DNEG Animation's Ted Ty wins Nemoland Legend Award!
Following his win, our Global Head of Character Animation reflects on his career journey and more.
Congratulations, Ted!
DNEG Animation's own Ted Ty (Global Head of Character Animation) has won this year's Nemoland Legend Award!
Presented each year during the Nemoland Festival in Florence, the Legend Award recognizes artists who have made history in the world of Entertainment. We couldn't be more proud of Ted for receiving this honour!
Following the ceremony, we spoke with Ted about his career journey, his approach to leadership, advice for new animators, and more. Read his answers below!
What does receiving the Nemoland Legends Award mean to you, and how does it reflect your journey in animation?
Receiving the Nemoland Legends Award is a huge honour, and it honestly came as a complete surprise. My original intention in going to Nemo was simply to share knowledge and spend time with the students, as education has always been an important part of my career.
Seeing the list of past recipients is humbling; there are people on there I've always admired, so being mentioned alongside them already feels like more than enough.
Receiving this award also creates a moment to reflect. I didn't set out with a clear idea of how long my career would be; I was just trying to live up to the standards of those who inspired me. Looking back, I can see how far I've come, with the help of many people, but I still feel like I'm chasing something. It reminds me that while I've worked hard to get here, there's still more ahead.
How do you balance creative direction with the responsibilities of leading teams across different projects and regions?
I feel very fortunate to be in this role and to be trusted with that responsibility. One of the biggest reasons it works is because of the people - we have very strong teams, especially within animation, and we trust them a great deal.
Because of that trust, I try not to over-direct creatively. My role is more about understanding our partners' vision and helping shape it at the outset. I work with our animation directors to ensure we find the right fit for each project and that things get off on the right track. After that, I step back and allow the director and animation director to develop the show's voice together. At a global level, it's about maintaining alignment: with the partner's artistic vision, our internal standards, and a healthy working environment. I often think of it like hosting a party: you want everyone to feel welcome, enjoy themselves, and leave the experience having fun and a little more fulfilled. At the studio, you want everyone to feel supported, have fun and do their best work while maintaining a high standard of quality.
Across regions, the key is building teams of people who care deeply. Many already understand the standard from major studios, but part of the job is helping younger or regionally experienced artists reach that level. It's a collaborative effort, supported by strong leadership and open communication, ensuring people feel heard, supported, and able to grow.
What key experiences or turning points shaped your career?
Looking back, there are four major turning points that shaped my journey. The first was choosing art school over law school, encouraged by my parents. That decision set everything in motion and gave me the opportunity to pursue something creative, even though I didn't fully know where it would eventually lead.
The second was being accepted into Walt Disney Feature Animation, first as an intern and then as a full-time employee. That experience became the foundation of my understanding of animation. It shaped my artistic goals, particularly around performance, bringing characters to life in a way that connects with audiences while also fulfilling something personal in the craft itself.
The third turning point was the move from hand-drawn animation to CG at DreamWorks. That transition was difficult and, honestly, quite intimidating. It meant starting over in many ways, learning a completely different medium, and relying on others' patience and support to adapt. The fourth was returning to Montreal for personal reasons, which eventually led to new opportunities, including working at smaller studios before joining DNEG Animation. Those experiences helped prepare me for leadership in ways I didn't fully realise at the time.
Over time, my focus shifted. Early on, it was very much about my own growth, learning, improving, and reaching a certain level. But gradually, that expanded into wanting to help others grow, to give people opportunities to develop and find their own voice.
When I look back, each of these moments came under very different circumstances, some exciting, some uncertain, some very human. You don't always recognise their significance in the moment. It's only in hindsight that you can see how your path has taken shape.
How do you approach crafting authentic and emotionally resonant character performances?
Character animation operates on many levels, from the smallest gesture, like a blink or a turn of the head, to the broader context of a shot, a sequence, and an entire film.
For me, authenticity comes from truly understanding the character. Every action should come from their internal thought process, rather than relying on techniques or performances that have worked before. Even a simple emotion like disappointment can be expressed in completely different ways depending on the character's experience. If it's the first time they've felt it, the reaction might be overwhelming and raw. If it's something they've experienced many times, it may be more restrained - closer to resignation than shock. The character's history shapes the performance.
It also depends on the director's tone and vision. Is the storytelling satirical, grounded, or stylised? Animation needs to align with that. As storytelling evolves, animation must evolve with it; otherwise, it risks feeling familiar in a way that disconnects the audience.
Ultimately, emotional resonance comes from specificity. If you understand who the character is, what they've been through, and what they're feeling in that moment, the performance becomes truthful. And that truth is what audiences connect with.
