Dean DeBlois | |
|---|---|
| File:Dean DeBlois(Wiki).jpg Dean DeBlois in 2011 | |
| Born | Dean Allan DeBlois[1] June 7, 1970 Aylmer, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Director, producer, screenwriter, animator |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Employer | Sullivan Bluth Studios (1990–1994) Walt Disney Animation Studios (1994–2007) DreamWorks Animation (2007–present) |
| Known for |
|
| Signature | |
| File:Sign Dean DeBlois.png | |
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Dean Allan DeBlois[1] (/dəˈblwɑː/ DƏ-blwah;[2] born June 7, 1970)[3] is a Canadian film director, film producer, screenwriter, and animator. He is best known for writing and directing the Oscar-nominated animated films Lilo & Stitch for Walt Disney Animation Studios (with Chris Sanders), the How to Train Your Dragon film trilogy for DreamWorks Animation (the first film also with Sanders), and directing the documentary Heima about the Icelandic band Sigur Rós.
Early life[]
DeBlois was born and raised in Aylmer, 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[]
DeBlois began his career as an assistant animator and layout artist for Hinton Animation Studios/Lacewood Productions in Ottawa, Ontario, while simultaneously attending Sheridan College's three year Classical Animation program in Oakville, Ontario. From 1988 to 1990, DeBlois contributed to such productions as The Raccoons (TV series), The Teddy Bears' Picnic (TV special), and The Nutcracker Prince (feature animated film).
Upon graduation from Sheridan College in 1990, DeBlois was hired by Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland. There, he worked as a layout artist, character designer, and storyboard assistant to Don Bluth on such feature animated films as A Troll in Central Park and Thumbelina.
In 1994, DeBlois left Dublin for Los Angeles to begin work for Walt Disney Feature Animation as a storyboard artist, where he worked alongside his frequent collaborator, Chris Sanders, as Head of Story on Mulan. Shortly thereafter, they re-teamed to create Lilo & 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 titled The Banshee and Finn Magee,[6][1] a psychological thriller titled The Lighthouse,[7] and a family adventure series titled Sightings,[8] which were optioned at Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Universal Studios respectively.
DeBlois' feature-length music documentary film Heima chronicles the homecoming concert of Iceland's Sigur Rós.
In October 2008, DeBlois returned to feature animation to co-write and co-direct DreamWorks Animation's then-troubled How 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 the Shrek franchise.[9]
During that same time, DeBlois also directed another feature-length music film for Sigur Rós front-man Jónsi, entitled Go Quiet, as well as a feature-length concert film entitled Jónsi: Live at The Wiltern.
DeBlois wrote and directed the fantasy/action film How to Train Your Dragon 2, a sequel to the original, which was released on June 13, 2014, followed by How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World on February 22, 2019.
On September 23, 2019, DeBlois was attached to write and direct a film adaptation of the Micronauts.[10]
In February 2023, a live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon was announced with DeBlois returning to direct, write, and produce. The film is slated to release on March 14, 2025.[11]
Personal life[]
DeBlois is openly gay, and told The Advocate that 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."[12]
Filmography[]
Films[]
| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulan | 1998 | No | Story | No | Credited as "Story Co-Head" |
| Lilo & Stitch | 2002 | Yes | Yes | No | alongside Chris 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) | 2010 | Yes | No | No | also camera operator & editor |
| Gift of the Night Fury (direct-to-video short) | 2011 | No | No | Executive | |
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 2014 | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| The Other Side of the Wind | 2018 | No | No | Co-producer | |
| How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | 2019 | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2025 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Micronauts[10][13] | TBA | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Treasure Island[14] | TBA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Animation department[]
| 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 | 1994 | layout artist |
| A Troll in Central Park | 1994 | layout artist |
| Atlantis: The Lost Empire | 2001 | story artist |
Television series[]
| 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 |
| Lilo & Stitch: The Series | 2003-2006 | co-creator | 65 episodes |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Registration record PAU002592135 - The Banshee and Finn Magee". United States Copyright Office. May 23, 2001. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - DreamWorks Tour". Jabba's Movies. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Dean DeBlois Biography". Tribute (Toronto, Ontario: Tribute Entertainment Media Group). https://www.tribute.ca/people/dean-deblois/8444/.
- ↑ Lovece, Frank (14 February 2019). "'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' brings the franchise to its end". Newsday. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-1.27273592.
- ↑ Lu, Alexander (21 October 2015). "Interviews: Dean DeBlois and Richard Hamilton Reimagine Berk in "How to Train Your Dragon" GNs". Comics Beat. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks Animation, Writer / Director / Executive Producer". FMX. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Kit, Borys (March 21, 2006). "'Lighthouse' turns on Touchstone". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002199907.
- ↑ Snyder, Gabriel (July 27, 2006). "U sets sights on 'Sightings'". Variety. https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/u-sets-sights-on-sightings-1200338850/.
- ↑ "DreamWorks Animation". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kit, Borys (September 23, 2019). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Filmmaker Dean DeBlois Tackling 'Micronauts' for Paramount, Hasbro (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-train-your-dragon-filmmaker-tackling-micronauts-film-1241159.
- ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (February 15, 2023). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Adaptation Coming to Theaters in 2025". Variety. https://variety.com/2023/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-live-action-new-movie-1235524435/.
- ↑ 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=eGQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Dean+DeBlois%22+out&pg=PA52.
- ↑ Beresford, Trilby (November 13, 2020). "Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse,' 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-pictures-takes-michael-b-jordan-pic-without-remorse-micronauts-off-2021-release-calendar.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2019-10-02). "'Treasure Island': Dean DeBlois Set To Direct Take On Classic Novel For Universal & Mandeville Films". https://deadline.com/2019/10/dean-deblois-directing-treasure-island-universal-mandeville-films-micronauts-1202750658/.
