Dean Allan DeBlois (born June 7, 1970) is a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter celebrated for his work in animated film. He’s best known as the co-writer and director of Lilo & Stitch (2002) for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy (2010–2019) for DreamWorks Animation—projects that have earned both critical acclaim and Oscar nominations. He also directed the 2007 documentary Heima, which chronicled the Icelandic band Sigur Rós on tour in their homeland.

Early Life

DeBlois was born and raised in Aylmer, Quebec. From a young age, he was passionate about storytelling and art, heavily inspired by comic books. Despite growing up in poverty, he fostered his creative skills by frequenting a local smoke shop where he could read comics for free—memorizing and redrawing them at home. He attended Darcy McGee High School before going on to study animation.

His signature work is often praised for its emotional depth, visual storytelling, and ability to resonate with audiences of all ages.