Chris Sanders

Christopher Sanders is an animator, director, screenwriter, illustrator, and voice actor renowned for his distinctive storytelling and character design in both animation and live-action films.

Sanders developed an early passion for drawing and storytelling, often crafting short stories and illustrations during his childhood. He pursued formal education in animation at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). His professional career began with Marvel Productions, where he worked as a character designer on "Muppet Babies." In 1987, he joined Walt Disney Feature Animation, contributing to several major projects.

At Disney, Sanders played significant roles in the development of acclaimed films such as "The Rescuers Down Under," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and "Mulan," where he served as head of story. His most notable achievement at Disney was co-writing and co-directing "Lilo & Stitch" (2002) alongside Dean DeBlois. In this film, Sanders introduced the character Stitch, originally conceived in 1985, and provided the character's voice. The film's success led to a franchise, with Sanders continuing to voice Stitch in various productions.

In 2007, Sanders transitioned to DreamWorks Animation, where he co-wrote and co-directed "How to Train Your Dragon" (2010) with DeBlois. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning Academy Award nominations and winning multiple Annie Awards. He also co-directed "The Croods" (2013) with Kirk DeMicco, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Expanding into live-action, Sanders made his directorial debut with "The Call of the Wild" (2020), an adaptation of Jack London's novel starring Harrison Ford. He continued his work in animation with "The Wild Robot" (2024).

Beyond filmmaking, Sanders is an accomplished illustrator and author. In 2015, he co-authored the young adult novel "Rescue Sirens: The Search for the Atavist" with his wife, Jessica Steele-Sanders, contributing both writing and illustrations. He also created the webcomic "Kiskaloo," featuring his signature artistic style.