Tortor is a multi-award-winning stop-motion animation filmmaker.

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Their debut character film Hot Mess, created at the Aardman Academy in 2024, has received 29 awards to date and screened at over 130 international film festivals. Their second film, Stumbling Blocks, has recently entered the festival circuit, already earning two awards and 16 official selections.

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While these achievements are significant, they are the result of a much more complex journey.

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Tortor is neurodivergent. Highly capable and driven, they have also experienced significant hidden challenges, including periods of severe burnout. Having developed a deeper understanding of how their mind works, they are now committed to working sustainably and sharing an honest perspective on creativity and neurodivergence—encouraging others to recognise their own potential.

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Born in 1989, Tortor grew up in a typical suburban environment, where early academic success—particularly in mathematics—often masked underlying struggles with anxiety and self-esteem. As academic demands increased, these challenges became harder to manage, eventually leading to burnout during A-levels. This pivotal moment prompted a shift away from a conventional career path and towards creative study.

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They went on to complete a BTEC Art Foundation, achieving a double Distinction, and began exploring stop-motion animation—an interest that led to a university scholarship. Prior to this, their animation work had been entirely self-taught.

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Tortor later graduated with a BA (Hons) in Animation in 2012, achieving First Class Honours on their dissertation and a 2:1 overall. During their studies, they gained early industry experience through an internship on Frankenweenie, where they worked within a large-scale stop-motion production and conducted research into stereoscopic imaging for their dissertation on depth perception.

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Following graduation, Tortor built a diverse creative career spanning graphic design, live production, and digital media—working with publications in London, training as a camera operator and vision mixer at Roundhouse, and contributing to live events and award ceremonies.

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In 2015, they founded their own limited company, producing stop-motion content for a range of global clients, including Sony Pictures, Disney, WarnerMedia, Paramount+, Lenovo, Public Health England, Hewlett Packard, and others.

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They later moved into television development at ITV, contributing across design, pitching, editing, and content creation. However, balancing multiple high-intensity roles led to significant burnout—an experience that ultimately reshaped their approach to work and creativity.

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Today, Tortor focuses on short-form filmmaking and developing YouTube channels centred on animation, creativity, and neurodivergence. Maintaining creative independence allows them to work in a way that is both sustainable and fulfilling, while remaining open to meaningful collaborations.

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In 2026, Tortor was selected from thousands of applicants as one of 12 creators for the YouTube Creative Incubator at the National Film and Television School, supported by YouTube—an opportunity to further develop their voice and expand their digital platforms.

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Interested in collaborating or supporting future films? Get in touch - tortor@animatortor.com 

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