Bruce B. Heller

The first-generation American son of immigrant parents from Germany and Switzerland, Bruce was raised on European ideals and culture in the midst of Los Angeles. Bruce grew up surrounded by creativity: his father (a scientific engineer) was an aspiring filmmaker, his mother (a college professor) makes jewelry, and his sister sings professionally. At an early age, it was clear that drawing was Bruce's talent, and as a teenager he set his eyes on a career in animation. Before graduating high school, Bruce interviewed at Walt Disney Feature Animation, and landed a summer production internship on Aladdin (1992). Two years later, he was accepted to the California Institute of the Arts' Character Animation Program, but left school after two years.

He dabbled in acting for a year, and in 1996, he was recruited to his first animation industry job where he was actually drawing: Disney's Hercules (1997).

In 1999, moved by the Columbine massacre, Bruce left the industry to join a company that produced animation workshops with kids all over Los Angeles. Through these workshops, Bruce developed his passion and skills for teaching and motivational speaking.

In 2001, Bruce sold most of what he owned and moved to the island of Bali in Indonesia for a year-long vision quest. He spent most that year walking, reading and writing. . . and he discovered that it's hard work to do nothing for a year. He is collecting his adventures in Bali in a forthcoming memoir.

In 2003, with an eye toward earning a teaching credential, he returned to CalArts to finish his bachelor's degree. Since graduating, Bruce has continued teaching animation and working freelance in the animation industry.