Animation for ads, explainers and brand content
Experienced creative direction and production for animated social ads, explainer and product videos
Some of the brands I’ve worked with
What I bring
Working with studios, agencies and brands, I bring clarity, structure and delivery to complex animation work, from script through to screen.
Sherazade: The Untold Stories TV series - Channel 10 and RBB Germany
Story
Projects not landing creatively? I focus on getting the foundations right - shaping ideas, refining scripts, and guiding storyboards, design and animation direction.
Production
I manage your project end to end - interpreting the brief, writing the script, building the storyboard and animatic, and selecting music. As a former animator myself, I know exactly how to scope a brief, and bring on board the best artists from a small group of trusted collaborators. Using traditional and AI-assisted workflows depending on what the project needs, I direct the process to make sure it lands on brief, on schedule and on budget.
How I fit in
I can be engaged on a project basis, to guide a project from script to screen. Or I can come in at any stage where a senior perspective is needed.
Decjuba - Hero Agency - FOOH social media ad
Production partner
I have spent a career in animation studios, and today I work as an independant producer and director, shaping the brief, script and storyboard, then directing a small group of trusted animators I've worked with for years to execute the work. You get experienced creative judgement across the whole process, from a single point of contact, without the overhead of a full agency.
Reach out for a no-obligation chat
If you think you may need someone to lead, stabilise and deliver an important animation project, get in touch for a chat.
Who I work with
I work with a range of organisations and individuals, on small projects right through to complex or creatively ambitious projects.
Coke - Ogilvy New Zealand - 3D Anamorphic billboard
Animation and Video Production Studios
Studios bring me in when a project needs extra senior firepower - whether that’s shaping a concept, de-risking production, or providing experienced production or direction.
Agencies and Brands
Agencies working on animation ideas that need to be realised, and brands investing in content, looking for a trusted partner to help navigate complexity and make confident creative decisions. I’ve worked on projects large and small.
Cultural Institutions
Museums, galleries, festivals, and cultural organisations developing narrative-led experiences where craft and audience engagement are paramount.
Client Reviews
“Steve, thank you for coming in and picking this project up half way through the process. You've really been amazing... and I wish you were there from the start. It was a pleasure working with you.”
Ursula Mills, ACCC, Melbourne
“I have been consistently impressed with your calm, courageous and balanced approach to a difficult project and challenging set of circumstances. And I like the respect that you show all the artists you work with.”
Melissa Sheldrick, Chocolate Liberation Front, Melbourne
”You and your team did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. The animation was excellent. The character design, backgrounds and color were all superb. It was not an easy story to tell, yet you exceeded all my expectations.”
Phil Roman, Phil Roman Entertainment, Los Angeles
“Steve Bristow has vast studio managerial, long form production experience. He's a great (and very professional) guy.”
Colin South, CEO, Media World, Melbourne
“Mr Bristow worked very well with the team and we value the contribution he made to the show. We would not hesitate to recommend him for any similar ventures.”
Khalid Adennoun, Director of Content, Al Jazeera Children's Channel, Doha
“Steve - THANK YOU SO SO MUCH. Not all heroes wear capes - some of them have a Wacom Tablet :-) You and the team once again pulled it off!! We are SO APPRECIATIVE.”
Angela Cheung, Managing Director, APV, Hong Kong