BRAD FERGUSON

Spending his high school years as a self-taught artist from the small town of Bracebridge, Brad had to build his creative foundation independently on pure curiosity, passion and determination. That same relentless drive evolved into a 25+ year career championing the crafts of storytelling, character and animation—first as a versatile artist and animation industry professional, and now as a dedicated, award-winning educator.

During his more than two decades on the studio front lines, he collaborated in roles such as Director, Showrunner, Storyboard Artist, Animator and Character Designer, directing more than 180 episodes of animated television. His creative work contributed to multiple award-winning series for global clients including Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Netflix, Spin Master, Teletoon and YTV to name a few.

Whether in the studio or the classroom, Brad has always held his crews and students to the same high standard of quality he holds himself to, but does so with one core philosophy: We’re creating entertainment for people and, therefore, we should truly care for people, enjoy the process and be entertained ourselves. If we aren’t, it will show in our work (and then what's the point?).

Long before Upchuckle or his career at the college, Brad always enjoyed volunteering his time to teach and help others. Whether conducting free drawing & animation workshops for children's groups or staying late at the studio to train co-workers who were in danger of losing their jobs if they didn't improve, Brad was passionate about teaching. About seeing others get excited about their own abilities and successes.

His own firsthand experiences—and seeing exactly where traditional systems fall short—are what helped shape Upchuckle Education:

• As a self-driven kid who was passionate about acting & drawing, Brad simply didn't know what he didn't know about reaching his goals. There was no one to turn to for training, guidance or support. It took 4 years of self-teaching and working on his portfolio to get into the college of his dreams.

• Later, as a post-secondary student paying every penny on his own, he experienced firsthand the instructor egos and disconnect between his college's prestigious reputation and the actual quality of education provided.

• Brad experienced the industry from both sides of the hiring table. As an animated series director, he was responsible for hiring countless artists, animators, designers, actors, writers and musicians. He knew exactly what his productions needed and where candidates were falling short of meeting those needs, both artistically and professionally.

• Finally, serving as a Post-Secondary Program Director pulled back the curtain on college operations and curriculum flows from behind the scenes, equally revealing what worked well and the systemic disorganization and critical gaps that leave students underserved.

By combining these distinct perspectives, Brad knows firsthand exactly what modern studios require and the unique challenges aspiring artists face. Upchuckle Education is exactly the kind of school Brad wishes had been available to him—dedicated to helping others pursue their creative-learning goals with genuine transparency, knowledge, flexibility & customization, passion and empathy.

Brad’s a firm believer that creativity lies in all of us. You only need to be brave enough to blow off that thin layer of dust and give it a try. The power that comes with self-expression through the arts is universally human and limitless.

His commitment to this supportive approach has earned his school the distinction of being voted "Best Art School in Barrie", alongside local recognition as the 2025 Barrie Arts Award "Business Champion" and the Grand Prize Winner of the HBEC Grand Pitch Competition.

Whether he’s teaching and inspiring children, guiding teens and adults at any stage of their artistic journey or coaching industry professionals looking to buff up their resumes and expand their skills, Brad brings a lifetime of studio & education experience, a deep love for the art of entertainment and an infectious energy that reminds everyone in the room exactly why they fell in love with creating in the first place.