lost Empire | 2001 | story artist |
Television series
edit| Title | Year | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Raccoons | 1989 | assistant animator | 9 episodes |
| Quack Pack | 1996 | character designer / storyboard artist / prop designer | 7 episodes |
| Histeria! | 1998–1999 | storyboard artist | 17 episodes |
References
edit- ^abc"Registration record PAU002592135 - The Banshee and Finn Magee".United States Copyright Office.May 23, 2001. Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2023.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
- ^"How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - DreamWorks Tour".Jabba's Movies.January 8, 2019.RetrievedNovember 22,2021.
- ^"Dean DeBlois Biography".Tribute.Toronto, Ontario: Tribute Entertainment Media Group.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 6,2019.
- ^Lovece, Frank (February 14, 2019)."'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' brings the franchise to its end ".Newsday.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2019.
- ^Lu, Alexander (October 21, 2015)."Interviews: Dean DeBlois and Richard Hamilton Reimagine Berk in" How to Train Your Dragon "GNs".Comics Beat.RetrievedOctober 22,2015.
- ^"Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks Animation, Writer / Director / Executive Producer".FMX. Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2015.
- ^Kit, Borys (March 21, 2006)."'Lighthouse' turns on Touchstone ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2006.RetrievedOctober 9,2015.
- ^Snyder, Gabriel (July 27, 2006)."U sets sights on 'Sightings'".Variety.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2015.
- ^"DreamWorks Animation".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedOctober 9,2015.
- ^Kit, Borys (September 23, 2019)."'How to Train Your Dragon' Filmmaker Dean DeBlois Tackling 'Micronauts' for Paramount, Hasbro (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedSeptember 23,2019.
- ^Steele, Bruce C. (July 9, 2002)."Disney dude: Dean DeBlois, the out codirector of Lilo & Stitch, talks about making a cartoon supporting alternative families, including extraterrestrials who do drag".The Advocate.p. 52.RetrievedJanuary 9,2011.
- ^Taylor, Drew (September 28, 2023)."Director Chris Sanders Returns to DreamWorks Animation With 'The Wild Robot' (Exclusive)".TheWrap.RetrievedSeptember 28,2023.
External links
edit- Dean DeBloisatIMDb
Media related toDean DeBloisat Wikimedia Commons
