A gallery on the Disney Studio Lot has a definition that I like: "the Effects team creates anything on screen that moves but is not a character. Fire, rain, smoke, and water are visual effects that give an added dimension of realism to a film."

Depending on the task at hand, we can contribute at different stages of the pipeline. Therefore, we often get to work with various departments, which is very rewarding.

I was drawn to this craft because it is a blend of artistic and technical skills: using maths to create pretty pictures! I also love that I never really know how I am going to achieve an effect; I am constantly learning and trying to find new ways of doing things.

The legacy and history here is incredible. It is a wonderful source of inspiration, and we are so fortunate to be able to learn firsthand from the people who created these classic movies!

I was doing research for a project recently and suddenly realized that I did not need to spend all this time scouring the internet: I could just message the artists who worked on that sequence! That kind of blew my mind…

Follow your North Star, but don’t forget to also enjoy the journey. My career path is more of a long and winding road than a fast track… but I learned a lot of unexpected lessons along the way, and now I am grateful for the extra detours!

Be brave, not perfect. Perfectionism and the fear of failure will hold you back: in your career, as an artist, and just in life in general! It is something I still struggle with, but I have learned to force myself out of my comfort zone… and I truly believe it has made my life more interesting!

The Lion King. When I saw it at the cinema, by the time the ants were on screen, I was already crying… That opening sequence gets me every time!

A lot of different things! As an effects animator, observing nature is obviously a big one, but other forms of art inspire me a lot too: movies, paintings, sculptures, installations, photography… even the illustrations in my son’s books!

They say creativity is just a new way to look at old things, so staying curious and keeping my eyes open, ready for anything to spark.