As a Production Consultant at Cinesite, Bradford Simonsen brings a wealth of experience from a dynamic career in feature film and animation. His expertise is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the production pipeline, from development through post-production, honed over years in key leadership roles.
Brad’s most recent tenure was as a Producer and Associate Producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he played a pivotal role in the success of multiple Academy Award-winning features, including Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Encanto; as well as the Academy Award Nominated film Ralph Breaks the Internet. He also produced the Emmy award winning short film, “Once Upon A Studio”, celebrating 100 years of Disney Animation which was included in the shortlist for best short film for the 96th Academy Awards®. Prior to this he produced the Emmy winning “Baymax” the Series for Disney Plus.
Beyond his associate producer credits, Brad was deeply involved in departmental leadership across these projects and even lent his voice to additional characters.
Earlier in his career, Brad held the position of Director of Production at Robert Redford’s production company, overseeing budgets and schedules for upcoming films. This role sparked his keen interest in visual effects, leading him to Sony Pictures Imageworks, where he served as a Digital Production Manager for nine years and notably voiced “Meeper” in the Oscar-winning short “The ChubbChubbs!”.
He further expanded his VFX production expertise at Digital Domain as a Digital Producer. His diverse background also includes assistant directing live-action features and working in development with renowned filmmakers. A graduate of the University of Washington with degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management, Brad also actively participated in the university’s drama department, cultivating his passion for storytelling from an early age. His personal connection to “immigrant themes” further fueled his involvement in projects like the award winning animated film “Weeds,” which he helped bring to the screen.