External links[]
- Dean DeBlois at the Internet Movie Database
Media related to Dean DeBlois at Wikimedia Commons
Template:Dean DeBlois
| Walt Disney Animation Studios | ||
|---|---|---|
| List of feature films | Released | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Pinocchio (1940) • Fantasia (1940) • Dumbo (1941) • Bambi (1942) • Saludos Amigos (1942) • The Three Caballeros (1944) • Make Mine Music (1946) • Fun and Fancy Free (1947) • Melody Time (1948) • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) • Cinderella (1950) • Alice in Wonderland (1951) • Peter Pan (1953) • Lady and the Tramp (1955) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) • The Sword in the Stone (1963) • The Jungle Book (1967) • The Aristocats (1970) • Robin Hood (1973) • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) • The Rescuers (1977) • The Fox and the Hound (1981) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Great Mouse Detective (1986) • Oliver & Company (1988) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • The Rescuers Down Under (1990) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Aladdin (1992) • The Lion King (1994) • Pocahontas (1995) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) • Hercules (1997) • Mulan (1998) • Tarzan (1999) • Fantasia 2000 (1999) • Dinosaur (2000) • The Emperor's New Groove (2000) • Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) • Lilo & Stitch (2002) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Brother Bear (2003) • Home on the Range (2004) • Chicken Little (2005) • Meet the Robinsons (2007) • Bolt (2008) • The Princess and the Frog (2009) • Tangled (2010) • Winnie the Pooh (2011) • Wreck-It Ralph (2012) • Frozen (2013) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Zootopia (2016) • Moana (2016) • Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) |
| Upcoming films | Frozen 2 (2019) | |
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The Reluctant Dragon (1941) • Victory Through Air Power (1943) • Song of the South (1946) • So Dear to My Heart (1949) • Mary Poppins (1964) • Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) • Pete's Dragon (1977) • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) • Enchanted (2007) • Mary Poppins Returns (2018) | |
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12 basic principles of animation • Computer Animation Production System • Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life • Multiplane camera | |
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| DreamWorks Animation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature films |
CGI | Antz (1998) • Shrek (2001) • Shrek 2 (2004) • Shark Tale (2004) • Madagascar (2005) • Over the Hedge (2006) • Shrek the Third (2007) • Bee Movie (2007) • Kung Fu Panda (2008) • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) • Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) • How to Train Your Dragon (2010) • Shrek Forever After (2010) • Megamind (2010) • Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) • Puss in Boots (2011) • Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) • Rise of the Guardians (2012) • The Croods (2013) • Turbo (2013) • Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) • Penguins of Madagascar (2014) • Home (2015) • Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) • Trolls (2016) • The Boss Baby (2017) • Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) • Abominable (2019) • Trolls World Tour (2020) • The Croods: A New Age (2020) • Spirit Untamed (2021) • The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) • The Bad Guys (2022) |
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| Produced with Aardman |
Chicken Run (2000) • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) • Flushed Away (2006) | |
| Franchises | Shrek • Madagascar • Kung Fu Panda • Monsters vs. Aliens • How to Train Your Dragon • The Croods • Trolls • Tales of Arcadia • The Boss Baby | |
| Television specials |
Shrek the Halls (2007) • Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (2009) • Merry Madagascar (2009) • Scared Shrekless (2010) • Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010) • Madly Madagascar (2013) • Trolls Holiday (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019) | |
| Short films | Shrek 4-D (2003) • Far Far Away Idol (2004) • The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) • First Flight (2006) • Hammy's Boomerang Adventure (2006) • Secrets of the Furious Five (2008) • B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009) • Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010) • Megamind: The Button of Doom (2011) • Night of the Living Carrots (2011) • Gift of the Night Fury (2011) • Book of Dragons (2011) • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011) • Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (2012) • Rocky and Bullwinkle (2014) • Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016) • DreamWorks Theatre (2018) • Bird Karma (2018) • Bilby (2018) | |
| People | Bill Damaschke • Chris Meledandri • Jeffrey Katzenberg | |
| Divisions | DreamWorks Animation Television • DreamWorks Channel • DreamWorks Classics (Big Idea Entertainment • Harvey Entertainment • Jay Ward Productions) | |
| Related topics |
Amblimation • DreamWorks Pictures (DreamWorks Records • DreamWorks Television • DreamWorks Interactive • Go Fish Pictures) • DreamWorks Water Park • Illumination (Illumination Mac Guff) • In amusement parks (DreamWorks Experience) • Pacific Data Images • Pearl Studio • Universal Animation Studios (unproduced projects) • List of productions (other programs • unproduced projects) | |
| Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production |
|---|
| Andrew Stanton, Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow (1996) • Rita Hsiao, Chris Sanders, Philip LaZebnik, Raymond Singer and Eugenia Bostwick-Singer (1998) • Brad Bird and Tim McCanlies (1999) • John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin and Chris Webb (2000) • Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S. H. Schulman (2001) • Hayao Miyazaki (2002) • Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds (2003) • Brad Bird (2004) • Steve Box, Nick Park and Mark Burton (2005) • Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, Christopher Lloyd, Joe Keenan and William Davies (2006) • Brad Bird (2007) • Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger (2008) • Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach (2009) • Chris Sanders, Will Davies and Dean DeBlois (2010) • James Ward Byrkit, John Logan and Gore Verbinski (2011) • Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee (2012) • Hayao Miyazaki (2013) • Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (2014) • Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley (2015) • Jared Bush and Phil Johnston (2016) • Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich (2017) |
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