James Taylor Animation Director

About

About James Taylor Animation Director

I’m James, an animation director, illustrator, motion designer, and dad of two living in Gateshead. Originally from leafy Surrey, my obsession with cartoons and concept art led me to Teesside University, where I graduated with both a BA and MA in computer animation. A Digital City Fellowship then supported me and my cofounders in creating Arcus Animation Studios—a company that went on to become the largest 2D animation and motion design studio in the North East. As co-founder and Creative Director of Arcus, I gained over 15 years of experience across the full 2D animation pipeline, leading teams of artists and animators on projects spanning education, games, music videos, motion graphics, social media campaigns, and large-scale outdoor installations. I also founded aNEmates, an organisation to connect animators and illustrators across the North East and raise awareness of the talent in the region. Over the years, aNEmates has hosted show-and-tell sessions, welcomed guest industry speakers, and now thrives as a Discord community. Since Arcus closed in early 2025, I’ve continued to work as a freelance illustrator and animator with clients in education, tech, charity, and games. This includes working as the lead artist at Tea Imp Games, where I’m helping to bring to life a hand-drawn, cosy hidden-object game.