About Me
I have always loved movies! As a kid, I distinctly remember watching Star Wars in the theater with my brother. He had to read the opening title crawl because I couldn’t read quickly enough. Even though I was really young, I still remember the magic of being transported to far-off galaxies and wanting to be a part of creating that magic myself.
Act 1 – Graphic Design
After graduating from Cal State LA in 1994 (as a Graphic Design undergraduate), I worked at Muramatsu (a trade show display company). I was hired at first as a graphic designer and project manager and then later, when my manager asked me to expand my role in the company, I took on the additional task of database programmer and network administrator. It was about this time when I became interested in animation as a career.
Act 2 – Animation
In 1999, while still working at the Muramatsu, I started taking life drawing and traditional animation classes at Glendale Community College. I really enjoyed taking these classes, but was discouraged because none of the animation programs would allow me to take only CG animation classes. As a prerequisite, most schools required taking modeling, rigging, texturing, and even a video production class before I could take my first CG animation class. In 2006, when I learned that a new animation school, AnimationMentor.com, was offering animation classes with no modeling or rigging prerequisites necessary, I jumped at the chance! The 18-month program was an amazing experience. It gave me the necessary foundation to create great animation.
Upon graduating from Animation Mentor in 2007, I worked on the DVD Feature Film, Princess Twins: Enchantia (working title) at Extra Large Technology (XLT) in Hollywood, for about a year. The DVD was never released due to the parent company shelving the project.
In 2008, I was hired as an animation intern at Blizzard Entertainment. I worked closely with the animation team and learned some valuable lessons from my lead. The work I did for Blizzard was challenging and rewarding. I even had some of my animation included in the release of World of Warcarft: Wrath of the Lich King!
Act 3 – The Present and the Future
In April of 2011, I returned to Animation Mentor and completed a Master Class in Animals and Creatures Animation, where I discovered a new love for a more realistic style of animation.
Throughout my professional career, I’ve worked as a graphic designer, videographer, photographer, animator and movie maker. The one thing that ties all these things together is storytelling. I love creating stories that entertain people just like I was when I was a kid. For me, animation incorporates everything I’ve learned and enjoyed over the years into one discipline.
Brief Work History
- 2011 Animation Mentor – Animals & Creatures Master Class
- 2008 Intern at Blizzard Entertainment – In-Game Animation “World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King”
- 2007 Animator – XLT Extra Large Technology – DVD Feature “Princess Twins: Enchantia”
- 2007 Animation Mentor – Core Curriculum
