Backstage

VFX in Animation @R+H

Title: VFX in Animation @R+H
Sponsored by The Animation Educator’s Forum
Length 45 min

Discussion on the Animation process from development to final Animation at Rhythm & Hues Studios. Including: What studios look for in an artist, how to create a good reel, how to become part of the process, and how the industry has changed.

Panelist Keith Roberts

Keith Roberts is a member of Rhythm & Hues’ elite roster of experienced and talented animation directors. His current project is “Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel” for Fox; he’s serving as co-animation director due to the production’s large number of characters and shots.

For Marvel Studios’ “The Incredible Hulk,” Keith directed actors and stuntmen for the ten-week motion capture session, and was on-set during production to assist director Louis Letterier in visualizing the hero character for plate photography. He also directed animation for “Aliens in the Attic,” “Garfield 2: A Tale of Two Kitties,” and
“The Ring 2.”

Keith joined Rhythm & Hues in 1996, initially as a lighting technical director, but quickly crossed over and moved up through the Animation department, serving as lead animator on “Babe: Pig in the City” and “Cats & Dogs.” He was promoted to animation supervisor in 2002, working on “Scooby Doo 1 & 2,” “Dr. Suess” The Cat in the Hat,” and the first “Garfield” feature.

Prior to joining R&H, Keith spent a year at Psygnosis in Liverpool, and two years at the Moving Picture Company, London, where he worked on “The English Patient” and all facets of many commercials.

Born in Yorkshire, England, Keith earned a BA with Honors in 3D Design from Wolverhampton University, and an MA in Computer Graphics from William Paterson University.

Panelist Matt Shumway

Panelist Kristin Solid

Panelist Angelica Casillas

Manager of Digital Production Anjelica Casillas studied film production and business at UCLA and holds a BA in Communication Arts from Loyola Marymount University. She began her career in effects animation and camera animation at Boss Films. At Dream Quest Images, she produced extensive research and development, solidifying methods for hair rendering, modeling and character rigging/deformation at the studio. In 1999, she joined Rhythm & Hues as a Digital Producer. Then in 2002, she was promoted to Manager of Digital Production.

With over fifteen years of experience in the visual effects arena, Anjelica Casillas is an expert in 3D pipelines with an emphasis on character animation. She currently manages Rhythm & Hues character and motion production assets including, staffing and resource allocation for character animation, tracking, rigging, motion editing, motion capture and Massive animation.

Tags: 2009, Animators, Directors