About Me

Hi! I'm Kristen Willsher, an animator and educator passionate about storytelling through movement. I’ve worked on major Pixar films like Toy Story 5, Inside Out 2, Elio, and Luca, with experience spanning feature animation, VR, and commercials.

I love mentoring up-and-coming artists, having taught at LuMAA Animation Summer Camp and spoken at The Animation Collaborative’s EPIC Intensive on industry skills and career growth.

When I’m not animating, I’m drinking good coffee, getting lost in sci-fi, or rocking out to my favorite bands.

A young woman with long blonde hair, smiling, wearing a black top and a delicate necklace.
SHOW REEL

My Résumé

SUMMARY

Passionate and experienced animator with over a decade in the industry, specializing in character animation and storytelling. Dedicated to mentoring and the next generation of animators through teaching and industry talks. Adept at working in high-pressure environments with tight deadlines while maintaining a focus on quality and collaboration.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Pixar Animation Studios
Animator
April 2019 – Present | Emeryville, CA

  • Worked as a character animator on various Pixar projects, focusing on expressive, story-driven animation.

  • Contributed to major feature films, including:

    • Gatto (2027)

    • Toy Story 5 (2026)

    • Elio (2025)

    • Win or Lose (2025)

    • Inside Out 2 (2024)

    • Luca (2021)

    • Soul (2020)

  • Collaborated with directors, animators, and technical teams to bring characters to life with emotional depth and clarity.

Fable Studio
Technical Animator
February 2019 – April 2019 | San Francisco, CA

  • Assisted in the development of interactive and immersive storytelling through animation.

  • Created technically refined animations that enhanced the VR experience for various projects, specifically contributing to the award-winning project Wolves in the Walls.

Studio 4039
Character Animator
January 2019 | Mountain View, CA

  • Animated sequences for various projects, ensuring seamless movement and naturalistic character performance.

  • Worked closely with the creative team to maintain consistency in visual storytelling.

  • Animated for a LEGO commercial, ensuring dynamic and engaging motion for the brand's unique style.

Motional.ai
Character Animator
January 2016 – January 2019

  • Animated "Gary," the first interactive character in VR, in the short film Gary the Gull.

  • Developed expressive character performances while maintaining technical efficiency in animation workflows.

  • Worked in a fast-paced environment, meeting tight deadlines while ensuring quality animation output.

TEACHING & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

LuMAA – Animation Summer Camp, Lucerne
Instructor

  • Taught polishing and refinement techniques for animation to college students during an intensive summer program.

  • Led daily lectures and hands-on workshops to help students develop their shots and improve their craft.

The Animation Collaborative – EPIC Intensive
Guest Speaker

  • Delivered a lecture on breaking into the animation industry, covering how to land and maintain a job.

  • Discussed the importance of soft skills, networking, and resilience in an ever-evolving field.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

SAE Expression College
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Animation and Visual Effects (2011 – 2014)

  • Member of the Student Alliance

The Animation Collaborative (2015 – 2017)

  • Acting for Animation

  • Advanced Animation

  • Polish for Animation

AnimSquad (2017)

  • Expert Animation

Women in Animation – Mentorship Program (2017 – 2018)

  • Selected as an Animation Mentee under Jude Brownbill (Directing Animator at Pixar Animation Studios)

SKILLS

  • Animation & Storytelling: 3D Character Animation, VR Animation, Interactive Storytelling

  • Software Proficiency: Maya, Adobe Suite

  • Teaching & Mentorship: Animation Lectures, Student Training, Public Speaking

  • Industry & Soft Skills: Collaboration, Feedback Implementation, Networking, Time Management