Gumwad Island (Nickelodeon Animated Short)
Role: Creator / Storyboard Artist
I storyboarded this 5-minute Nickelodeon pilot based on an idea I created and developed in collaboration with Nickelodeon staff. I focused on humor, pacing, and staging. I would go on to direct the short and act as lead animator, but it was important that the boards stand on their own so that the background artists and animators had a clear blueprint. The thoroughness of the storyboards enabled an organized and unhurried production, which in turn allowed us to achieve high-quality character animation with a small local staff.
...Starring Craig McCracken's Tuna Sandwich the Precognitive Cat
Role: Writer / Storyboard Artist
When I applied to an open storyboard position on Craig McCracken's Netflix show, Kid Cosmic, I submitted this as part of my cover letter. I knew nothing about Tuna Sandwich aside from the name and a single image I found online. I took a wild guess that the character will be part all-knowing sage, part kitty cat.
This took a whole afternoon, so, uh, don't take offense if I didn't submit a custom storyboard when I applied to your position. I still love you.
"She's Not Into You" - Musical sequence from Ladies Knight (Thesis Film)
Role: Writer / Storyboard Artist
In this sequence from my senior film at University of Southern California, I wanted to capture the feeling of 30s and 40s era showstopper musical numbers like "Singin' in the Rain." The song called for an extensive tap-dance sequence which had virtually nothing to do with the plot, so I tried to come up with lots of gags and bits that would feel fun and absurd and fit the forest setting. The symmetrical shots of the frogs dancing on the log, the sea creature bathing beauties, and the grand finale are inspired by Busby Berkeley. In spite of its irrelevance to the plot, I think this is the most essential song in the film because it revels in the pure joy of musical storytelling. And it has a tap-dancing horse!
(You may notice that the finale differs in the final version; I felt the original was underwhelming so I revised it to be more elaborate, using mostly existing assets so it wasn't a strain on production.)
"Becoming a Monk" - Animated sequence from Monk With A Camera (Documentary Feature)
Role: Storyboard Artist / Animator
This is one of three sequences I animated for the live action documentary "Monk With A Camera." I met with husband and wife filmmaker duo Guido Santi and Tina Mascara several times and shared the animatic at various stages to ensure I captured the mood they wanted. The style was meant to be reminiscent of Herge's classic Tintin comics (an early influence on the film's subject, Nicholas Vreeland) and recreate important moments in Nicholas' past based on photographs from the era. I think this sequence was particularly successful in establishing a spiritual, meditative mood and depicting Nicholas' new sense of peace after his rebirth as a monk.
"Moby Fish Stick" - Web Spot for Iglo Frozen Foods (ZOOPPA Video Contest Grand Prize Winner)
Role: Storyboard Artist / Writer / Animator
European frozen foods brand Iglo came to the web video contest platform ZOOPPA to outsource production of an adventure story featuring their frozen fish fingers that would appeal to kids and parents alike. Their mascot, Kap'n Iglo, is known for his appearances in big budget comic adventure seafaring commercials. He was not to appear in this video, but the seafaring theme was encouraged.
The way the contest worked, you received a brief and then created a complete commercial from scratch with no input from the client or ZOOPPA. I knew from past experience there would be over 100 entries, so I had to look past the easy ideas I knew every other entrant would come up with. No pirate ships, no fight with a kraken, no swashbuckling. I made a long list of seafaring tropes, and lightning struck when I put two ideas together: fishing and Moby Dick. I thought, "what if it were a giant fish stick instead?" I knew I wanted to star a family. It would be fun if they went fishing and the youngest child got an enormous fish stick on the line. The whole family would have to help him reel it in, but instead it would carry them off the dock like a jet ski to an island where they could enjoy Iglo fish fingers, with various gags along the way.
In the storyboarding process, I whittled the story down to its bare bones to fit into 30 seconds, making it snappy and fast-paced. I didn't have to show these boards to the client, but I did show them to friends and family as well as my composer (Ryan O'Connell) and sound designer (BeatStreet Studios). Both collaborators loved the story so much they generously reduced their rates so that I could afford them on a near-zero budget. I knew I had a winner on my hands. Working alone, it took me roughly 1 month to translate the boards into final animation.
Out of over 150 entries, my video was chosen as the 1st place Grand Prize Winner, which meant I got paid (hurray!) and Iglo would use my video in their social media. They paid an additional $1K to revise the ending, adding Kap'n Iglo in spite of the earlier rule against it. It was an honor to animate the Kap'n!
This remains one of my favorite videos to share. Enjoy!
"Bald Eagles or Eagle Paving?" Broadcast ad for Eagle Paving produced by IdeaRocket
Role: Storyboard Artist / Writer / Animator
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Static Storyboards
Here are some examples of my storyboards as they appear on the page. Below is the full storyboard for my Nickelodeon short Gumwad Island.
Beat Boards
