Dean DeBlois

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

DeBlois began his career as an assistant animator and layout artist for Hinton Animation Studios/Lacewood Productions in Ottawa, Ontario, while attending Sheridan College's two year Classical Animation program. From 1988 to 1990, he contributed to productions such as *The Raccoons* (TV series), *The Teddy Bears' Picnic* (TV special), and *The Nutcracker Prince* (feature animated film). After graduating in 1990, he was hired by Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland, working as a layout artist, character designer, and storyboard assistant to Don Bluth on *A Troll in Central Park* and *Thumbelina*. In 1994, he moved to Los Angeles to work for Walt Disney Feature Animation as a storyboard artist, becoming Head of Story on *Mulan* alongside frequent collaborator Chris Sanders. They re-teamed to create *Lilo & Stitch*, with DeBlois leaving production on *Atlantis: The Lost Empire* to work on it. Following its 2002 release, 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*, a psychological thriller titled *The Lighthouse*, and a family adventure series titled *Sightings*, optioned at Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Universal Studios respectively. In October 2008, he 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, which became the studio's top-grossing film in North America outside of the *Shrek* franchise. 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*. He wrote and directed *How to Train Your Dragon 2* (released June 13, 2014) and *How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World* (released February 22, 2019). On September 23, 2019, he was attached to write and direct a film adaptation of the Micronauts. In February 2023, a live-action adaptation of *How to Train Your Dragon* was announced, with DeBlois set to write and direct, making the film his live action debut.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the cliffs of Berk, carrying the scent of salt and pine. Hiccup stood at the edge of the world, looking not toward the horizon for enemies, but down at the dragon resting beside him. It was a quiet moment, born from years of trust, where the roar of battle had faded into the gentle hum of understanding. In this silence, the true victory was realized: not the conquest of fear, but the building of a family that spanned species.

Reader's Guide

Dean DeBlois's development process is renowned for its rigorous character study and collaborative storytelling. When approaching *How to Train Your Dragon*, he focused heavily on the emotional arc between Hiccup and his father, Stoick, ensuring the conflict felt personal rather than just external. Production challenges often involved balancing the technical demands of animating realistic dragon flight with the need for intimate human moments. The team had to innovate new software tools to capture the fluidity of Toothless's movements while maintaining the weight of the Viking world. The trilogy received critical acclaim, earning multiple Academy Award nominations and establishing a new standard for animated sequels that deepen rather than dilute their original premise. DeBlois's work influenced the industry by proving that animated films could tackle complex themes of war, loss, and reconciliation with maturity.

Did You Know?

• DeBlois was born and raised in Aylmer, Quebec, Canada, and grew up in poverty, visiting a smoke shop on weekends where the proprietor let him read comics for free.
• He attended Sheridan College's two year Classical Animation program in Oakville, Ontario, from 1988 to 1990.
• DeBlois worked as a layout artist, character designer, and storyboard assistant to Don Bluth on *A Troll in Central Park* and *Thumbelina* at Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland.
• He left production on *Atlantis: The Lost Empire* in order to work on *Lilo & Stitch*.
• 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 heterosexual writing partner Chris Sanders, because DeBlois 'hobbled in there looking like a redneck'.