Arna Selznick

Finding the heart. Characters inform humour.

Senior Director / Lead Storyboard Artist / 21 yrs

Toronto, Canada

Hire Me

Storyboard Artist

Martha Speaks (2008)

Director

The Most Magnificent Thing

Storyboard Artist

The Inventor (2023)

Story Artist

Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021)

Story Artist

Clone High (2003)

Storyboard Artist

Ruby Gloom (2006)

Director

Little Bear: Rainy Day Tales (2005)

Story Artist

The Nut Job 2 (2017)

Storyboard Artist

Stella and Sam (2011)

Storyboard Artist

Peep and the Big Wide World (2004)

Storyboard Artist

Monster High: Boo York, Boo York (2015)

Story Artist, Storyboard Supervisor

Star Wars: Droids (1985)

Story Artist

Spark: A Space Tail (2017)

Director/co-creator

COOLMAN!

Storyboard Supervisor

Ewoks (1985)

Story Artist

Ever After High (2013)

Story Artist

6Teen (2004)

Storyboard Artist

Bob and Margaret (1998)

Story Artist

Return to Never Land (2002)

Story Artist

Mr. Bean: The Animated Series (2002)

Story Artist

Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends (2004)

Storyboard Artist

Mia and Me (2012)

3d story artist

Kate and Mim-Mim (2014)

Story Artist

The King's Beard (2002)

Storyboard Artist

Max & Ruby (2002)

Layout Artist

Babar: The Movie (1989)

Layout Director

The Care Bears Family (1985)

Layout Artist

Rock & Rule (1983)

Director

The Care Bears Movie (1985)

Arna is a director, and a story artist. She's a team player with an imaginative storytelling sense; adept at a variety of film styles. Arna loves to dig deep into her characters and create great physical business that connects with her audience.

Work History

Film Director/Story Artist of animated films

dancingmonkeys inc.

January 1983 - Present

Telling stories in film and loving it.
Owner/director

dancingmonkeys inc.

April 1986 - Present

Canada

Dancingmonkeys, AKA Arna Selznick and John van Bruggen, focuses on story, script writing, directing and boards for animation. We are the creators of COOLMAN! (2004) for YTV.

Arna Selznick's Directing credits include: THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING FEATURETTE.
Her story credits include: most recently PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE, THE INVENTOR (Feature Film in production), THE NUT JOB SEQUEL (Feature Film), NERDS AND MONSTERS, KATE AND MIM-MIM, and the SPARK feature film. Arna's past credits include work on: 6TEEN, TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND, CLONE HIGH, MISS SPIDER, PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD, BOB AND MARGARET, MAX AND RUBY, THE ANIMATED MR. BEAN, DOG CITY, plus the features RETURN TO NEVERLAND, THE THIEF OF ALWAYS and ROCK AND RULE.
Arna directed BACK TO SCHOOL WITH FRANKLIN (scripted by John van Bruggen), 2003. Arna directed the LITTLE BEAR series, season 2 and 3, and the animated feature film: THE CARE BEARS MOVIE, in 1984.

John van Bruggen writes scripts for animated television series including: THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING FEATURETTE, KATE & MIM-MIM, JUSTIN TIME, PETER PEPPER'S PET SPECTACULAR, STELLA AND SAM, BABAR AND THE ADVENTURES OF BADOU, BUSYTOWN MYSTERIES, TOOT AND PUDDLE, GERALD McBOING-BOING and MISS SPIDER'S SUNNYPATCH KIDS. John developed the story and script for the French animated feature FRANKLIN AND THE TURTLE LAKE TREASURE.
John directed 2 animated FRANKLIN specials, and was the developing director on the FRANKLIN animated series, and JIM HENSON'S DOG CITY. John directed 30+ episodes of the BEETLEJUICE cartoon series.
Director/co-creator

Development at dancingmonkeys

August 2020 - January 2023

Toronto, Canada

We are in development on an original animated short film.
Story Artist

House of Cool Inc.

