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Travis Andrew Knight (born September 13, 1973)"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. is an American animator, producer, director, actor, 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.
Knight moved into his parents' Manhattan penthouse for six months while recording the album. 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.
In 1993, Knight released the album Get Off Mine. According to Knight, the record did not sell well and he disliked performing. 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." However, Shocklee is proud of the album, saying, "this record still holds up. You can play it now and it doesn't sound dated."
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. 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). Laika, "Travis Knight, President & CEO". Accessed: May 24, 2012. He also sits on the Laika board of directors. 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.
On March 2, 2017, Knight was revealed to be directing the live-action film Bumblebee from the Transformers film series, marking Knight's first time working on a live-action film, and his first time working in a film without acting as a producer. Knight, a fan of the , used many elements from the G1 version in the film. 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.
In April 2019, he was set to direct an adaptation of Six Million Dollar Man starring Mark Wahlberg. In September 2021, Knight was announced to direct a film adaptation of Wildwood, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay. In April 2022, he was announced to direct a new Laika stop-motion neo-noir film titled The Night Gardener. Laika Teams With 'Ozark' Creator Bill Dubuque for 'The Night Gardener'
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.
On June 20, 2024, it was announced that Knight would direct an animated adaptation of the novel Piranesi.
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. Ryan Ball, "Coraline Animator Travis Knight of LAIKA," Animation Magazine, May 7, 2007 Accessed: August 21, 2016. He worked on the television series The PJs for Fox Studios and Gary & Mike on UPN, as well as television commercials and promo spots.
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. 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. The film was released in 2016. Along with Arianne Sutner, Knight was again nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, for Kubo and the Two Strings.
Personal life
Travis Knight, his wife Maryse Knight, and their family live in Oregon.
Filmography
2012 ParaNorman Also animator 2014 The Boxtrolls 2016 Kubo and the Two Strings 2018 Bumblebee Live-action debut 2019 Missing Link 2026 Masters of the Universe Post-production Wildwood
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
Academy Awards Chicago Film Critics Association Producers Guild of America Award Visual Effects Society Awards Academy Awards
External links
Categories: 1973 Births, American Chief Executives, American Animated Film Directors, American Stop Motion Animators, American Animated Film Producers, Annie Award Winners, Businesspeople From Portland, Oregon, Jesuit High School Alumni, Laika People, Living People, Musicians From Hillsboro, Oregon, Portland State University Alumni, Rappers From Oregon, Animators From Oregon, American Male Film Actors, American Male Television Actors, American Male Voice Actors, American Male Video Game Actors
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