View source for Travis Knight

{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1973)}}
{{about|an animator|the basketball player|Travis Knight (basketball)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Travis Knight
| image = Travis Knight (30000495292).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Knight in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|9|13}}
| birth_place = [[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]], [[Oregon]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[Portland State University]]
| party =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| occupation = {{hlist|Animator|film producer|film director|actor}}
| years_active = 1990–present
| spouse =  
| children = 2
| father = [[Phil Knight]]
| mother =
| relatives = [[William W. Knight (publisher)|William W. Knight]] (grandfather)
| website = 
| module  = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| alias = Chilly Tee
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| years_active =
| instrument =
| associated_acts = [[The Bomb Squad]]
}}
}}
'''Travis Andrew Knight''' (born September 13, 1973)<ref>"United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K1YF-VF6 FamilySearch] (23 May 2014), Travis Andrew Knight, Residence, Hillsboro, Oregon, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.</ref> is an American animator, producer, director, actor, and former rapper. The son of the [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] co-founder [[Phil Knight]], he has worked as the lead animator and current CEO for the stop-motion animation studio [[Laika, LLC|Laika]], and directed the films ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]'' (2016), ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' (2018), and the upcoming ''[[Wildwood (film)|Wildwood]]'' (2025).

==Early life==
Knight was born in [[Hillsboro, Oregon]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/19/the-rise-of-travis-knight-the-son-of-nikes-founder-who-built-an-animation-powerhouse/ |title= The rise of Travis Knight, the son of Nike's founder who built an animation powerhouse – The Washington Post |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2016-08-21}}</ref> a suburb of [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]. He is the son of  [[Phil Knight]] (co-founder of [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]), and grandson of publisher [[William W. Knight (publisher)|William W. Knight]]. He attended [[Jesuit High School (Beaverton, Oregon)|Jesuit High School]], near [[Beaverton, Oregon]]. He is a graduate of [[Portland State University]].<ref name=monthly>[http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/issues/archives/articles/0209-knights/5/ McNichol, Tom. 2009. "Hollywood Knights," ''Portland Monthly'', February.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116164506/http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/issues/archives/articles/0209-knights/5/ |date=2015-01-16 }} Accessed: May 24, 2012.</ref>

==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]].<ref name=priceonomics>{{cite web|url=http://priceonomics.com/how-the-father-of-claymation-lost-his-company/|title=How the Father of Claymation Lost His Company|website=Priceonomics|date=9 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name=shocklee/> The demo caught the attention of Bernie Singleton, president of [[MCA Records|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]].<ref name=shocklee />

Knight moved into his parents' Manhattan penthouse for six months while recording the album.<ref name=priceonomics /> 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.<ref name=shocklee>{{cite web|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22981-hotseat-hank-shocklee-on-travis-chilly-tee-knight.html|title=Hotseat: Hank Shocklee On Travis "Chilly Tee" Knight|first=About TREE|last=PALMEDO|website=Willamette Week|date=27 August 2014 }}</ref>

In 1993, Knight released the album ''Get Off Mine''. According to Knight, the record did not sell well and he disliked performing.<ref name=monthly /> 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."<ref name=shocklee/> However, Shocklee is proud of the album, saying, "this record still holds up. You can play it now and it doesn't sound dated."<ref name=shocklee />

===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.<ref name=monthly /><ref name=priceonomics/><ref>[http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/coraline-animator-travis-knight-of-laika/ Ryan Ball, "Coraline Animator Travis Knight of LAIKA," ''Animation Magazine'', May 7, 2007] Accessed: August 21, 2016.</ref> 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.<ref name=priceonomics/> Following the firing of Vinton, the Knights began to reorganize the failing studio, which was rebranded as [[Laika, LLC|Laika]].

Since 2005, Travis Knight has served as Laika's vice president of animation. He was a producer and lead animator for ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]'' (2009), ''[[ParaNorman]]'' (2012) and ''[[The Boxtrolls]]'' (2014).<ref>[http://www.laika.com/person.php?id=268&company=studio Laika, "Travis Knight, President & CEO".] Accessed: May 24, 2012.</ref> He also sits on the Laika board of directors.<ref name="tfc2007">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/59965/knights-tale |title=THE KNIGHTS' TALE |magazine=The Fast Company |date=July 1, 2007 |first=Chuck |last=Salter |access-date=November 29, 2014 }}</ref> Along with [[Anthony Stacchi]] and [[Graham Annable]], Knight was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|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.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Linshi|first1=Jack|title=Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight to Step Down as Chairman|url=https://time.com/3942643/nike-phil-knight-chairman/|access-date=December 5, 2015|magazine=Time|date=June 30, 2015}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|last1=Lott-Lavinga|first1=Ruby|title=Kubo and the Two Strings: an epic film made on a 12-foot-long table|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/kubo-and-the-two-strings-film-interview-travis-knight|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|access-date=April 14, 2017|date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Deadline1>{{cite news|last1=Hammond|first1=Pete|title=Laika & Focus Begin Production On All-Star 'Kubo And The Two Strings' To Kick Off 3-Pic Deal|url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/laika-focus-three-picture-pact-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1201333450/|access-date=January 15, 2015|publisher=[[Penske Business Media]]|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=December 22, 2014}}</ref> The film was released in 2016.<ref name=VarietyKuboStrings>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Laika, Focus Teaming on Animated 'Kubo and the Two Strings'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/laika-focus-teaming-animated-kubo-1201385387/|access-date=December 23, 2014|work=Variety|date=December 22, 2014}}</ref> Along with [[Arianne Sutner]], Knight was again nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] at the [[Academy Awards]], for ''Kubo and the Two Strings''.