May 2019 - February 2020

Toronto, Canada

Paw Patrol: The Movie (Feature Film)
Director, The Most Magnificent Thing

Nelvana

January 2017 - September 2018

Toronto Office Corus Quay, 25 Dockside Drive, Toro

Developed and directed a 22 minute CG featurette for Nelvana. Based on the book The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires. My partner, screenwriter John van Bruggen adapted the book and wrote the screenplay. In production starting January 2017, and wrapped our film in September 2018. A true labour of love by a talented team of artists.
StoryArtist- Spark A Space Tail and The Nut Job 2

Toonbox Entertainment

May 2012 - November 2016

As a story artist I stage sequences, develop dramatic characters, and help build a solid entertaining feature film. We usually work on the script as a team, bouncing ideas back and forth. Then we hunker down and work on our individual sequences until they are ready to pitch to our story supervisor Jeff Dickson, and then to the director. Once we get feedback it's usually back to the drawing board...and so on...and so on... Always aiming to make it better, simpler, funnier, more emotionally connected.
Story Artist

Toonbox Entertainment

November 2014 - November 2016

As a story artist I stage sequences, develop dramatic characters, and help build a solid entertaining feature film. We usually work on the script as a team, bouncing ideas back and forth. Then we hunker down and work on our individual sequences until they are ready to pitch to our story supervisor Jeff Dickson, and then to the director. Once we get feedback it's usually back to the drawing board...and so on...and so on... Always aiming to make it better, simpler, funnier, more emotionally connected.
Director/ Storyartist

Nelvana

October 1980 - September 2018

Director, THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

Director, BACK TO SCHOOL WITH FRANKLIN,
Director, LITTLE BEAR SERIES II, III

Story Supervisor, ORIGINAL INSPECTOR GADGET SERIES, EWOKS AND DROIDS among others.

Director, THE (first) CARE BEARS MOVIE

Story Artist, CLONE HIGH, 6TEEN, BOB AND MARGARET, EEK THE CAT, among others!
Story Artist

House of Cool Inc.

March 2012 - April 2013

Toronto, Canada

Working with an amazing team of talented story people on a new feature film.
Director, Show Creator, Story Artist, Storyboard Supervisor and Layout

Nelvana Ltd. (Now called Corus Entertainment)

1980 - 2006

I started in the Layout department on the feature film ROCK AND RULE in 1980. I've been associated with Nelvana on projects that include RUBY GLOOM, 6TEEN, CLONE HIGH, MISS SPIDER'S SUNNY PATCH FRIENDS, FRANKLIN, DOG CITY, LITTLE BEAR, MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST, BABAR, THE BEETELJUICE ANIMATED SERIES, and THE CARE BEARS.
Together with my partner John van Bruggen we created five COOLMAN! shorts for the creator-driven Nelvana Funpack show.

My online resume:
https://issuu.com/laselznick/docs/arnas_march_2020
Story Artist

C.O.R.E.digital Features

2005 - 2005

worked on THE WILD
Story Artist

Cookie Jar Entertainment

2009 - 2009
Story Artist

Studio B

2007 - 2007

Story artist on the Flash series Martha Speaks.
Story Artist

Collingwood O'Hare

1993 - 2000

Story artist on THE KING'S BEARD feature fim, and the television series: DENNIS AND GNASHER, CAPTAIN ZED AND THE ZEE ZONE, OSCAR'S ORCHESTRA.
Assistant to the director, layout artist.

Goldtooth Creative

1993 - 1994

On GOLDTOOTH, I had the great priviledge to work alongside animator Kai Pindal and writer and director, the late Derek Lamb.
Storyboard Artist

Jumbo Pictures

1991 - 1992

Storyartist on six eps. of DOUG, animated series.
Story Artist

Guru Studio

July 2014 - October 2014

Story work on a made-for-DVD feature.
Freelance Storyboard Artist

Nerd Corps Entertainment

November 2013 - July 2014

Worked on KATE AND MIM-MIM. Super cute!
Then boarded on a top secret made-for-DVD feature.
Storyboard Artist

Neptoon Studios

March 2014 - May 2014

Worked on LOOPED! for Mark Thornton and Todd Kauffman.
https://www.neptoonstudios.net/
Story Artist

Guru Studio

October 2013 - November 2013

Creating compelling images for a made-for-DVD animated feature.
Story Artist

Slap Happy Cartoons

April 2013 - August 2013

Completed boarding on a brand new series for the fine folks at Slap Happy Cartoons.
Illustrator

Body-In-Motion

December 2012 - January 2013

Arna had the pleasure of working with Dianne Woodruff, creating illustrations for her 3D Workout Instructor's Manual.

