Juston Gordon-Montgomery about creating ‘Invincible Fight Girl’

The path of Juston Gordon-Montgomery to become a showrunner was not traditional, but it was intentional.
The resident of Baldwin Hills, now the maker of the ‘Invincible Fight Girl’ by Adult Swim, is cutting a unique space in animation, not only with original stories, but also with a dedication to representation and mentoring.

The best known for his work on ‘DC Super Hero Girls’, ‘My Dad the Bounty Hunter’ and the animated ‘Adam Ruins Everything’, the newest series of Gordon-Montgomery contains something that is rarely seen in the Western animation: a black female protagonist who pursues a dream in the wrestling ring.

“I wanted to tell a bit of a story about someone who had that light bulb moment,” says Gordon-Montgomery Variety. “I hadn’t really seen that in the Western animation – someone who is brand new for a dream and just tries to find out.”

That light bulb moment for Gordon-Montgomery himself came to his youth years ago while looking behind the scenes images on the “Monsters, Inc.” DVD. “That was it [Pixar CCO] Pete Docter Pitchen a series, and I just remember that I thought: “This is a real job that people can do,” he says. “It was feasible. It wasn’t just a dream – it was something you could study and do.”

After he had learned himself animation at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and eventually achieved a place in Pixar’s prestigious story internship, the Gordon-Montgomery route brought him to top studios such as DreamWorks, Sony and Blue Sky. But it was not only raw talent that opened doors was perseverance, curiosity and a willingness to appear, even when self-doubt came in.

“I am not saying that this is self -removing, but there were so many people more talented than me,” he admits. “What I had was hungry. I was just a workhorse. I kept showing up.”

That attitude became the basis of his creative philosophy, a formed by craftsmanship and compassion. When it was time to lead his own show, Gordon-Montgomery concentrated on promoting an environment where others could thrive.

“There was no job too small for me not to walk over and say:” What are you doing? “” He says about his time in other studios. “So now I try to create spaces where people can do their best work. That is the North Star – not just for ‘Invincible Fight Girl’, but for everything I touch.” Representation is central to Gordon-
Montgomery’s work, in front of the camera and behind the scenes. And although he acknowledges that his experience in animation has been one of exceptional mentorship and support, he knows that this is not the case for everyone.

“I have had so many people who have seen something in me early and have expanded their hands,” he reveals. “And to be honest, in the beginning it wasn’t even about I was good. It was about people sawing me
was passionate. ”

One of the Honorees for VarietyThe 10 animators to see in 2022, that a sense of responsibility now guides the advice that he offers young animators, in particular those from marginalized communities. “Keep highlighting your voice outside the industry,” he says. “Don’t let your creativity be determined by which opportunities you are handed over. Invest in your own work – shorts, animatie, YouTube videos – because you build a voice that is not dependent on permission.”

With ‘Invincible Fight Girl’, Gordon-Montgomery gives a young audience, especially black girls, permission to dream out loud. “It’s about that excitement and fear of hunting something. That excitement when you feel makes progress, I wanted to capture that.”

Juston Gordon-Montgomery is not only a maker to look at, but he is also a power that forms the future of animation, one frame and fearless story at the same time.