Signed: Cartwright Gantz

Simon Cartwright and Nina Gantz grew up in Leeds and the Netherlands, respectively, but both spent their childhoods drawing incessantly. They also both decided they wanted to animate when they discovered the dark humour of European animators like Jan Švankmajer, Yuriy Norshteyn and Michaela Pavlátová.

Nina’s graduation film from art school did well for her and gave her some work in the Netherlands. Next to her job as an assistant illustrator on a children’s book series she worked freelance and did 2D animation for a feature film called Devastated by Love by Ari Deelder. Meanwhile Simon was learning the craft of stop-motion animation on a Channel 4 commissioned film.

The pair met at the National Film and Television School, where they realised that apart from their differing tastes in music (Simon loves it loud and Nina plays mostly French Chansons), they were kindred artistic spirits. There they developed a bond of trust that continues to this day.

Both of their NFTS graduation films made waves. Nina’s Edmond and Simon’s MANOMAN picked up accolade after accolade, from Sundance to BAFTA, SXSW, BIFA and Cannes.

Their success turned the right heads and now they’re represented by Blinkink and already working for commercial clients like Maynards Bassetts.

Watch some of their work here: