Meet Eddy Okba | Pixar Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eddy Okba and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eddy, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
I recently heard a podcast where JJ Redick, now the LA Lakers Head Coach, described a successful career as maximizing your abilities, building meaningful relationships, and competing at the highest level. That resonated with me. My hope is to look back and know I gave everything I had, positively impacted others, and was inspired by some of the best in the field.

Animation is such a long, detailed process that you have to truly love it to see it through. I’m passionate about the craft, and I genuinely enjoy every part of it. I also have a strong love for teaching, and I hope I can inspire others, just as many have inspired me. At the end of the day, I strive to stay motivated, enjoy what I do, and contribute meaningfully to the world of animation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently an animator at Pixar and recently worked on Inside Out 2. I’ve always had a deep love for animation and comic books; I grew up with Disney movies and Japanese manga, drawing was my way of telling stories. I used to reproduce animations from The Lion King and Aladdin on VHS, pausing frame by frame. After attending art school in France, where we studied everything from drawing and anatomy to clay modeling and animation, I was captivated by animation. The magic of seeing a drawing come to life combined my love for illustration and performance, connecting directly with audiences’ emotions.

After CGI school in Paris, I was lucky to begin my career at Illumination, working on The Lorax. Being part of the talented team behind Despicable Me and other major projects like Despicable Me 2, Minions, Sing, and The Secret Life of Pets was an incredible experience. Surrounded by animators I admired, I grew immensely during my time there.

Then came an opportunity to work on an animated Spider-Man movie, which took me to Vancouver and Sony Animation. Working on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was unlike anything I’d experienced—the project pushed creative boundaries, and our team’s dedication brought something truly unique to life. Later, I joined Netflix’s The Willoughbys, a smaller production but one that was filled with heart, where our team pushed creative boundaries within technical and budget limitations.
I had the chance to be a Supervising Animator on DC League of Super-Pets. It was an incredible experience leading the animation team and see another aspect of the job. It allowed me to share my experience and I learned how to manage different people with different skills and motivations, how to balance between artistic and budget.

Joining Pixar was a dream come true. Since Toy Story, I’ve admired the studio’s craft and artistry, so animating at Pixar has been deeply fulfilling. My first project here was Lightyear, and animating Buzz Lightyear—one of my childhood heroes—was a special milestone. It was heartwarming to hear my family and friends that knew me as a kid or as an aspiring animator say, “You did it!”. Becoming part of Pixar has been a lifelong dream come true, but the journey to get here has been both long and incredibly rewarding. I’m excited for what lies ahead and look forward to continuing this journey, growing and contributing to animation storytelling.

One of the things I’m most proud of is helping create movies that resonate with audiences worldwide. Seeing people connect with characters I’ve animated reminds me why I fell in love with this art form in the first place: I was this kid dreaming and inspired by those movies. Knowing our work can make a lasting impact, just as the stories I cherished did for me, is a true joy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Though I’m not based in LA, if I were there, a Lakers game would be a must—especially to watch LeBron play live. Experiencing the energy of the crowd and seeing such a legendary athlete in action is incredible.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a shoutout to Vivien Guiraud, a French animator who was my first mentor in the industry. I had the privilege of being his intern while I was still in school, and he taught me the fundamentals of animation, as well as how to navigate a professional work environment. Vivien supported me with patience, encouragement, and a calm demeanor—everything you could hope for in a mentor. Perhaps most importantly, he recommended me for a position at Illumination (which was known as Mac Guff Ligne at the time) when I graduated. Vivien was truly the starting point of my career, and I’ll always be grateful for his guidance and support. It’s amazing how a simple thought or a phone call can change the course of someone’s life.

Website: https://eddyokba.wixsite.com/my-site

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddy-okba-artist/

Other: https://vimeo.com/eddyokba

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