A Scottish university graduate who worked on the live-action re-make of Disney’s Aladdin has thanked his university for helping him achieve his dreams
Jonathan Macintosh from Dundee worked as the lead animator for the latest Disney film.
Jonathan studied at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and has worked on many big titles in the move world.
The University of Dundee graduate worked on Deadpool, Beauty and the Beast and Star Wars the Last Jedi.
The 39-year-old graduated with a BDes in Animation and Electronic Media in 2001 and has thanked his home town for allowing him to carry out his dream.
Jonathan now lives and works in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and son. Disney’s 2019 remake of Aladdin hits UK cinemas on Friday 24 May.
Speaking today, he said: “Our work can take several months or even years to get right but you still get those butterflies in your stomach when the opening sequence begins.
“I love the challenge of taking an inanimate object inside a computer and trying to make it a believable, living, breathing character.
“It all pays off when that character is walking and talking or in some cases flipping and flying on screen.
“Films like Aladdin can be a double-edged sword for animators. It’s great to be a part of something that so many people know and love.
“But in today’s world you have no real control over how people will react so it’s up to you to just get stuck in and do the best job you can in order to help create something that millions of people will hopefully enjoy for years to come.”
Animation graduates from Dundee have been employed all over the world and have worked on videogames, films and animated TV titles such as The Lego Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: Rogue One, Grand Theft Auto, The Last of Us and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design was ranked top in Scotland for Art and Design according to the Complete University Guide 2019 and currently offers an undergraduate degree in Animation and masters degree in Animation & VFX for those who are passionate about becoming professional animators.
