Ignacio Peña

Ignacio Peña

Passionate shot designer and animator.

Senior Animator / 18 yrs

Wellington

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Lead Animator / Animation Supervisor

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)

Senior Animator

The Last Of Us (2023)

Senior Animator

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Senior Animator

Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)

Senior Animator

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Senior Animator

The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)

Senior Animator

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

Previs Animator

Animal World (2019)

Senior Animator

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Previsualization Animator

Mortal Engines (2018)

Animator

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Previsualization Animator

Animal World (2018)

Animator

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Previsualization Animator

The BFG (2016)

previs animator

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

postvis animator

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Previs Animator

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Pre-viz Artist

Life of Pi (2012)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Previs Animator

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Lead virtual stage operator

Avatar (2009)

Previsualization artist

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Previz Artist

Evan Almighty (2007)

I am a senior animator with over a decade of experience in film vfx, with a specialization in creature, facial, and previs animation.
Work History
  • Senior Animator

    Wētā FX

    July 2020 - Present
    Wellington, New Zealand
  • Senior Animator

    MPC

    November 2018 - May 2020
    London, United Kingdom
  • Animator

    Double Negative

    April 2018 - October 2018
    London, United Kingdom

    Project:

    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

  • Senior Animator

    Wētā FX

    July 2010 - April 2018

    Senior Animator for films in production.

    Projects:
    Alita: Battle Angel
    Mortal Engines
    Animal World
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
    The BFG
    The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies
    Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    The Adventures of Tintin

  • Senior Animator

    Wētā FX

    September 2016 - April 2018

    Previs and final animation for films in production.

    Projects:
    Alita: Battle Angel (2019) (senior animator / previs )
    Animal World (2018) (previs animator)
    Mortal Engines (2018) (previs animator)
    Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 (animator)

  • Pre-viz Artist

    Halon Entertainment

    September 2007 - July 2010

    Projects:
    Halo: Reach (commercial)
    Life of Pi
    Gatchaman
    Avatar
    G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

  • Lead Virtual Production Artist/ Realtime Stage Operator

    Lightstorm Entertainment

    November 2007 - November 2009

    I worked as a realtime Motionbuilder stage operator on James Cameron's sci-fi production of "Avatar," where I operated fully realized cg scenes in realtime while the director shot his virtual cameras. I also was a lead artist in the virtual lab, handling responsibilities in the completion of prepping fully realized cg scenes for stage, and as a lead in creating cg temp composites for final fx vendors.



  • Motion Edit

    Xtrackrz

    June 2007 - September 2007

    Fixed motion capture animation and created new character animation for the 3d animated feature film "Foodfight."

  • Storyboard artist/ Character artist

    Alumini Designs

    December 2006 - June 2007

    I was the sole storyboard artist for the final animatic of animated feature in development, "Ferretina: The Promise." After completing the storyboards for the entire film, I created final character sheets of all key characters in the production.

  • Animator

    Epoca Inc.

    September 2006 - October 2006

    Created an online animated commercial for Primula's "tea flower" product.

  • Pre-visual Animator

    Halon Entertainment

    July 2006 - September 2006

    Worked on Evan Almighty as part of the post-visualization crew.

  • Rotoscope artist

    Kaia Inc.

    March 2006 - May 2006

    Rotoscoped footage for the Sci-fi channel production of "Mammoth" and an episode of "Lost."

  • Art Intern

    Extra Large Technology

    July 2005 - August 2005

    Created models for blocking purposes, retargeted animation for updated rigs, organized MEL button rig icons, scanned and prepped storyboard panels for final animatic.

  • Rotoscope artist

    Kaia Inc.

    April 2005 - April 2005

    Rotoscoped footage for an episode of the t.v. show "Alias".

Education
  • Creative Writing MSc

    The University of Edinburgh

    September 2015 - August 2016
  • Loyola Marymount University

    2002 - 2006
  • The University of Edinburgh

    ? - ?