Feature animation & visual effects

Brian Handler

CG environments.
Technical production.
Team leadership.

With 18 years in feature animation and visual effects, I've worked across CG environments, layout, assembly, and technical production at Blue Sky Studios, Wētā FX, and LAIKA. Most recently, I established and led LAIKA's CG Environments department on Wildwood.

Explore my work

01 / Work

Demo reel

Watch on Vimeo ↗

02 / Background

Experience

Experience across feature animation and visual effects, with a focus on environments, layout, assembly, and the teams and technical processes behind the work.

LAIKA

Lead Artist, Environments 2024–2026

Established and led the CG Environments department for Wildwood, building a team of up to 24 artists. Oversaw environment production, procedural workflows, technical development, and coordination across departments.

Wētā FX

Senior Layout TD 2021–2024

Worked on layout and environment construction for feature film and television, including set assembly, camera and creature blocking, and integration of survey and LiDAR data.

Blue Sky Studios

Environment Artist 2008–2021

Worked across environment assembly, procedural set dressing, digital matte painting, and technical workflows for animated features. Earlier responsibilities included technical assistance, lighting, and assembly.

03 / Film & television

Selected credits

Wildwood

2026LAIKA

Lead Artist, Environments

A Minecraft Movie

2025Wētā FX

Digital Artist

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

2023Wētā FX

Senior Layout TD

Avatar: The Way of Water

2022Wētā FX

Senior Layout TD

Spies in Disguise

2019Blue Sky Studios

Environment Artist / Matte Painter

Ferdinand

2017Blue Sky Studios

Environment Artist

The Peanuts Movie

2015Blue Sky Studios

Assembly Technical Director

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

2009Blue Sky Studios

Lighting Technical Assistant

View complete filmography on IMDb

04 / Résumé

The full picture.

Professional background, roles, and production experience.

05 / Contact

Let’s talk.

For opportunities in CG environments and technical production.

Please keep your message to 5,000 characters or fewer.