Talks

Training the Next Generation of Storytellers

Brooke Keesling is a recipient of the VIEW Conference Trailblazer Award 2026. She is a longtime Animation Talent Development champion, most recently as Head of Animation Talent Development at Bento Box Entertainment, and she has worked in the animation and VFX industry for decades as a filmmaker, in recruiting, development, and in education. Prior to joining Bento Box, Brooke recruited animation talent for Cartoon Network, Disney, Warner Bros. and New Deal Studios.

Keesling earned her MFA at CalArts where she produced the stop-motion film, Meatclown and the Student Academy Award winning animated film, Boobie Girl. Upon graduation, she worked in practical and miniature VFX on many films such as Inception, The Dark Knight, Hugo, and The Aviator at New Deal Studios. Brooke is an active member of the Motion Picture Academy, the Television Academy, Women in Animation, and she’s Vice President emeritus of ASIFA Hollywood. Brooke is also on the advisory board of the GLAS Animation Festival, and she’s in her 16th year teaching in the Character Animation department at CalArts.