Phillip Bradley "Brad" Bird, born in Kalispell on September 24, 1957, is an American director, screenwriter, and animator. Mentored by Milt Kahl, one of Disney's "Nine Old Men," he began his career as a creative consultant for the early seasons of *The Simpsons*. His feature directorial debut was the critically acclaimed animated film *The Iron Giant* (1999). He achieved international fame by collaborating with Pixar, for which he directed *The Incredibles* (2004) and *Ratatouille* (2007). Both films earned him the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, solidifying his reputation for complex storytelling and a visually dynamic style. His filmography also includes forays into live-action cinema, such as *Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol* (2011) and *Tomorrowland* (2015), before returning to animation with the highly successful sequel *Incredibles 2* (2018). His style is recognized for its deep characterization and for themes that often explore individualism and exceptionalism.