Canadians lend voices and behind-the-scenes talents to Zootopia mix
CBC’s Peter Mansbridge, who voices newscaster Peter Moosebridge in Zootopia, isn’t the only Canadian to have worked on the Disney animated movie. Ottawa’s Mitchell Counsell is the character technical director on the movie. He’s been at the Disney animation studio for two years and also worked on Big Hero 6. He studied the art of animation at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont. Counsell had a pivotal part in monitoring the digital animal mechanics of the characters who walk, talk and wear clothes like humans. “It’s about that kind of minutiae,” says Counsell from the Disney lot in Burbank, Calif. Originally from Ottawa as well, Trent Correy serves as an animator on Zootopia. After studying animation at Ottawa’s Algonquin College, he ended up at Disney, where he’s plied his trade for the past three years. He was an animator on Frozen and Big Hero 6. The odd thing is Counsell didn’t meet Correy until they arrived at Disney. “I met this guy Trent and it turns out we played hockey against each other,” says Counsell. “He lived about a kilometre away from where I grew up in Ottawa.” Vancouverite Benson Shum is a Zootopia animator, having provided his creative talent previously on Wreck-it Ralph, Frozen and Big Hero 6 since arriving on the Disney lot three years ago. He studied at Capilano University and Vancouver Film School. All three are part of a solid Canadian contingent at Disney. “There’s an unspoken bond,” Counsell says. And yes, deadlines tend to be a constant no matter what project they are assigned — but it was especially true on Zootopia. “You just keep grinding on it,” says Counsell, “but the time constraints keep your focus sharp.”