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Born May 5th, 1970, Travis J Blaise is an American animator, story artist, and director. Travis is best known for storyboard artistry with Disenchantment (2021), Big Mouth (2017), Disney's Penn Zero (2014), and his animation work with Brother Bear (2003), Lilo and Stich (2002), Mulan (1998), and The Lion King (1994). He has been in the industry for more than 31 years.
Biography
Early Life
Travis was born on May 5th, 1970, in Burlington, VT, in the United States. His parents are Marshall James Blaise and Mary Christine Fuller (deceased) and his stepfather is John Austin (deceased). Travis has one biological brother, Aaron Blaise, two half sisters, and five half brothers. Travis's biological father, Marshall, is a musician and master carpenter. John, his stepfather, was an interior designer, landscape artist, and graduate from Syracuse University. Aaron, Travis's brother, is a director, animator, art instructor, and founder of CreatureArtTeacher.
Travis graduated in 1988 from Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida. While in high school, Travis was the captain for three of his four years on the Varsity wrestling team. After high school, he went on to study Illustration at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, from 1988 to 1992. Before leaving college, Travis completed two consecutive internships with Walt Disney Animation Studios and was then hired.
Career
Travis worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1990-2004. During his 14 year career, he worked as an in-between artist and animator on films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Tarzan, Brother Bear, and several other productions, including video games related to Disney's major animation pictures.
In 2001 Travis co-directed and animated an animation short, Timmy's Lesson in Nature.
After Disney, Travis worked for Project Firefly Animation Studies for a year and a half. During that time, he was an animator for Curious George. He then worked with Cartoon Network from 2006-2008 heading up animation for the music video portions of the tv show Class of 3000.
In 2011 Travis worked at Digital Domain in Stuart, Florida. He was a senior story artist, animator, and character designer. Travis was at the studio for over a year before it closed due to bankruptcy.
After Digital Domain, Travis's continued working as a story artist, 2d animator, and character designer from 2012-2021. His projects were with many major studios, notably Disneytoon Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Animation studio.
In 2017 Travis founded Sketch To Animate, a production company, a learning institution, and a community for people who dream of becoming storytellers. He is an educator in the animation industry. Travis has lectured at various film festivals, mentored MFA students to produce film shorts, and taught college courses for story development.
Travis, with SketchtoAnimiate, offers lessons and tutorials based on his career as an animator, story artist, and director.
Personal Life
Travis is divorced and has two children from his marriage. He has lived in Vermont, Florida, California, Washington, and Mexico. Travis is a pescatarian.
