Brad Bird

Born: Kalispella, Montana, USA

The writer and director was catapulted into the spotlight with his state of the art animated cartoon caper The Incredibles.

He also won praise for his witty voicing of the character of fashion designer Edna E Mode.

Bird made his first animated film at eleven and finished it two years later, bringing him to attention of Walt Disney Studios.

At fourteen, he was mentored by Milt Kahl, one of Disney's legendary animators known as the "Nine Old Men".

The youngster cut his teeth on the American sci-fi series Amazing Stories for Steven Spielberg and the cartoon capers of The Simpsons.

In 1999, he made his feature debut with the animated version of Ted Hughes' children's story The Iron Giant.

Voiced by Vin Diesel, the film won a BAFTA children's award for best feature.

The Incredibles - featuring the voice talents of Craig T Nelson and Holly Hunter - was a box office smash.