Dean DeBlois

Dean DeBlois
Dean DeBlois in 2011
Born	(1970-06-07) June 7, 1970 (age 46) Aylmer, Quebec
Occupation	Director, producer, screenwriter, animator, film editor
Years active	1988 – present
Known for	Lilo & Stitch How to Train Your Dragon How to Train Your Dragon 2 Heima

Dean DeBlois (/dəˈblwɑː/; born June 7, 1970) is a Canadian film director, film producer, screenwriter, animator and editor. He is best known for co-writing and co-directing the Oscar-nominated animated films Lilo & Stitch for Walt Disney Feature Animation, How to Train Your Dragon and its sequel for DreamWorks Animation, and directed the Sigur Rós documentary/music film Heima.

DeBlois was born in Aylmer, Quebec. As a young boy, he was interested in comic books, which later influenced his drawing ability, sense of imagination and story-telling. Growing up poor, he visited on weekends a little smoke shop in a strip mall close to his house, where they let him read everything for free. Memorizing the comics, he went home and drew.

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.