Clay Kaytis
Born (1973-03-22) March 22, 1973 (age 50)
Orange County, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Animator, film director
Years active1995–present
SpouseMonica Lago-Kaytis

Clay Kaytis (born March 22, 1973) is an American animator and film director, best known for directing the animated film The Angry Birds Movie (2016), the Christmas comedy film The Christmas Chronicles (2018), and the A Christmas Story sequel A Christmas Story Christmas (2022).

Career

Kaytis started his career as an animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios.[1] His main credits at Disney included Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen.[2] After working for nineteen years, he left the studio in 2013.[3]

Kaytis made his directing debut with The Angry Birds Movie, which he co-directed with Fergal Reilly for Sony Pictures Entertainment. The film was based on the Rovio Entertainment's video game Angry Birds. Jon Vitti wrote the screenplay for the film, which was released on May 20, 2016.[3][4] Kaytis then made his live-action directing debut with The Christmas Chronicles for Netflix, which was released on November 22, 2018.[5]

In late September 2016, it was announced that Kaytis will direct The Lunch Witch for Amblin Partners.[6]

In 2022, Kaytis directed a sequel to the 1983 film A Christmas Story entitled A Christmas Story Christmas for Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, and HBO Max (now Max).[7][8]

Personal life

Kaytis is married to producer Monica Lago-Kaytis.[9]

Filmography

Year Title Credits Characters
1995 Pocahontas Inbetweener: Additional Clean-Up Animation
1996 The Hunchback of Notre Dame Breakdown Animator Clopin
1997 Hercules Rough Inbetweener
1998 Mulan Rough Inbetweener
1999 Tarzan Additional Rough Inbetweener
2000 Fantasia 2000 Animating Assistant
The Emperor's New Groove Animator Pacha
2002 Treasure Planet Animator Scroop
2004 Home on the Range Animator Farm Animals
2005 Chicken Little Animator Buck "Ace" Cluck
2007 Meet the Robinsons Animator
2008 Bolt Supervising Animator
2009 Super Rhino (Video short) Animator
2010 Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition (TV Series) Voice
Tangled Animation Supervisor
2012 Tangled Ever After (Short) Animation Supervisor
Paperman (Short) Final Line Animator
Wreck-It Ralph Animator / End Credit Animation Designer
2013 Get a Horse! (Short) Additional Thanks
Frozen Animator
2016 The Angry Birds Movie Director with Fergal Reilly/ Voice Clayton the Waiter Bird
2018 The Christmas Chronicles Director
2020 The Christmas Chronicles 2 Executive producer
2021 Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (TV Special) Director / Writer with Alex Galatis and Scott Montgomery
2022 Snoopy Presents: It's The Small Things, Charlie Brown (TV Special) Creative Consultant
Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love (TV Special) Director
Snoopy Presents: Lucy's School (TV Special) Creative Consultant
A Christmas Story Christmas Director / Screenplay with Nick Schenk

References

  1. ^ Sarto, Dan (May 31, 2011). "An Interview with Disney Supervising Animator Clay Kaytis". AWN. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 13, 2015). "'Angry Birds' Director Clay Kaytis Signs With WME". Deadline. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b Amidi, Amid (October 9, 2013). "Animation Vets Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly Will Direct "Angry Birds" Feature". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  4. ^ Roberts, Sheila (May 15, 2016). "'The Angry Birds Movie': Fergal Reilly & Clay Kaytis on Transitioning from Animators to Directors". Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Kit, Borys (December 5, 2017). "Kurt Russell to Play Santa Claus in Netflix Christmas Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ Amidi, Amid (September 29, 2016). "'Angry Birds' Co-Director Clay Kaytis Jumps into Live-Action with 'The Lunch Witch'". Cartoon Brew.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (January 20, 2022). "'A Christmas Story' Sequel Set With Original Star Peter Billingsley". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 20, 2022). "'A Christmas Story' Sequel In The Works At Legendary and Warner Bros With Peter Billingsley Set To Reprise Ralphie Role". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Monica Lago-Kaytis: Co-Founder, Rise Up Animation + Executive Producer". The BRIC Foundation. Retrieved May 23, 2023.

External links

Films directed by Clay Kaytis
Authority control databases
Categories