Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
My name is Brad, and I’m a Simpsons-oholic. I’ve been an addict since I was a kid—drawing, quoting, and collecting anything with a Simpson on it. It never occurred to me I could actually work on my favorite show until, at age 19, my animation teacher at USC talked me into applying for a job as a Character Layout Artist … and I got it! Working with fellow Simpsons addicts and learning from animation legends like David Silverman and Jim Reardon was beyond a dream come true!
After graduating from film school, I became a Storyboard Artist. During my 20 seasons on The Simpsons, I got the itch to create my own cartoon, so I made a short film called Save Virgil with the goal of developing it into a TV show. The TV show never happened, but it led to a partnership with Producer Mike Clements, and we created two animated shows that made it on the air: MTV’s Good Vibes and Comedy Central’s Legends of Chamberlain Heights. Producing and directing my own shows was TOUGH, but I learned a ton about leadership, working fast, and trusting my instincts.
Between jobs I used to freelance for Illumination making animatics for Minions marketing. That put me on the radar of big boss Chris Meledandri who asked me to co-direct Minions: The Rise of Gru. That was an unexpected phone call! I had never worked in features, CG, or family entertainment, but my experience on The Simpsons and running my own shows turned out to be perfect training for making feature comedy. Despite a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the movie came out, made a lot of bananas, and I’m currently working on another Illumination movie that I’m very excited about!
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Between The Simpsons and Minions, I’ve been very lucky to have steady day jobs. I wish I could be satisfied with that, but I’m trying to create another TV show and/or movie. The challenge is finding the time and energy to continue working nights and weekends for free on something that will most likely be rejected. Getting a show made is HARD. And if you’re lucky enough to get a show on the air, keeping it on the air is even HARDER. But I’ve found that both the successes and failures have all led to bigger and better things!
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
Matt Groening, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Mike Judge, and Seth MacFarlane. None of these guys were great artists, but they each figured out a way to make their weird cartoon ideas happen by just rolling up their sleeves and doing it themselves.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
If I can to continue to work on projects I love with people I admire and learn from, that will be a huge accomplishment. But let’s be real—I really want to create a TV show or movie as successful as The Simpsons or Minions!
What does being in the Union mean to you?
Being in the Union means peace of mind that if things ever get rough for me or my peers, there’s a network of leaders who have our backs. These people all have industry day jobs too, so I admire their generosity and commitment to keeping our industry strong!
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