Class of 2023
Animation
Animator – Hijinks Studios
Country: United Kingdom
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY?
No
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
The photo I chose for my Snapshot is this picture taken at our degree show. Our year was the first to arrange a large-scale screening for our final year films, which we held in the Creative Centre’s theatre.
It’s an event we all look back on fondly, and it’s a proud moment to see our work on the big screen, surrounded by our family, friends, peers, and staff. We are also pleased to see that the event has continued with the years after us.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
The whole uni made me feel part of a community and that I was a person, not a number.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I knew some friends who were already enrolled at YSJ, so I spent a lot of time visiting the campus and York, a city that I have always loved. My frequent visits allowed me to get a feel for the university and the amazing community that was evident even as a guest.
When it came to looking for a place to study animation (and that YSJ had that specific course), YSJ was the most obvious choice. After the open day and meeting the lecturers and facilities, the choice was even more concrete.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
In April 2024, I created Hijinks Studios with Louise Grimshaw, Nina Rees-Stevens, Jessica Mattana, and Ellie Rogers as a partnership of freelancers, and within a year and a half of operating, we have achieved a lot.
We landed our first paid project in October 2024 with York Archaeology to create six animations for the Jorvik Viking Centre’s digital trail; this work has been nominated for the Royal Television Society Yorkshire Awards 2025 for their Animation, VFX, and CGI category.
Another massive accomplishment was our first TV credit in 2025 for the series Our Yorkshire Shop: A Victorian Restoration on Channel 4.
We have also had the chance to run animation workshops for colleges, on behalf of Screen Yorkshire and Aesthetica Film Festival, and to have a stand at the first York UNESCO Expo in November 2024.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I’ve always loved animation. I grew up watching everything animated and had a fascination with how it was created; how Cel animation, like Scooby Doo and The Simpsons, had a different effect than newer digital animation.
I took three years out between sixth form and uni, and in that time I found an apprenticeship at an animation studio in Hull. While working, the passion for creating animations started. It wasn’t until watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse that I redirected to wanting to start making animations as my own studio, which were going to be seen and enjoyed by audiences. To do this, I knew I needed to improve my skills, and I chose to do that at YSJ.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
Easily the lecturers, Richard Jacobs and Adam Raw Mackenzie. Their passion and knowledge of animation showed in their teaching. Richard and Adam have been a continued source of help and guidance since starting Hijinks, which has been crucial in the development of the studio. Their past and current knowledge of the animation industry has come in handy countless times.
The facilities, hardware, and software were also brilliant, allowing us to learn how to produce animation to the industry standard.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
As previously mentioned Richard and Adam have been a massive help.
Also, through the Enterprise Centre and Emma Rollason-Taylor, we had the opportunity to enrol with Aesthetica’s Creative Business Skills Academy, partnered with YSJ and the Combined Authority. This course was an excellent experience that allowed us to connect with industry professionals and learn important information about running a business. The YSJ staff who ran and spoke at the course were amazing sources of information and knowledge (Ann Gurnell, Dr Bob Gammie, Dr Brendan Paddison, Dr Ikram Ul Haq, Dr Rebecca Biggins, Dr Winojith Sanjeewa and, Michael O’Farrell-Follos).
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Take all the opportunities that come along, whether this is picking an industry professional’s brains at a guest lecture, going to Aesthetica, getting client experience with the second year client brief, or any other jobs that Richard and Adam mention. Building up this experience and network is so useful down the line.