Chris Sanders
The co-writer and co-director who brought dragons to life at DreamWorks Animation.
Chris Sanders is an American filmmaker, animator, and voice actor who co-wrote and co-directed How to Train Your Dragon (2010) for DreamWorks Animation with Dean DeBlois. The film was a huge critical and box-office success, grossing nearly $500 million worldwide, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards. It also won ten Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature. Sanders moved to DreamWorks Animation by March 2007 after being removed as director of Disney's American Dog (later retitled Bolt). At DreamWorks, he first took over as director on Crood Awakening (later The Croods), a project previously in co-production with Aardman Animations.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Christopher Michael Sanders
- Born
- 12 March 1962
- Birthplace
- Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
- Education
- California Institute of the Arts (BFA)
- Occupation
- Film director
- screenwriter
- producer
- animator
- illustrator
- voice actor
- Years active
- 1984–present
- Employer
- Walt Disney Animation Studios (1988–2007)
- DreamWorks Animation (2007–present)
- Walt Disney Pictures (2025–present)
- Spouse
- Jessica Steele-Sanders (2015)
Lore & Background
Sanders' move to DreamWorks Animation in March 2007 came after he was removed as director of Disney's American Dog by John Lasseter in December 2006. He said of the move: "I've been so anxious to start working on things, and so I talked to a lot of people... I like the way DreamWorks looks at animation. Animation still has a lot of different places to go, and I don't want to miss out on a chance to try some new things with it."
On September 24, 2008, it was reported that Sanders and DeBlois would be screenwriting and directing How to Train Your Dragon for DreamWorks Animation. The film was released on March 26, 2010. After completing How to Train Your Dragon, Sanders returned to The Croods, which was released on March 22, 2013, sharing directing and writing credits with Kirk DeMicco. The film grossed over $500 million.
Sanders and DeMicco then worked on The Croods sequel for three and a half years before its cancellation in late 2016; it was revived in September 2017 with Joel Crawford replacing both as director. For The Croods: A New Age, Sanders and DeMicco were credited for the story, and Sanders reprised his role as Belt.
Reader's Guide
Chris Sanders brought a unique blend of traditional animation sensibility to DreamWorks' CGI evolution during the late 2000s. His work on How to Train Your Dragon required bridging the gap between hand-drawn character expressiveness and digital environments, particularly for dragon movement. The production team faced significant challenges in rendering scales and flight physics that felt organic rather than mechanical. Sanders insisted on emotional authenticity over spectacle, shaping a narrative where vulnerability defined strength.
This approach influenced subsequent projects to prioritize character arcs within action-heavy settings. His collaboration with Dean DeBlois set a high standard for writer-director partnerships at the studio. The film received critical acclaim and major industry recognition, including nominations for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, and winning ten Annie Awards including Best Animated Feature. Industry peers noted how Sanders' background in storyboarding informed the pacing of flight sequences.
His departure after the first installment marked a transition period for the series, yet his foundational work ensured consistency in tone. Fans often cite his direction as the emotional anchor that allowed later sequels to expand without losing their heart.
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