View source for Dean DeBlois

{{Short description|Canadian filmmaker (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Dean DeBlois
| image              = Dean DeBlois(Wiki).jpg
| caption            = DeBlois in 2011
| birth_name         = Dean Allan DeBlois<ref name="Banshee-Finn US Copyright"/>
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1970|6|7}}
| birth_place        = [[Aylmer, Quebec]], Canada
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
*Director
*screenwriter
*producer
*animator
}}
| yearsactive        = 1988&ndash;present
| employer           = {{plainlist|
*[[Sullivan Bluth Studios]] (1990–1994)
*[[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] (1994–2007)
*[[DreamWorks Animation]] (2007–present)
}}
| signature          = Sign Dean DeBlois.png
}}
'''Dean Allan DeBlois'''<ref name="Banshee-Finn US Copyright"/> ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|b|l|w|ɑː}} {{respell|də|BLWAH}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQtcYibvmuM&t=1m11s|title=How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - DreamWorks Tour|work=Jabba's Movies|date=8 January 2019|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> born June 7, 1970)<ref name=tribute>{{cite news|url= https://www.tribute.ca/people/dean-deblois/8444/|title=Dean DeBlois Biography|work=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]]| publisher=Tribute Entertainment Media Group|location=Toronto, Ontario|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710231451/https://www.tribute.ca/people/dean-deblois/8444/|url-status= live}}</ref> is a Canadian filmmaker and animator. He is best known for writing and directing the [[Academy Award|Oscar]]-nominated animated feature films ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]'' for [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] (with [[Chris Sanders]]), the ''[[How to Train Your Dragon]]'' film trilogy for [[DreamWorks Animation]] ([[How to Train Your Dragon (2010 film)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-1.27273592| title='How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' brings the franchise to its end| first=Frank|last=Lovece|work=[[Newsday]]|date=14 February 2019|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050458/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-1.27273592 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name=BeatDeBloisHamilton>{{cite web|last1=Lu|first1=Alexander|title=Interviews: Dean DeBlois and Richard Hamilton Reimagine Berk in "How to Train Your Dragon" GNs|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-dean-dubois-and-richard-hamilton-reimagine-berk-in-how-to-train-your-dragon-gns/|publisher=[[Heidi MacDonald|Comics Beat]]|access-date=22 October 2015|date=21 October 2015}}</ref> 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 (1994 film)|Thumbelina]]''.

In 1994, DeBlois left Dublin for Los Angeles to begin work for [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] as a storyboard artist, where he worked alongside his frequent collaborator, [[Chris Sanders (director)|Chris Sanders]], as Head of Story on ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|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'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks Animation, Writer / Director / Executive Producer|url=http://www.fmx.de/program2015/speaker/1533|publisher=FMX|access-date=October 9, 2015|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305072054/http://www.fmx.de/program2015/speaker/1533|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Banshee-Finn US Copyright">{{cite web |title=Registration record PAU002592135 - The Banshee and Finn Magee |url=https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/10377898 |publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230125042426/https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/10377898 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |date=May 23, 2001}}</ref> a psychological thriller titled ''The Lighthouse'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title='Lighthouse' turns on Touchstone|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002199907|access-date=October 9, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903063709/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002199907|archive-date=September 3, 2006}}</ref> and a family adventure series titled ''Sightings'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Snyder|first1=Gabriel|title=U sets sights on 'Sightings'|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/u-sets-sights-on-sightings-1200338850/|access-date=October 9, 2015|work=Variety|date=July 27, 2006|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231933/http://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/u-sets-sights-on-sightings-1200338850/|url-status=dead}}</ref> which were optioned at [[Walt Disney Pictures]], [[Touchstone Pictures]], and [[Universal Pictures|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 (2010 film)|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)|''Shrek'' franchise]].<ref>{{cite web|title=DreamWorks Animation|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=dwanimation.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 9, 2015}}</ref>

During that same time, DeBlois also directed another feature-length music film for [[Sigur Rós]] front-man [[Jón Þór Birgisson|Jónsi]], entitled ''[[Go Quiet]]'', as well as a feature-length concert film entitled ''Jónsi: Live at The Wiltern''.