[[File:Travis Knight (43663556441).jpg|thumb|right|Knight at the 2018 [[San Diego Comic-Con]] for ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'']]
On March 2, 2017, Knight was revealed to be directing the live-action film ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'',<ref name="Bumblebee">{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1631290/the-transformers-bumblebee-spinoff-has-found-its-director|title=The Transformers Bumblebee Spinoff Has Found Its Director|date=3 March 2017}}</ref> a reboot of the [[Transformers (film series)|''Transformers'' film series]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Looks Like Bumblebee Is Officially The Start Of A New Transformers Movie Universe |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467064/looks-like-bumblebee-is-officially-the-start-of-a-new-transformers-movie-universe |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=18 February 2019 |date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217185137/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467064/looks-like-bumblebee-is-officially-the-start-of-a-new-transformers-movie-universe |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> marking Knight's first time working on a live-action film, and his first time working in a film without acting as a producer.<ref name="Bumblebee" /> Knight, a fan of the [[Transformers: Generation 1|''G1'' version of the franchise]], used many elements from the ''G1'' version in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Bumblebee's 1980s Setting Turned It Into Every Transformers Fan's Dream|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-bumblebees-1980s-setting-turned-it-into-every-trans-1831159187|access-date=2021-01-08|website=io9|date=19 December 2018 |language=en-us}}</ref> ''Bumblebee'' was released on December 21, 2018, to a positive reception from both critics and ''Transformers'' fans, with many calling it the best film in the franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/bumblebee-first-reviews-nostalgia-heavy-prequel-might-be-series-best-film/|title=Bumblebee First Reviews: Nostalgia-Heavy Prequel Might Be Series' Best Film|first=Christopher |last=Campbell|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=December 9, 2018|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref>

In April 2019, he was set to direct an adaptation of ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man|Six Million Dollar Man]]'' starring [[Mark Wahlberg]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/six-billion-dollar-man-travis-knight-mark-wahlberg-1203191267/|title='Bumblebee' Director to Tackle 'Six Billion Dollar Man' Adaptation for WB, Mark Wahlberg (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Kroll|first=Justin|magazine=Variety|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417005831/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/six-billion-dollar-man-travis-knight-mark-wahlberg-1203191267/|archive-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> In September 2021, Knight was announced to direct a film adaptation of ''[[Wildwood (film)|Wildwood]]'', with [[Chris Butler (filmmaker)|Chris Butler]] writing the screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/wildwood-laika-travis-knight-directing-colin-meloy-novel-adaptation-1234833597/|title=Laika Finds Its Next Movie in Travis Knight-Helmed Adaptation of Colin Meloy Novel 'Wildwood'|date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, he was announced to direct a new Laika stop-motion neo-noir film titled ''The Night Gardener''.<ref>[https://collider.com/the-night-gardener-movie-laika-bill-dubuque/ Laika Teams With 'Ozark' Creator Bill Dubuque for 'The Night Gardener']</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/masters-of-the-universe-movie-amazon-mgm-travis-knight-release-date-1235989182/|title=Mattel’s ‘Masters of the Universe’ Moves From Netflix to Amazon for Summer 2026 Release, Travis Knight to Direct|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 1, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Travis Knight, his wife Maryse Knight, and their family live in Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announces Board of Trustees members. {{!}} Los Angeles Life and Style |url=https://losangeleslifeandstyle.com/?p=15396 |access-date=2024-02-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Filmography==
<!--Table is for features that have been released or are comfirmed to be released. DO NOT INCLUDE UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T BEGAN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY-->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! width="65"| [[Film director|Director]]
! width="65"| [[Film producer|Producer]]
! Notes
|-
| 2012
| ''[[ParaNorman]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|rowspan=3| Also animator
|-
| 2014
| ''[[The Boxtrolls]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' 
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
| Live-action debut
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Missing Link (2019 film)|Missing Link]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Wildwood (film)|Wildwood]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
| ''Filming''
|-
| 2026
| ''[[Masters of the Universe (2026 film)|Masters of the Universe]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|}

;Animator only
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| ''Boyer Brothers''
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[The PJs]]''
| Episode: "Haiti and the Tramp"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Gary & Mike]]''
|
|-
| 2002
| ''Día de Los Muertos''
| rowspan="2"|Short film
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Moongirl]]''
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]''
|
|-
|}