See a sample of the new illustrations here:
https://www.body-in-motion.com/an-exercise-system-that-will-keep-you-on-your-feet-for-a-lifetime/

https://www.body-in-motion.com/
Mercury Filmworks

April 2013 - June 2013
Story Artist, Spark (animated feature film)

Toonbox Entertainment

November 2011 - November 2012

As a story artist I stage sequences, develop dramatic characters, and help build a solid entertaining feature film. We usually work on the script as a team, bouncing ideas back and forth. Then we hunker down and work on our individual sequences until they are ready to pitch to our story supervisor Jeff Dickson, and then to the director. Once we get feedback it's usually back to the drawing board...and so on...and so on... I love it!
Story Artist

9Story Entertainment

February 2011 - January 2012

Nelvana

Story boarding on the Max And Ruby animated series. Directed by Jamie Whitney.
Story Artist

March Entertainment

November 2010 - February 2011
Story Artist on feature film animatic

Perfect Circle Productions Vancouver

September 2010 - November 2010
Story Artist

Radical Sheep Productions Inc.

November 2009 - June 2010

Handled story on a lovely animated series called Stella And Sam.
Story Artist

9story Entertainment Inc.

December 2008 - June 2009

Story artist on Max And Ruby!
Story Artist

Cookie Jar Entertainment

2009 - 2009
Story Artist

Elliott Animation

August 2006 - November 2008

Toronto, Canada

I've completed a gig as a freelance storyartist on 6TEEN, an animated series for 'tweens'.
You can see a sample of my boards for this series here:
https://www.dancingmonkeys.com/ArnaBoards/6Teen/6T39_1.htm

And my boards for another show for Elliott Animation here:
https://www.dancingmonkeys.com/ArnaBoards/TotalD/TotalD5/TD5_1.htm
Story Artist

Mercury Filmworks

September 2007 - April 2008

All done with the premier season storyboards for TOOT AND PUDDLE. It's a very good looking show. See a clip that Arna storyboarded about visiting the ballet!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNG1Zxu8n74
Story Artist

Studio B

2007 - 2007

Story artist on the Flash series Martha Speaks.
Director, Show Creator, Story Artist, Storyboard Supervisor

Nelvana Ltd. (Now called Corus Entertainment)

November 1979 - November 2005

I started in the Layout department on the feature film ROCK AND RULE in 1980. I've been associated with Nelvana on projects that include RUBY GLOOM, 6TEEN, CLONE HIGH, MISS SPIDER'S SUNNY PATCH FRIENDS, FRANKLIN, DOG CITY, LITTLE BEAR, MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST, BABAR, THE BEETELJUICE ANIMATED SERIES, and THE CARE BEARS.
Together with my partner John van Bruggen we created five COOLMAN! shorts for the creator-driven Nelvana Funpack show.
Story Artist

9story Entertainment Inc.

July 2003 - December 2005

Story Artist for the preschool series: PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD and for the SCI~FI series: SKYLAND
Story Artist

C.O.R.E.digital Features

2005 - 2005

worked on THE WILD
Story Artist

Tiger Aspect

February 2001 - May 2001

Story Artist on THE ANIMATED MR. BEAN
Story Artist

Collingwood O'Hare

1993 - 2000

Story artist on THE KING'S BEARD feature fim, and the television series: DENNIS AND GNASHER, CAPTAIN ZED AND THE ZEE ZONE, OSCAR'S ORCHESTRA.
Story Artist

Walt Disney Canada

January 1998 - December 1998

Story artist for the feature film RETURN TO NEVERLAND, the sequel to WALT DISNEY'S PETER PAN directed by Robin Budd. You can see a few of my rough samples here:

https://www.dancingmonkeys.com/ArnaBoards/Pan/PanOpen_1.htm
Assistant to the director, layout artist.

Goldtooth Creative

November 1992 - November 1993

On GOLDTOOTH, (formerly KARATE KID 2) I had the great privilege to work alongside the late great animator Kai Pindal and writer and director, the late Derek Lamb.
Storyboard Artist

Jumbo Pictures

1991 - 1992

Storyartist on six eps. of DOUG, animated series.

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Education

The Linked-In bot asked what degree I learned at S in of course. ;)

Always learning...

2014 - 2021