BU animation graduate achieves global success at Pixar

BA Computer Visualisation and Animation and MA 3D Computer Animation graduate Jude Brownbill’s career is going from titanium strength to strength.

Jude is working as an Animator at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California, her latest works include Cars 2 which she enjoyed making immensely.

The film involved working with British cars and the city of London. She said “It was great to be able to work on something that was so close to 'home' and nice to feel as though I had something extra to offer because of where I'd come from. I was able to help the art department in checking the authenticity and accuracy of the London graphics.”

Jude is currently working on ‘Brave’, a tale about a headstrong Scottish princess named Merida, which is due to be released next June.

When discussing her American life she says “Working for Pixar has been a wonderful experience for me so far. People here are very friendly and welcoming, there is a seemingly endless supply of fun things to do in the evenings and weekends, and the great weather certainly isn't anything to grumble at!”

However, Jude admits she does miss home and her family and friends, so when she does go home she appreciates it even more. “My dream since starting at Bournemouth University was to be able to animate professionally, and one day work at one of the big U.S. studios like Pixar”, she says.

She states that the courses she studied gave her the breadth and depth of relevant knowledge, invaluable industry contacts, and pertinent advice to help get a start in the industry and a foot on the ladder.

“My big break actually came when I was given a job at Blue-Zoo Productions - a company founded by four Bournemouth NCCA graduates. I spent 3 years at Blue-Zoo, working my way up from animating on 'Those Scurvy Rascals', directing the animation on 'Stitch-Up Showdown' and supervising work on 'Kerwhizz' for the BBC, with many adverts and idents in-between!”

Jude states that the thing she loved most about having studied at Bournemouth is the great friends she made there, and alumni she has met since:

“When you both discover that you went to Bournemouth, it's like a shared bond. You understand each other a bit more and suddenly have a lot in common and more to talk about.”

“It's also such a small industry that eventually, you have friends all over the world working at big name studios and small independent companies and it's wonderful to catch up on what people are doing in their careers and lives. It's also nice to know that wherever you go in the world, there's probably someone you can visit there.”

Watch the trailer for ‘Brave’ below.

• BA (Hons) Computer Visualisation and Animation