==Awards==
{{BLP sources section|date=September 2017}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Film !! Result<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1325899/awards?ref_=nm_awd |title= Travis Knight – Awards |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|2010 || [[Annie Awards]] || Character Animation in a Feature Production || rowspan=2|''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Visual Effects Society Awards]] || Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture<br><small>Shared with Trey Thomas</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| 2012 || Awards Circuit Community Awards || Best Animated Feature Film<br><small>Shared with Arianne Sutner</small> || rowspan=5|''[[ParaNorman]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4|2013 || [[Annie Awards]] || Character Animation in a Feature Production || {{won}}
|-
|  Online Film & Television Association Awards || Best Animated Picture<br><small>Shared with Arianne Sutner</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild of America Awards]] || Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures<br><small>Shared with Arianne Sutner</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| Visual Effects Society Awards || Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture<br><small>Shared with [[Chris Butler (filmmaker)|Chris Butler]], [[Sam Fell]] & Brad Schiff</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=5|2015 || [[Academy Awards]] || Best Animated Feature<br><small>Shared with [[Anthony Stacchi]] & [[Graham Annable]]</small> || rowspan=5|''[[The Boxtrolls]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Annie Awards]] || Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation in a Feature Production || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild of America Awards]] || Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures<br><small>Shared with David Bleiman Ichioka</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| Visual Effects Society Awards || Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture<br><small>Shared with Jason Stalman, Mike Laubach & Kyle Williams</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture<br><small>Shared with Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable & Brad Schiff</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=6 | 2017 || [[89th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Hipes|first1=Patrick|title=Oscar Nominations: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Noms; 'Arrival' & 'Moonlight' Snag 8 Apiece|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/oscar-nominations-2017-academy-award-nominees-1201893000/|magazine=Deadline|access-date=February 27, 2017|date=January 24, 2017}}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]<br /><small>Shared with [[Arianne Sutner]]</small> || rowspan=6 | ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
| [[44th Annie Awards|Annie Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Flores|first1=Terry|title='Zootopia' Tops Annie Awards Nominations, 'Kubo and the Two Strings' in Close Second|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/annie-awards-nominations-2017-zootopia-kubo-and-the-two-strings-1201927492/|access-date=February 27, 2017|work=Variety|date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> || [[Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production|Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[70th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ritman|first1=Aley|title=BAFTA Awards: 'La La Land' Leads Nominations|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/bafta-2017-complete-list-nominations-962769/item/animated-film-bafta-nominees-2017-962754|access-date=February 27, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 9, 2017}}</ref> || [[BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Film]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/component/content/article/148-cfca-nominees-2016 |title=The 2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Nominees |date=December 11, 2016 |publisher=[[Chicago Film Critics Association]] |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref>
| Most Promising Filmmaker || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild of America Awards 2016|Producers Guild of America Award]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lewsi|first1=Hillary|last2=Lee|first2=Ashley|title=2017 PGA Film Nominees Include 'Deadpool,' 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land'; 'Westworld,' 'Stranger Things,' 'Atlanta' Among TV|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-pga-award-nominations-960097|access-date=February 27, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 5, 2017}}</ref>
| [[Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Motion Picture|Best Animated Motion Picture]]<br /><small>Shared with [[Arianne Sutner]]</small> || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Visual Effects Society Awards 2016|Visual Effects Society Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Caranicas|first1=Peter|title='Jungle Book,' 'Game of Thrones' Dominate Visual Effects Society Awards|url=https://variety.com/2017/artisans/in-contention/ves-awards-2017-winners-list-jungle-book-game-of-thrones-visual-effects-society-1201980556/|access-date=February 27, 2017|work=Variety|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>
| [[Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture|Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature]]<br /><small>Shared with Steve Emerson, Brad Schiff and Arianne Sutner</small> || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2020 || [[92nd Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=OSCAR NOMINEES |url=https://oscar.go.com/nominees|publisher=Oscars.com|date=January 13, 2020|access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]<br /><small>Shared with [[Arianne Sutner]] and [[Chris Butler (filmmaker)|Chris Butler]]</small> || rowspan=2 | ''[[Missing Link (2019 film)|Missing Link]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
| [[77th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Winners & Nominees 2020 |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees?page=2|publisher=GoldenGlobes.com|date=January 5, 2020|access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref> || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film|Best Animated Feature Film]]<br /><small>Shared with [[Arianne Sutner]] and [[Chris Butler (filmmaker)|Chris Butler]]</small> || {{won}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Travis Knight (animator)}}
* {{IMDb name|1325899}}

{{Travis Knight}}
{{Nike}}
{{Laika (company)}}
{{Annie Award for Character Animation in a Feature Production}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Travis}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:American animated film directors]]
[[Category:American stop motion animators]]
[[Category:American animated film producers]]
[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Jesuit High School (Beaverton, Oregon) alumni]]
[[Category:Laika (company) people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Hillsboro, Oregon]]
[[Category:Portland State University alumni]]
[[Category:Rappers from Oregon]]
[[Category:Animators from Oregon]]