michaelrtodd@yahoo.com
801-885-2814
SUMMARY
I am passionate about creating the most compelling entertainment experiences in the world. I have exceptional design and animation abilities and skilled with relevant computer software, such as Maya, Mudbox, ZBrush, Photoshop, After Effects and the Unreal Game Engine.
I manufacture custom art and animations on demand and can create original content ranging from traditional animation to stop motion and computer animation. I design and create all the custom digital assets used in animations including characters, creatures, environments, vehicles, props, special effects, graphics and more. I have a diverse background having worked in feature films, feature animations, theme parks, television, video games, virtual reality, comic books, and collectibles. Additionally, I have proven abilities in organizing and managing productions from brainstorming to team management, team building, and final delivery of custom entertainment experiences.
SPECIALTIES
2D/3D Design - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props, Graphics.
Visual Development
Story Development
Storyboarding
Digital Sculpting
Modeling
Texturing
Modeling
Texturing
Animation
FX
Rendering
Lighting
Rigging
Animatics/Pre-Vis
Projection Mapping
New IP Development
Comic Book Author/Artist
New IP Development
Comic Book Author/Artist
Virtual Reality
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Photoshop
Illustrator
Maya
Mudbox
ZBrush
Substance Painter
After Effects
Unreal Engine 4
Oculus Rift
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Creative Development of new intellectual properties for multiple markets.
Co-Created and produced two Stop Motion Animations for Imax and Cartoon Network: “The Light Before Christmas” and “Spooky Bats and Scaredy Cats”.
Created "Cryptid Hunter” for multiple markets including feature films, television, video games, comic books, websites and toys. The project features the artwork of Frank Frazetta, Mike Mignola, Simon Bisley, Alex Horley and Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop.
EXPERIENCE
Universal Creative/Universal Orlando Resort
2013 – 2020
Duties: 3D Artist/Senior Attraction Designer (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, Match Moving, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Compositing) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Fast and Furious: Supercharged, The Cat in the Hat, Volcano Bay, Super Nintendo World, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal's Epic Universe.
CMB Ltd. Trinidad
2012 – 2013
Duties: 3D Artist (Design,Texturing) - Characters, Environments and Props.
Projects: Television - KFC 2013 – D Colour of Carnival Commercial.
Bend Reality
2012 – 2012
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Vehicle.
Projects: Television - Super Bowl 2014 Kia Sorento Commercial.
CSI - Golden Era Productions
2011– 2011
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Characters.
Projects: 3D Illustrated Book.
Microsoft
2010 – 2010
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing) - Characters.
Projects: Video Game – Flight.
Electronic Arts
2010 – 2010
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Video Games - Monopoly Streets, Wildlife: Forest Survival.
Lumenas Animation Studios
2008 – 2012
Duties: Lead 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: Feature Film - The Legend of Santa Claus. Attraction Ride - Tsunami 4D.
Saffire
2005 – 2008
Duties: Lead 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: Feature Film – Charlotte’s Web Closing Title Animation.
Video Games - Castlevania, Pele’s Soccer.
Glyphx Games
2004 – 2005
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Environments, Vehicles.
Projects: Video Game - Advent Rising.
DreamWorks Animation
2002 – 2004
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Creatures, Characters, Environments and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Shark Tale.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
2001 – 2003
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Match Moving, Animation) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Films - Reign of Fire, Kangaroo Jack, The Snow Queen aka Frozen, My Peoples aka A Few Good Ghosts, Fantasia 3.
Television - Coming Home - Disney 50th Anniversary Commercial.
Sony Pictures Imageworks
2000 – 2001
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Spider-Man.
Viewpoint Digital
1998 – 2000
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Dungeons and Dragons. Television - Size Matters, Blaster’s Universe, The Book. Video Games - Need for Speed/Porche Unleashed, Scooby Doo – Night of 100 Frights, NCMEC, Venice Under Glass.
PUBLISHING
Spectrum 12: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art - Underwood Books
Cryptid Universe
Animation Magazine
Cinefex
HONORS AND AWARDS
Art Work Selected for Spectrum 12: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art - Underwood Books: CRYPTID YETI and KIPLING MCKAY BRONZE.
Won SILVER AWARD in Dimensional Category for Art Direction.
EDUCATION
Academy of Art University - San Francisco
University of Utah
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Photoshop
Illustrator
Maya
Mudbox
ZBrush
Substance Painter
After Effects
Unreal Engine 4
Oculus Rift
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Creative Development of new intellectual properties for multiple markets.
Co-Created and produced two Stop Motion Animations for Imax and Cartoon Network: “The Light Before Christmas” and “Spooky Bats and Scaredy Cats”.
Created "Cryptid Hunter” for multiple markets including feature films, television, video games, comic books, websites and toys. The project features the artwork of Frank Frazetta, Mike Mignola, Simon Bisley, Alex Horley and Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop.
EXPERIENCE
Universal Creative/Universal Orlando Resort
2013 – 2020
Duties: 3D Artist/Senior Attraction Designer (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, Match Moving, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Compositing) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Fast and Furious: Supercharged, The Cat in the Hat, Volcano Bay, Super Nintendo World, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal's Epic Universe.
CMB Ltd. Trinidad
2012 – 2013
Duties: 3D Artist (Design,Texturing) - Characters, Environments and Props.
Projects: Television - KFC 2013 – D Colour of Carnival Commercial.
Bend Reality
2012 – 2012
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Vehicle.
Projects: Television - Super Bowl 2014 Kia Sorento Commercial.
CSI - Golden Era Productions
2011– 2011
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Characters.
Projects: 3D Illustrated Book.
Microsoft
2010 – 2010
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing) - Characters.
Projects: Video Game – Flight.
Electronic Arts
2010 – 2010
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Video Games - Monopoly Streets, Wildlife: Forest Survival.
Lumenas Animation Studios
2008 – 2012
Duties: Lead 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: Feature Film - The Legend of Santa Claus. Attraction Ride - Tsunami 4D.
Saffire
2005 – 2008
Duties: Lead 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Characters, Environments, Vehicles, Props and Cinematics.
Projects: Feature Film – Charlotte’s Web Closing Title Animation.
Video Games - Castlevania, Pele’s Soccer.
Glyphx Games
2004 – 2005
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Environments, Vehicles.
Projects: Video Game - Advent Rising.
DreamWorks Animation
2002 – 2004
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Creatures, Characters, Environments and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Shark Tale.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
2001 – 2003
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Match Moving, Animation) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Films - Reign of Fire, Kangaroo Jack, The Snow Queen aka Frozen, My Peoples aka A Few Good Ghosts, Fantasia 3.
Television - Coming Home - Disney 50th Anniversary Commercial.
Sony Pictures Imageworks
2000 – 2001
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Spider-Man.
Viewpoint Digital
1998 – 2000
Duties: 3D Artist (Design, Modeling, Texturing, Animation) - Creatures, Characters, Environments, Vehicles and Props.
Projects: Feature Film - Dungeons and Dragons. Television - Size Matters, Blaster’s Universe, The Book. Video Games - Need for Speed/Porche Unleashed, Scooby Doo – Night of 100 Frights, NCMEC, Venice Under Glass.
PUBLISHING
Spectrum 12: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art - Underwood Books
Cryptid Universe
Animation Magazine
Cinefex
HONORS AND AWARDS
Art Work Selected for Spectrum 12: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art - Underwood Books: CRYPTID YETI and KIPLING MCKAY BRONZE.
Won SILVER AWARD in Dimensional Category for Art Direction.
EDUCATION
Academy of Art University - San Francisco
University of Utah