Hi, I’m Michael — a Senior Technical Character Artist with over a decade of experience bringing creatures and characters to life across animation, games, and visual effects.
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My journey began at a local community college, where two animation courses lit a creative spark that changed the course of my life. Eager to grow both personally and professionally, I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, serving as an Electronics Technician stationed in Key West, FL. While maintaining critical communications and navigation systems, I continued my art education through the Art Institute Online, and later enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I refined my technical and artistic skills.
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After SCAD, I launched my professional career at MPC, contributing to high-end advertising projects for major clients including Mercedes-Benz, Macy’s, Nissan, Capital One, and Kohl’s. This fast-paced environment sharpened my skills in digital sculpting, modeling, and look development under tight deadlines and at a global production scale.
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I later joined Pixar Animation Studios, where I advanced to the role of Lead Character Technical Director. There, I contributed to critically acclaimed and record-breaking films such as Toy Story 4 and Inside Out 2, developing complex character rigs and supporting asset teams at the highest level of animated filmmaking.
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Today, I’m a Senior Character Artist at thatgamecompany, where I design stylized characters and cosmetic assets that work seamlessly across multiple platforms for Sky: Children of the Light. My work supports gameplay, in-game rewards, and builds on the studio’s emotionally driven, award-winning experiences.
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Whether building whimsical stylized heroes or intricate technical rigs, I’m passionate about storytelling, collaboration, and crafting characters that connect with players and audiences around the world.