How has moving from hands-on artistry to a leadership role changed your perspective on animation as a craft?
I think it is a lot like martial arts training. It is a story of you trying to accomplish something while everyone else is in the same room, but of learning to overcome your individual shortcomings and hone your individual gifts in that group setting.
At the beginning, everything is internal. You're focused on your own technique, your own movements, trying to get every detail right. It's very introspective. As you move into a leadership role, your perspective widens. You start working with many individuals, each with different strengths, challenges, and learning styles. What you realise is that the struggles they're facing are often the same ones you've faced yourself.
Your role becomes helping them navigate those challenges, offering insights, tools, or small adjustments that can unlock something for them. It's less about your own execution and more about supporting others in theirs. It also changes how you view struggle. When you're starting out, it can feel like you're the only one finding things difficult. But when you lead a team, you see that everyone goes through that process. That shared experience brings a different kind of understanding and patience.
There's also a lot of satisfaction in seeing others succeed, watching someone overcome a challenge, or seeing a team come together and produce something they're proud of. It's similar to finishing a film: everyone has struggled individually, but collectively they've created something meaningful.
How do you guide teams to adapt to new technology while preserving storytelling fundamentals?
Technology is always evolving, especially in CG animation, and it plays an important role in it. But at the end of the day, it's still just a tool. My approach is to make sure artists have access to the tools they need to express themselves. I don't try to dictate how they work - different artists have different processes, and that's part of what makes a team strong.
There are advancements that can make a real difference. For example, machine-trained tools can help achieve consistency and efficiency, especially with complex characters. They allow artists - particularly less experienced ones - to reach a high standard more quickly and reliably. But none of that replaces the fundamentals. Storytelling, performance, and understanding character are still at the core. Technology should support those things, not define them.
Personally, I've always been more focused on the technical side, helping the artistic side, so I see technology as something that enables the craft rather than something that drives it.
What defines truly great character animation today, and has that changed over time?
I don't think it has changed. If you look at classic films and compare them to modern ones, the reason they still resonate is that the emotional truth is there. Audiences still connect with the characters, and that's what matters.
Great character animation is about whether we relate to what we're seeing, whether we understand the character, their journey, and what they're going through.
It's also not strictly about perfect technique. You can have a very simple animation, but if the audience believes in the character and feels something, then it works. For me, the real challenge has always been finding the truth in a performance, making sure it's exactly what it needs to be, no more and no less. That search for truth is constant and never fully solved, and I think that's part of what keeps the craft engaging.
How do you think about the impact you've had on the industry and the artists you've mentored?
I'm not sure how to answer that. I think it's something others would have to reflect on.
For me, it's always been about continuing to improve my own work, while also offering support where I can. The people who helped me had a significant impact, even if there weren't many of them, and that stayed with me. I try to be available to people at different stages, whether they're just starting out, preparing to enter the industry, or already established and looking to grow further. It's about understanding where they are and helping them move forward.
One thing that's important to me is being prepared and respectful of people's time. If someone is willing to listen or learn, I want to make sure there's something meaningful they can take away. If there's any impact, I hope it comes from those interactions and from creating an environment where people feel supported.
What qualities are essential for animators aspiring to leadership roles?
One of the most important things is not to forget where you came from. It's easy, when stepping into leadership, to become overly focused on responsibility and structure, and to lose sight of what it feels like to be in someone else's position. But understanding that perspective is essential.
Leadership is about listening - really listening - and communicating in a way that others can understand and respond to. It's not about enforcing your way of doing things. It also requires patience and self-awareness. Everyone has different strengths; some people are highly organised, others are strong communicators, and others are more intuitive. There's always room to grow.
At its core, leadership is about relationships. It's about helping others bring out their best, guiding them through challenges, and using your experience to make that process clearer and more manageable for them.
What advice would you give to the next generation of animators?
As much as we love animation, like any endeavour, it's not enjoyable every single day - but it is rewarding most of the time. It's important to have goals, but it's even more important to focus on the work you're doing today. A meaningful career is built through daily effort, through the process, and through small moments of progress.
You also have to genuinely enjoy the craft, developing characters, contributing to stories, and finding ways to connect with audiences. That's what sustains you over time. There will be challenges, and the path isn't always smooth. But if you stay committed to the work, those moments of growth and breakthrough begin to add up.
It's also important to define what "meaningful" means to you, and to allow that definition to change as you grow. Your expectations will evolve, and that's part of the process. Finally, this is not an individual pursuit. Supporting others, learning from them, and being part of a community is essential. If you focus only on yourself, you miss a large part of what makes this work meaningful.
