CTN Guest

Originally from Canada, Linda Bel studied classical and technical animation at Sheridan College in Oakville Ontario, and was accepted into the postgraduate Computer Graphics program. 

In January 1984 she started working as an animator at Omnibus Computer Graphics in Toronto Ontario. She completed her post graduate diploma through her work at Omnibus, and designed and animated the opening logo animation for the Siggraph Electronic Theatre in 86. 

Linda spent five years at Disney during the 90’s Renaissance where she helped create the ballroom sequence on Beauty and the Beast, the Wildebeest Stampede in The Lion King, and the Whale Sequence 'Pines of Rome' in Fantasia 2000. 

The next nine years of her career Linda was with Industrial Light and Magic. Her screen credits include Dragonheart, Mars Attacks, Galaxy Quest, and Star Wars episodes 1 and 2, where she was lead animator on Watto and Yoda. In 2002-2004 Linda worked at PDI Dreamworks. She animated on Shrek 2 and Madagascar. 

Linda has enjoyed teaching part time at Academy of Art University since January 2005. From 2009-2018 Linda wrote, illustrated and self published her first children’s book, 

“Finny and the Seal Hotel.” ‘Finny’ is being developed into a short animated film which Linda is directing and producing. It’s currently in production through the Academy of Art’s Studio X program. Linda credits her time at Disney for teaching her the components and structure of a good story. 

“I'm on a mission for students to have the opportunity to work with a mentor, while experiencing what it's like to be part of an amazing team of talented artists in a studio like setting; to help bring characters with personality and emotion to the screen.”