Sydney-based animation house Sixty40 has announced the signing of award-winning writer, director and animator Alex Weight.

Weight’s global career spans two decades immersed in advertising, film and television as a writer/director and in senior roles across animation and VFX.

He has worked at a number of companies including Rising Sun Pictures, Animal Logic and Flying Bark. He is also a script consultant at Script Central in Australia.

Most recently, Weight worked with Will Gluck on the animated feature Peter Rabbit as additional animation supervisor, and wrote and directed the Chinese animated feature film franchise Frog Kingdom 3 and Frog Kingdom 4.

Prior to this, Weight was co-director of the animated feature Blinky Bill: The Movie, re-vamping a classic character for a new audience.

He was also animation supervisor on Zack Snyder’s Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole and lead animator on Oscar-winning animation feature Happy Feet.

Weight’s short horror film, Prank, was awarded the People’s Choice Award at the Sydney Underground Festival and has screened at film festivals including Shriekfest in Los Angeles, the NYC Horror Film Festival, Melbourne’s Monsterfest, Knoxville Horror Film Festival, and most recently at the Cannes Underground Film Festival.

Originally launching his career in advertising, Weight has delivered on campaigns for brands including Toyota, ABC, Sony, VW, Arnotts, Bank of New Zealand, and Tiger Beer.

You can check out his showreel here.

Weight said he is excited to return to his roots after spending many years in film.

“It is an exciting, collaborative environment that supports creative freedom,” he said.

“The team are known for producing high-quality, engaging and informative content, with an emphasis on storytelling, which I’m naturally excited by.”

Sixty40 executive producer Will Alexander said: “We are thrilled to welcome such an experienced and creatively-driven storyteller who adds to our strong and diverse roster.

“His commitment to craft and unique eye for story and character development will ensure he’ll be kept busy tackling exciting briefs from the get-go.”

https://www.bandt.com.au/alex-weight-jumps-on-board-with-sixty40/