Hear what our Animation team has to say about Ted:
Crosby Clyse, Managing Director:
"Ted's greatest strength as a leader is his ability to really see people: to recognize potential, nurture it with genuine care, creating teams grounded in trust and community. I've seen Ted embolden artists to push beyond their own expectations, encouraging them to bring their own stories to the characters they animate. Ted creates an environment where people feel encouraged and able to do their finest work. Mentorship is a cornerstone of his leadership, shaping our global team of animators and their own inspiring career journeys ahead. The Nemoland Legend Award is a fitting tribute to Ted's work as an artist and as a leader in the animation craft."
Toby Seale, Lead Animator:
"I will always remember my interview with Ted very well, as to me it marked the beginning of a change in my career path. Up until then, I had been feeling pretty hopeless and dejected about my place in the industry - my confidence was rocky, and I wasn't sure I could hack feature animation. I don't know what happened on Nimona, really, but Ted supported me wholeheartedly and could see something in me that I couldn't see in myself. His trust, support and mentorship are huge reasons why I didn't give up on animation. I have never met anybody who can read a person as well as Ted; it's a skill that helps him know exactly what a person needs at exactly the right moment. Whenever I feel stuck or unsure about what to do next, I know I can go to Ted, and he will help me see the next steps clearly. But I think the best thing about Ted is his humanity; he leads with heart and humour, sees every animator as the unique and important part of the team they are, and gives them support and guidance tailored exactly to them. I look forward to many more boat trips in Annecy with you, Ted, and a huge congratulations on this amazing achievement! Nobody deserves it more than you."
Immy Goodman, Animator:
"Ted is really keeping the spirit of mentorship alive within animation - legend status seems only right. He is so generous with his time and guidance, and has shaped many journeys as a result. I’m so grateful to be learning from him; he provides such insight into animation both as a craft and as an industry. His analysis in lectures unlocks a whole new way of seeing every time. I look forward to making it through the catalogue!"
Martin Scalzotto, Lead Animator:
"Since the day I met Ted, I've always felt a genuine connection with him. He's the kind of person who is deeply passionate about the craft and takes great care of his team, always making an effort to connect with and understand each of us. His warmth and empathy help create a strong environment where people strive for the best results, while also supporting one another. I have learned from him to be more balanced and understanding, and I'm very grateful for his constant effort to make DNEG Animation a better place."
Chris Kirshbaum, Animation Director:
"Ted has had a profound impact on my animation journey.
He was the first HOD to tell me that he truly had faith in my ability to handle a significant leadership role. Aside from how much that meant to me personally, it made me loyal to the department and him, in a way that goes far beyond the parameters of a job and a paycheck. Thus, it is the foremost lesson I've learned from Ted: Pick people you believe in, and then tell them that you believe in them.
My second takeaway from Ted, gathered through the process of watching the Animation Department change with the tides of the Industry, is that the importance of culture cannot be overstated: Culture is as important as talent. People come and people go in all departments, and times get great and times get tough, but what persists is culture. Of course, we want the best talent we can get, but every animator who came through that door was also selected because of the belief that they would fit well within the culture that Ted had instilled: one of positivity, respect, mutual assistance, and an absolute refusal to accept toxicity. I firmly believe that the vision of the type of person we want in the department has been a key factor in retaining talent on the team and has given the department its consistency in a constantly changing industry landscape.
My third takeaway has to do with the other key factor in consistent success, the skill level of the team: Always nurture your talent. People come to DNEG to be part of something special, to work on great projects, and to up their game. While the weekly process of moviemaking is the bread and butter of our improvement as artists, Ted's training programs and chalk talks have been a great addendum to that. He's inspired me to always think of new ways to help the team improve, both as individual artists and as team members.
This combination of belief, encouragement, positivity and artistic guidance has been the secret sauce that has built DNEG into what I believe is the finest animation studio in Montréal.
Thanks for everything, Ted. Well deserved!"
Ken Fountain, Animation Supervisor:
"Ted is not only incredibly attentive to the details and nuance of performances he enjoys, but he exercises this acute observation in his real-life interactions. It's just built into him. But what is truly rare is how he is able to articulate what he sees and hears, sometimes with uncanny imitation. Including this talent in his lectures and presentations, even in his one-on-one meetings, is something that makes working with and learning from Ted fun!
As a member of Animation leadership, I have depended on Ted as a grounding force. He is someone whom I can always trust to find the balance between the needs of the individual versus the needs of the show (or company). He's a good leader to have in your corner when things are tough, and an even better source of encouragement when things are going well."
Congratulations, Ted!