About Jonathan (Jon) Mortimer
Jon Mortimer is a seasoned Animation educator & Artist, with over 14 years of experience, having collaborated with renowned international partners such as Axis Studios, Disney, AnimDojo, and CTN (Creative Talent Network). His journey started as a freelance storyboard artist for esteemed clients including Hasbro, Marvel, Disney, and Roald Dahl. With a passion for nurturing talent, Jon occupies a pivotal role in shaping the futures of budding Animators and Artists. His dedication to guiding individuals through the dynamic realm of Animation and VFX stems from his rich professional background and commitment to supporting emerging talent.
Jon’s personal life has been deeply influenced by his family’s experiences with hearing challenges. He grew up with a Hard-of-Hearing (HoH) father and a mother who became HoH later in life, which fostered his interest in lip-reading and visual storytelling. Together with his wife, Jon has been learning British Sign Language (BSL) through the local Scottish Sensory Centre to support their four-year-old son, Alex. Although Alex is not deaf, he is currently non-verbal, and BSL provides him with a valuable way to communicate his needs and reduce frustration.
*Further information about Jon’s research can be found here:
https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/person/122943/jonathan-mortimer/outputs
Original animation New Signs for Animation (2021)
Featuring BSL Signer, Brian Duffy and Ewan McGregor as narrator:
The animated short film New Signs for Animation: AnimSign (Dir: Mortimer, 2024) was developed with collaborative support from the Creative Talent Network (CTN, 2024) and Edinburgh Napier University’s Public Engagement Fund. Building on Mortimer’s earlier work, New Signs for Animation (Dir: Mortimer, 2021), the updated film aims to address language gaps in Animation and Games terminology for Sign Language users.
