Clay Kaytis
Born (1973-03-22) March 22, 1973
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
1995PocahontasInbetweener: Additional Clean-Up Animation
1996The Hunchback of Notre DameBreakdown AnimatorClopin
1997HerculesRough Inbetweener
1998MulanRough Inbetweener
1999TarzanAdditional Rough Inbetweener
2000Fantasia 2000Animating Assistant
The Emperor's New GrooveAnimatorPacha
2002Treasure PlanetAnimatorScroop
2004Home on the RangeAnimatorFarm Animals
2005Chicken LittleAnimatorBuck "Ace" Cluck
2007Meet the RobinsonsAnimator
2008BoltSupervising Animator
2009Super Rhino (Video short)Animator
2010Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition (TV Series)Voice
TangledAnimation Supervisor
2012Tangled Ever After (Short)Animation Supervisor
Paperman (Short)Final Line Animator
Wreck-It RalphAnimator / End Credit Animation Designer
2013Get a Horse! (Short)Additional Thanks
FrozenAnimator
2016The Angry Birds MovieDirector with Fergal Reilly/ VoiceClayton the Waiter Bird
2018The Christmas ChroniclesDirector
2020The Christmas Chronicles 2Executive producer
2021Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (TV Special)Director / Writer with Alex Galatis and Scott Montgomery
2022Snoopy 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 ChristmasDirector / 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. 1 2 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.
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