Meet the DMU graduate who put the cape on the Caped Crusader

Meet the Animation graduate from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) who put the cape onto the Caped Crusader himself.

Gareth Harbuz, who graduated in 2008, has carved out a stellar career working on blockbuster movies included Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, Iron Man 2 and Les Miserables to name a few.


He started his career working at London-based enterprise Double Negative – an Oscar-winning visual effects company that specialises in feature film – and now works as a creative at a design company in Nottinghamshire. And Gareth credits DMU with giving him the guidance to help him land his dream career.

Gareth, who graduated with First Class Honours, said: “I can safely say that I wouldn’t have had the career I’ve had without attending this course at DMU.

“Over the three years, for me, it all came down to one moment. I was about to pass up on working on an industry brief set by Double Negative to work on a character animation instead, when my course leaders intervened and strongly suggested I rethink.



“They could have easily let me continue, but they knew my strengths and had seen an opportunity that I hadn’t and they made the effort to make sure I took it.

“This led to a great relationship with the head of 3D at Double Negative, which led to a job – which I had secured months before graduating – which led to six amazing years working on feature films in London.”


During his time at the company, Gareth worked on many movies, including as a lead effects artist on Hercules (2014), a technical director on Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and as the lead cloth effect technical director on Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Gareth added: “When Double Negative came to visit in my final year at university, their recruitment posters at the time read: ‘Could you make Batman fly?’ – Well, I didn’t get to make him fly, but I did make his cape!

“When it comes to DMU, I enjoyed the varied approach to the course. I learned a broad range of skills, from modelling to animation, lighting, rendering and compositing. I felt well supported and encouraged, and had the time to be able to carve a path for myself.

“I would recommend this course to others, and I often do.”