Media Release

Seneca graduates win an Oscar for their work on Toy Story 4

Three Seneca alumni from the School of Creative Arts & Animation played a key role in the Academy Award-winning film

Toronto, Feb. 10, 2020 – The Seneca community is celebrating the achievements of our graduates as their work is recognized on the biggest stage at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Pixar’s Toy Story 4 won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film – and among the talent behind the lovable and relatable characters on screen are three of Seneca’s graduates from the Faculty of Communication, Art & Design.

Brendan Beesley, a graduate of Seneca’s 3D Animation program, and Graham Finley, Animation program graduate, worked as animators for the film. Deanna Marsigliese, also an Animation graduate, was the art director.

“The training at Seneca was the foundation for my entire career. Without Seneca, I absolutely would not be where I am today,” said Brendan Beesley during a previous interview.

“Seneca also gave me an added sense of confidence that I could actually become an animator because I was able to piece together all the skills I was learning, and produce a demo reel that stood out amongst hundreds of other artists applying for similar jobs. I also made connections at Seneca that have paid dividends throughout the different stages of my journey within the animation industry.”

“It’s always rewarding and satisfying to see our graduates accomplishing their dreams and leaving their marks. These three have been doing amazing work for quite some time now and I’m sure there’s lots more to come,” said Mark Jones, Chair of the School of Creative Arts & Animation. 

About Seneca

Combining career and professional skills training with theoretical knowledge, Seneca provides a polytechnic education to 30,000 full-time and 60,000 part-time students. With campuses in Toronto, York Region and Peterborough and education partners around the world, Seneca offers degrees, graduate certificates, diplomas and certificates in more than 300 full-time, part-time and online programs. Seneca’s credentials are renowned for their quality and respected by employers. Co-op and work placements, applied research projects, entrepreneurial opportunities and the latest technology ensure that Seneca graduates are highly skilled and ready to work.

Find out more at Seneca.

Follow us on Twitter.

For more information please contact: