Traci Paige Johnson
![]() |
Traci Paige Johnson | |
---|---|
![]() Johnson at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024 | |
Born | New York City, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Animator, voice actress |
Spouse | Robert Mowen (m. 1995) |
Children | 3 |
Traci Paige Johnson is an American animator and voice actress best known for creating the Nick Jr. Channel television series, Blue's Clues (1996–2006), its spin-off, Blue's Room (2004–2007), and the reboot series Blue's Clues & You! (2019–present). She voices the titular character for the original and reboot series.
Biography
While a student at Northwestern University, where she earned a degree in radio, television, and film, Johnson began developing her "unique signature style of cutout animation using construction paper and everyday objects and textures".[1] She was a freelance animator in the early 1990s when cable television network Nickelodeon wanted to create a new television show for preschoolers. She already had experience working in children's television.[2] In 1994, Johnson, along with producer Angela Santomero and director Todd Kessler, which Nickelodeon executive Brown Johnson called a "green creative team",[3] created the series Blue's Clues. According to writer Diane Tracy, Johnson, Santomero, and Kessler did not possess traditional backgrounds of most producers of children's programs, but "did possess an amazing combination of talents, backgrounds, and personal attributes".[4] Also, according to Tracy, Johnson would "change the look of preschool children's television".[1] Johnson reported that she was cast as the voice of Blue, the show's main animated character because out of the show's crew, she sounded the most like a dog.[3]
While in high school, she was a member of an award-winning student-produced comedy show, Beyond Our Control which ran on the local NBC affiliate, WNDU-TV, at that time owned and operated by the University of Notre Dame.[5]
She is married to Robert Mowen (another Beyond Our Control alum) and has three sons: Thomas, Oliver, and Emmet.[6]
Filmography
Title | Role | First aired | Last aired | Co-production | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue's Clues | Co-creator | September 8, 1996 | August 6, 2006 | Out of the Blue Enterprises Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
Nick Jr. | Also the voice of Blue |
Blue's Room | August 2, 2004 | March 29, 2007 | ||||
Blue's Clues & You! | November 11, 2019 | February 15, 2024 | 9 Story USA Nickelodeon Animation Studio Brown Bag Films |
Nick Jr. | [7] | |
Gabby's Dollhouse | January 5, 2021 | present | DreamWorks Animation Television | Netflix | First production without 9 Story USA |
Notes
- ^ a b Tracy, p. 15
- ^ Tracy, p. 14
- ^ a b Jim Forbes (narrator) (July 27, 2006). "Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue (Part 1)" (Short documentary). Nickelodeon
- ^ Tracy, p. 12
- ^ "Beyond Our Control Alumni Association". beyondourcontrol.org.
- ^ "Traci Paige Johnson: Producing Kids' TV… versus Producing an Actual Kid". September 13, 2013.
- ^ "Traci Paige Johnson (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
Works cited
- Tracy, Diane. (2002). Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business. New York: Kaplan Publishing. ISBN 0-7931-5376-X.
External links