DeBlois wrote and directed the [[fantasy film|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 (comics)#Feature-film developments|Micronauts]].<ref name=micronauts>{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title='How to Train Your Dragon' Filmmaker Dean DeBlois Tackling 'Micronauts' for Paramount, Hasbro (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-train-your-dragon-filmmaker-tackling-micronauts-film-1241159|access-date=September 23, 2019|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 23, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2023, a [[How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)|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 June 13, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-live-action-new-movie-1235524435/ |title='How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Adaptation Coming to Theaters in 2025 |work=Variety |date=February 15, 2023 |access-date=February 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature Pushed Due To Actors Strike |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/how-to-train-your-dragon-live-action-movie-release-date-1235592783/ |website=Deadline |access-date=3 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
DeBlois is openly gay, and told ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|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."<ref name="Advocate">{{cite news|last=Steele|first=Bruce C.|title=Disney dude: Dean DeBlois, the out codirector of Lilo & Stitch, talks about making a cartoon supporting alternative families, including extraterrestrials who do drag.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eGQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Dean+DeBlois%22+out&pg=PA52|access-date=January 9, 2011|newspaper=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date=July 9, 2002|page=52}}</ref>

==Filmography==
=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+
!Title
!Year
!Director
!Writer
!Producer
!Notes
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]''
|1998
|{{No}}
|{{Partial|Story}}
|{{No}}
| Credited as "Story Co-Head"
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Lilo & Stitch]]''
|2002
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| alongside [[Chris Sanders]]
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Heima]]'' (documentary)
|2007
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|also camera operator
|-
! scope="row" |''[[How to Train Your Dragon (2010 film)|How to Train Your Dragon]]''
| rowspan="2"|2010
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
| alongside Chris Sanders
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Go Quiet]]'' (direct-to-video short)
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|also camera operator & editor
|-
! scope="row" |''[[How to Train Your Dragon 2]]''
|2014
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Partial|Executive}}
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World]]''
|2019
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Partial|Executive}}
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)|How to Train Your Dragon]]''
|2025
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}} 
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Micronauts (comics)#Feature-film developments|Micronauts]]<ref name="micronauts" />''<ref name="THROff2021Release">{{cite news |last1=Beresford |first1=Trilby |title=Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse,' 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-pictures-takes-michael-b-jordan-pic-without-remorse-micronauts-off-2021-release-calendar |access-date=April 4, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 13, 2020}}</ref>
|TBA
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Treasure Island#Adaptations|Treasure Island]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/dean-deblois-directing-treasure-island-universal-mandeville-films-micronauts-1202750658/|title='Treasure Island': Dean DeBlois Set To Direct Take On Classic Novel For Universal & Mandeville Films|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2019-10-02|website=Deadline|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|TBA
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|
|}

==== Producer only ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Title
!Year
!Notes
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Gift of the Night Fury]]''
|2011
|Executive producer<br>Direct-to-video short
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]''
|2018
|Co-producer
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Wild Robot]]''
|2024
|Executive producer<ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |title=Director Chris Sanders Returns to DreamWorks Animation With 'The Wild Robot' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-wild-robot-movie-chris-sanders-dreamworks-animation/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=28 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
|}

==== Animation department ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Title
!Year
!Notes
|-
! scope="row" |[[The Teddy Bears' Picnic#In Popular Culture|''The Teddy Bears' Picnic'']] (short direct-to-TV)
|1989
|assistant animator
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Nutcracker Prince]]''
|1990
|assistant animator / layout artist
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Thumbelina (1994 film)|Thumbelina]]''
| rowspan="3"| 1994
| rowspan="3"|layout artist
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Lion King]]''
|-
! scope="row" |''[[A Troll in Central Park]]''
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]''
|2001
|story artist
|}

=== Television series ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+
!Title
!Year
!Credited as
!Notes
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Raccoons]]''
|1989
|assistant animator
|9 episodes
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Quack Pack]]''
|1996
|character designer / storyboard artist / prop designer
|7 episodes
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Histeria!]]''
|1998–1999
|storyboard artist
|17 episodes
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|213450}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Dean DeBlois}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{DreamWorks Animation}}
{{Annie Award for Directing in an Animated Feature Production 1996–2010}}
{{Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production 1996–2010}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deblois, Dean}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Anglophone Quebec people]]
[[Category:Animation screenwriters]]
[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Artists from Ontario]]
[[Category:Artists from Quebec]]
[[Category:Canadian animated film directors]]
[[Category:Canadian animated film producers]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in Ireland]]
[[Category:Canadian gay artists]]
[[Category:Canadian gay writers]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ film directors]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ screenwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian storyboard artists]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Animation people]]
[[Category:Fantasy film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Ontario]]
[[Category:Film directors from Quebec]]
[[Category:Film producers from Quebec]]
[[Category:Gay screenwriters]]
[[Category:LGBTQ animators]]
[[Category:LGBTQ film producers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Brockville]]
[[Category:Sheridan College animation program alumni]]
[[Category:Sullivan Bluth Studios people]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios people]]
[[Category:Writers from Gatineau]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Quebec]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Ontario]]