Working on "The Iron Giant"

"He's a giant robot Dean; it's a little...undignified"

The Iron Giant was released 27 years ago, on 6 August 1999.  The film was not a box office success, but it has since won a cult following and regularly features in lists of the top 100 films of all time. 

I joined Warner Bros. Feature Animation in 1996, and started work on The Iron Giant in the spring of 1998.  Working for director Brad Bird was one of the best experiences of my career in animation.  

63 Escapees at The 2023 Oscars

Escapees at the 2023 Academy Awards

Escape Studios is delighted to congratulate the 63 Escapees who contributed to Oscar-nominated movies this year, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Batman (2022) and Elvis.

Congratulations to all our Escapees whose work contributed so much to the success of these amazing films - we are proud of you all. 

DreamWorks Animation Comes to London

DreamWorks Animation

Jeffrey Katzenberg may have left DreamWorks animation, the studio he founded back in the late 1990s, but the old place feels much the same, and just as busy as ever.

I was there this past week visiting Stuart Sumida, the paleontologist-turned-movie consultant, who has advised on the science behind animal locomotion and behaviour since The Lion King back in 1993.

Tribute to Richard Williams - Tomorrow

The Creative Talent Network (CTN) Expo in Burbank, Los Angeles, is hosting a tribute to my father, the animator Richard Williams tomorrow, Saturday November 23rd.

The tribute is titled "Life is on Ones", and the panel is being hosted by my old friend and colleague Tom Sito, who is an animator, director and professor - as well as the author of many books on animation. 

Netflix Breaks into Animation

At last week's Annecy Animation Festival, Netflix's presentation of their new animation line-up was one of the hottest properties at the festival.

Netflix's Lisa Cobb introduced the company, as well as a number of its artists, presenting (no photos allowed) its new line-up of original animation content to a packed-out audience.

16th Annual VES Awards - Student Entry

The 16th Annual VES Awards are now taking entries. Here at Escape Studios we encourage all our students to enter Category 23: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project. 

The award is sponsored by Autodesk, who make Maya, the leading animation and VFX software, and is a great opportunity for any ambitious student to kick-start their career.

Jeffrey Katzenberg Leaves DreamWorks Animation?

It looks like Jeffrey Katzenberg is leaving DreamWorks Animation, after over 20 years helming what has become one of the most successful animation studios in the world.

There has been no announcement yet, and DreamWorks animators all seem to be sworn to secrecy, but this does look like the end for Jeffrey's long reign. So, what does this mean for the future of DreamWorks animation?

Time To Sign Up For The SIGGRAPH 2016 Student Volunteer Program

Time for our students to sign up for the SIGGRAPH 2016 Student Volunteer Program! The deadline for team leaders is 12 January 2016, and the deadline for student volunteers is 9 February 2016.

But wait, why would our students want to volunteer for SIGGRAPH? Simple - it's all about who you might meet.

PBS Documentary on the Life of Walt Disney

Walt Disney at PBS

PBS has just broadcast a major new documentary on the life of one of the greatest Americans - Walt Disney.  If you missed the original broadcast you can now catch up at the PBS website here.

Why should animators learn about Walt Disney?  Because he was the founder of our industry, and the man who above all others defined the medium we work in today.  His methods have never been surpassed and even today animated films are still made essentially the same way he made them - though with better technology.  The PBS download is absolutely free.