Travis Knight
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Travis Knight | |
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| Alma mater | Portland State University |
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| Years active | 1990–present |
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| Children | 2 |
| Father | Phil KnightTemplate:Pluralize from text |
| Relatives | William W. Knight (grandfather) |
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| Also known as | Chilly Tee |
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| Genres | Hip hop |
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Travis Andrew Knight (born September 13, 1973)[1] is an American filmmaker, animator, and former rapper. The son of the Nike co-founder Phil Knight, he has worked as the lead animator and current CEO for the stop-motion animation studio Laika, including directing the company's films Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and the upcoming Wildwood (2026). He also directed the live-action films Bumblebee (2018) and the upcoming Masters of the Universe (2026). Knight received three nominations for the Academy Awards.
Early life
Knight was born in Hillsboro, Oregon,[2] a suburb of Portland. He is the son of Phil Knight (co-founder of Nike), and grandson of publisher William W. Knight. He attended Jesuit High School, near Beaverton, Oregon. He is a graduate of Portland State University.[3]
Career
Music career
Knight began his career as a rapper under the name "Chilly Tee". Using a recording studio built in his father's mansion, Knight self-produced a five-song demo album.[4][5] The demo caught the attention of Bernie Singleton, president of MCA, who passed the demo to producer Hank Shocklee, who liked the demo and agreed to produce Knight's debut album with his production team, The Bomb Squad.[5]
Knight moved into his parents' Manhattan penthouse for six months while recording the album.[4] The Bomb Squad helped him develop fleshed out choruses, as Shocklee felt that Knight was very skilled at writing verses, but his choruses were weak.[5]
In 1993, Knight released the album Get Off Mine. According to Knight, the record did not sell well and he disliked performing.[3] According to Shocklee, "One of the reasons why it didn't catch on was because it was one record that came out of nowhere, and rap is about building momentum."[5] However, Shocklee is proud of the album, saying, "this record still holds up. You can play it now and it doesn't sound dated."[5]
Animation
After Travis Knight graduated from Portland State University, Knight's father had become an investor in Will Vinton Studios, and persuaded the company to hire Travis as an intern.[3][4][6] He worked on the television series The PJs for Fox Studios and Gary & Mike on UPN, as well as television commercials and promo spots.
By 2003, Phil Knight became a controlling shareholder in Will Vinton Studios, and Travis Knight was promoted to the board of directors, despite having no management experience himself.[4] Following the firing of Vinton, the Knights began to reorganize the studio, which was rebranded as Laika.
Since 2005, Travis Knight has served as Laika's vice president of animation. He was a producer and lead animator for Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012) and The Boxtrolls (2014).[7] He also sits on the Laika board of directors.[8] Along with Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable, Knight was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, for The Boxtrolls.
He is the current president and CEO of Laika, along with serving on the board of directors of his father's company, Nike, Inc., a position he assumed in 2015.[9]
Directorial career
In 2014, Shannon Tindle pitched to Knight a fantasy project based on samurais, which Knight, a fan of fantasy films, approved for development.[10] The film was announced in December 2014, as Kubo and the Two Strings, while Knight was revealed to be producing and directing the film, marking his directorial debut.[11] The film was released in 2016.[12] Along with Arianne Sutner, Knight was again nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, for Kubo and the Two Strings.
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On March 2, 2017, Knight was revealed to be directing the live-action film Bumblebee from the Transformers film series,[13] marking Knight's first time working on a live-action film, and his first time working in a film without acting as a producer.[13] Knight, a fan of the G1 version of the franchise, used many elements from the G1 version in the film.[14] Bumblebee was released on December 21, 2018, to positive reception from both critics and Transformers fans, with many calling it the best film in the franchise.[15]
In April 2019, he was set to direct an adaptation of Six Million Dollar Man starring Mark Wahlberg.[16] In September 2021, Knight was announced to direct a film adaptation of Wildwood, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay.[17] In April 2022, he was announced to direct a new Laika stop-motion neo-noir film titled The Night Gardener.[18]
On May 1, 2024, it was confirmed that Knight will direct a live-action Masters of the Universe movie for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films. The film is set for release on June 5, 2026.[19]
On June 20, 2024, it was announced that Knight would direct an animated adaptation of the novel Piranesi.[20]
Personal life
Travis Knight, his wife Maryse Knight, and their family live in Oregon.[21]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ParaNorman | No | Yes | Also animator |
| 2014 | The Boxtrolls | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | Kubo and the Two Strings | Yes | Yes | |
| 2018 | Bumblebee | Yes | No | Live-action debut |
| 2019 | Missing Link | No | Yes | |
| 2026 | Masters of the Universe | Yes | No | |
| Wildwood | Yes | No | Post-production |
- Animator only
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Boyer Brothers | TV movie |
| The PJs | Episode: "Haiti and the Tramp" | |
| 2001 | Gary & Mike | |
| 2002 | Día de Los Muertos | Short film |
| 2005 | Moongirl | |
| 2009 | Coraline |
Awards
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 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (September 2017) |
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result[22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Annie Awards | Character Animation in a Feature Production | Coraline | Nominated |
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Shared with Trey Thomas |
Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Animated Feature Film Shared with Arianne Sutner |
ParaNorman | Nominated |
| 2013 | Annie Awards | Character Animation in a Feature Production | Won | |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Animated Picture Shared with Arianne Sutner |
Nominated | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures Shared with Arianne Sutner |
Nominated | ||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Shared with Chris Butler, Sam Fell & Brad Schiff |
Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Academy Awards | Best Animated Feature Shared with Anthony Stacchi & Graham Annable |
The Boxtrolls | Nominated |
| Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation in a Feature Production | Nominated | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures Shared with David Bleiman Ichioka |
Nominated | ||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Shared with Jason Stalman, Mike Laubach & Kyle Williams |
Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Shared with Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable & Brad Schiff |
Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Academy Awards[23] | Best Animated Feature Shared with Arianne Sutner |
Kubo and the Two Strings | Nominated |
| Annie Awards[24] | Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards[25] | Best Animated Film | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association[26] | Most Promising Filmmaker | Nominated | ||
| Producers Guild of America Award[27] | Best Animated Motion Picture Shared with Arianne Sutner |
Nominated | ||
| Visual Effects Society Awards[28] | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature Shared with Steve Emerson, Brad Schiff and Arianne Sutner |
Won | ||
| 2020 | Academy Awards[29] | Best Animated Feature Shared with Arianne Sutner and Chris Butler |
Missing Link | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards[30] | Best Animated Feature Film Shared with Arianne Sutner and Chris Butler |
Won |
References
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- ^ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (May 23, 2014), Travis Andrew Knight, Residence, Hillsboro, Oregon, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The rise of Travis Knight, the son of Nike's founder who built an animation powerhouse – The Washington Post". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c McNichol, Tom. 2009. "Hollywood Knights," Portland Monthly, February. Script error: No such module "webarchive". Accessed: May 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How the Father of Claymation Lost His Company". Priceonomics. May 9, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.PALMEDO, About TREE (August 27, 2014). "Hotseat: Hank Shocklee On Travis "Chilly Tee" Knight". Willamette Week.
- ^ Ryan Ball, "Coraline Animator Travis Knight of LAIKA," Animation Magazine, May 7, 2007 Accessed: August 21, 2016.
- ^ Laika, "Travis Knight, President & CEO". Accessed: May 24, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Salter, Chuck (July 1, 2007). "THE KNIGHTS' TALE". The Fast Company. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Linshi, Jack (June 30, 2015). "Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight to Step Down as Chairman". Time. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lott-Lavinga, Ruby (September 9, 2016). "Kubo and the Two Strings: an epic film made on a 12-foot-long table". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hammond, Pete (December 22, 2014). "Laika & Focus Begin Production On All-Star 'Kubo And The Two Strings' To Kick Off 3-Pic Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McNary, Dave (December 22, 2014). "Laika, Focus Teaming on Animated 'Kubo and the Two Strings'". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Transformers Bumblebee Spinoff Has Found Its Director". March 3, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How Bumblebee's 1980s Setting Turned It Into Every Transformers Fan's Dream". io9. December 19, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Campbell, Christopher (December 9, 2018). "Bumblebee First Reviews: Nostalgia-Heavy Prequel Might Be Series' Best Film". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kroll, Justin (April 16, 2019). "'Bumblebee' Director to Tackle 'Six Billion Dollar Man' Adaptation for WB, Mark Wahlberg (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Laika Finds Its Next Movie in Travis Knight-Helmed Adaptation of Colin Meloy Novel 'Wildwood'". September 15, 2021.
- ^ Laika Teams With 'Ozark' Creator Bill Dubuque for 'The Night Gardener'
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jackson, Angelique (May 1, 2024). "Mattel's 'Masters of the Universe' Moves From Netflix to Amazon for Summer 2026 Release, Travis Knight to Direct". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Laika Picks Up Rights to Susanna Clarke's 'Piranesi'; Travis Knight to Direct Adaptation of the Novel". Variety. June 20, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announces Board of Trustees members. | Los Angeles Life and Style". June 21, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Travis Knight – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hipes, Patrick (January 24, 2017). "Oscar Nominations: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Noms; 'Arrival' & 'Moonlight' Snag 8 Apiece". Deadline. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Flores, Terry (November 28, 2016). "'Zootopia' Tops Annie Awards Nominations, 'Kubo and the Two Strings' in Close Second". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ritman, Aley (January 9, 2017). "BAFTA Awards: 'La La Land' Leads Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The 2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Nominees". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 11, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lewsi, Hillary; Lee, Ashley (January 5, 2017). "2017 PGA Film Nominees Include 'Deadpool,' 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land'; 'Westworld,' 'Stranger Things,' 'Atlanta' Among TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Caranicas, Peter (February 7, 2017). "'Jungle Book,' 'Game of Thrones' Dominate Visual Effects Society Awards". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."OSCAR NOMINEES". Oscars.com. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Winners & Nominees 2020". GoldenGlobes.com. January 5, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
External links
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