Julia L McLean
Trained as an animator, I have worked freelance for a variety of production companies such as Ko Lik Films, West Highland Animation, SuperUmami and Red Kite Animation.
My work is mainly within stop frame animation but I also have extensive skills within 2D animation, cut-out and post production special FX. On top of this I have experience as a workshop assistant for children’s animation workshops through Red Kite.
I graduated from animation in 2003 from Edinburgh College of Art and decided I wanted to learn more so headed north for Duncan of Jordonstone College of Art and Design in Dundee to study an MSc in Animation and Visualisation.
From there on I stepped forth into the animation industry, working on various projects such as 2D animator for C4 Ideasfactory, ThinkDesign documentary commission (2005), stop motion animator and 2D inbetweening on a Cineworks commission ‘Get Bizzy’ (2005), creating character designs and 2D animator on West Highland Animations ‘Tallest Story Competition’ (2005) and props and set builder with Ko Lik Films production ‘Haunted Hogmaney’ (2006)
In 2007, I was selected to take part in the New Entrants Animation Training Scheme run by Scottish Screen. A 10 month training scheme for first time animators aimed at developing skills and contacts within the industry. For the first 5 months, I was placed with Super Umami, a CGI animation company based in the Bridge of Allan, Stirling where I was involved with the KNTV Philosophy production for Channel 4.
For the final 5 months I worked for Ko Lik Films on their Stopframe BBC commission ‘Glendogey Bogie’. Here I was involved in props and set building, set dressing and post production compositing and FX.
In September 2008, I completed my first professional film ‘The Finger Trap’ which was produced as part of GMAC and Scottish Screen’s short film initiative. The film premiered at Encounters in Bristol and is currently being sent out to all corners of the globe for festival submissions. It has already been nominated for the Jim Poole award.
Please see my website for more details of my work.