Yarrow, the oldest of five siblings, comprising three brothers and a sister, was born into a family that faced significant financial challenges following his parents' divorce. His mother, Caryn Brady, worked diligently as a Youth Group Director in the Catholic Church to provide for the family, while their extended family members contributed sporadically. Despite these difficulties, Yarrow remained resolute in his passion for animation, spending countless hours honing his drawing skills to perfection.
When the time came to apply to college, Yarrow was well-prepared to tackle the academic workload, but he was initially rejected from his top choice, CalArts, due to lack of space. However, he refused to give up and instead enrolled in summer school classes at the institution. His exceptional talent and dedication earned him the admiration of his teacher, who was astonished by his impressive animation skills, given it was his first time attempting the medium.
Impressed by Yarrow's abilities, the Dean of Administrations eventually accepted him into the college. Although he was uncertain about how he would finance his education, he decided to take the opportunity and share the news with his family. However, Yarrow's college tenure was cut short when he was offered a chance to work on "Cats Don't Dance" for Turner Feature Animation, followed by "Iron Giant" and "Quest for Camelot" for Warner Bros. Feature Animation, during his third year.
During this period, Yarrow collaborated with his college friend, Carrie Buell, and they eventually decided to establish their own animation company, YCB animation. They worked together on various projects, including the opening credits for the 1999 animated series Dilbert. On October 15, 2003, they exchanged vows in Hawaii and continued to work for other companies, striving to generate sufficient income to launch their own production company and produce a few feature films and Christmas specials.
In 2004, Yarrow accepted a position as a production designer for the 2006 animated film Curious George, marking another significant milestone in his career.
