Ryan Gillis

Inspired by his childhood surrounded by the rich wildlife and vibrant energy of southern Florida, creator and executive producer Ryan Gillis brings “StuGo,” an original animated series about six middle schoolers who get tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. What started as three months of learning transforms into an adventure of a lifetime on a tropical island filled with mind-reading manatees, giant fighting fungi, and fashion-forward mutants.

Born in Florida to a Cuban mother and an American father, Gillis’ work is a reflection of the unique mix of cultures and ecosystems that exist in that region. “StuGo”’s premise is largely inspired by a study abroad course that he took in college. He and a bunch of art students took a little propeller plane from south Florida for a two-week wood-carving class in Andros, the largest but least populated island in the Bahamas. Outside of class, he had free rein to do whatever he wanted, which meant a group of kids scrambling all up and down the coast of this island, exploring at their will. He met his wife on this unforgettable trip!

Encouraged by his family, Gillis spent his whole life drawing and watching movies, but it wasn’t until grad school that he finally thought to combine the two passions and pursue animation. His Master of Fine Arts thesis film, “Palm Rot,” debuted at Sundance in 2015. Since then, he has worked as an animator at Titmouse, as well as a storyboard artist and a director for studios like Point Grey, Annapurna and Disney Television Animation. He received an overall deal from Disney TVA in 2018, where he developed “StuGo.”