Juston Gordon-Montgomery on Creating ‘Invincible Fight Girl’

Juston Gordon-Montgomery’s path to becoming a showrunner wasn’t traditional, but it was intentional.  
The Baldwin Hills native, now the creator of Adult Swim’s “Invincible Fight Girl,” is carving a unique space in animation, not only with original storytelling, but also with a commitment to representation and mentorship. 

Best known for his work on “DC Super Hero Girls,” “My Dad the Bounty Hunter” and the animated “Adam Ruins Everything,” Gordon-Montgomery’s latest series features something rarely seen in Western animation: a Black female protagonist chasing a dream in the wrestling ring. 

“I kind of wanted to tell a story about someone who had that lightbulb moment,” Gordon-Montgomery tells Variety. “I hadn’t really seen that in Western animation — someone who’s brand new to a dream and just trying to figure it out.” 

That lightbulb moment for Gordon-Montgomery himself came years ago in his youth while watching behind-the-scenes footage on the “Monsters, Inc.” DVD. “It was [Pixar CCO] Pete Docter pitching a sequence, and I just remember thinking, ‘This is a real job people can do,’” he says. “It was achievable. It wasn’t just a dream — it was something you could study and do.” 

After teaching himself animation at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and eventually earning a spot in Pixar’s prestigious story internship, Gordon-Montgomery’s trajectory took him to top studios like DreamWorks, Sony and Blue Sky. But it wasn’t raw talent alone that opened doors — it was persistence, curiosity and a willingness to show up, even when self-doubt crept in. 

“I’m not saying this to be self-deprecating, but there were so many people more talented than me,” he admits. “What I had was hunger. I was just a workhorse. I kept showing up.” 

That attitude became the foundation of his creative philosophy, one shaped by craft and compassion. When it came time to lead his own show, Gordon-Montgomery focused on fostering an environment where others could thrive. 

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

“I’ve had so many people who saw something in me early on and extended their hands,” he reveals. “And honestly, in the beginning, it wasn’t even about me being good. It was about people seeing that I
was passionate.” 

One of the honorees for Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch in 2022, that sense of responsibility now guides the advice he offers young animators, particularly those from marginalized communities. “Continue to hone your voice outside of the industry,” he says. “Don’t let your creativity be dictated by what opportunities are handed to you. Invest in your own work — shorts, animatics, YouTube videos — because you’re building a voice that doesn’t depend on permission.” 

With “Invincible Fight Girl,” Gordon-Montgomery is giving young audiences, especially Black girls, permission to dream out loud. “It’s about that excitement and fear of chasing something. That exhilaration when you feel yourself making progress, I wanted to capture that.” 

Juston Gordon-Montgomery is not only a creator to watch, but he’s also a force that’s shaping the future of animation, one frame and fearless story at a time.