Reel Factory adds director, animator and artist Drew Lightfoot to the roster

Director, animator and artist Drew Lightfoot has joined Reel Factory’s roster.

Not all directors can claim to have started their career as a pre-teen – Drew Lightfoot is one of the exceptions.

A curious kid, born and raised in Canada, Lightfoot’s creative journey began with an interest in drawing and dissembling VCRs to understand how the technology works.

At age 10 Lightfoot discovered stop-motion animation as a way to combine his passion for drawing, sculpting and storytelling. By 13, he’d officially entered the creative industry, interning at a clay animation studio, where he learned every stage of production and realized art could be more than a passion—it could be a career.

This revelation took Lightfoot across the globe, with his first stop in New Zealand, animating on TV shows. From Lead Animator on Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride in London, to directing commercials, music videos and experimental films worldwide, Lightfoot honed his craft while working with some of the industry’s most celebrated talents. Lightfoot’s fascination with art and innovation led him to directing Horizon, a 9K 360 degree VR and planetarium film exploring Canada’s cultural diversity, and an immersive charity film in Ethiopia that raised $7M in one screening for NYC’s charity:water.

Lightfoot possesses a unique ability to confidently move between in-camera techniques, lens trickery, animation, VR, 360, stop-motion and VFX.

Says Lightfoot: “With a fluency across a broad scope of media, I like to let the story drive the technology or medium employed.”

Whether as Second Unit Director on Amazon’s American Gods or creating immersive experiences, Lightfoot continues to explore the boundaries of visual storytelling, blending creativity, culture, and technology to connect with audiences worldwide.

“Drew’s portfolio is truly unique. His ability to mix mediums in an entertaining manner while doing the story justice is inspiring. We’re stoked to have him join our roster,” says Reel Factory Managing Director Dan Watkins.

Now based in New Zealand, Lightfoot thrives at the intersection of storytelling and creative collaboration.

Check out Drew’s work here.

To learn more about Drew, get in touch with Dan Watkins at dan@reelfactory.tv