Nelson Diaz

Nelson Diaz

Character Designer | Animator

Mid-level Character Designer / 19 yrs

NYC

Hire Me

Character Designer

Fairview (2022)

Character Designer / Prop Designer

Our Cartoon President (2018)

Compositor

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)

Animator / Designer

3rd & Bird (2011)

Animator

Wonder Pets! (2006)

Shadow Artist

Kappa Mikey (2006)
Skills
Skills Clear
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Software
Software Clear
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Character Designer
Bashar Al Assad for Our Cartoon President Season 3
Character Designer
Rockman sketches
Daddy & Son
Character Designer
Street Fighter Sake Illustrations
Watercolor sketches
Character Designer
Nickelodeon Senior Showdown Pixel Poses
Character Designer
GIF designs
Character Designer
GIF sketches
Character Designer
Submarine for Career Builders Daydreamer series
Character Designer
ICUP Quickly vehicle for Ultra Jump pitch
Character Designer
Captain Cornelius Quinn for Ultra Jump Pitch
Character Designer
Glop for Ultra Jump Pitch
Character Designer
K'Lar for Ultra Jump Pitch
Character Designer
Nickelodeon Halloween Campaign Concept
Character Designer
Nick Halloween Campaign Concepts
Character Designer
Nickelodeon Halloween Campaign Concept
Character Designer
1930s Monster sketches
Character Designer
Wally for Hallmarks: Fathers Day: The Arcade Game
Character Designer
Copic Marker Baby sketches
Character Designer
Mad Scientist for Career Builder Day Dreamer serie
Dodeckalon for Poses for Dungeon Twins pitch
Character Designer
Qwestor Quest Poses for Dungeon Twins Pitch
Character Designer
Qwestor Quest for Dungeon Twins Pitch
I’m Nelson, and I’m a passionate Character Designer and Animator based in Brooklyn, NY.

I’ve designed and animated for clients such as Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, McDonalds, Hallmark, Verizon, Ford, Disney, TED-ed, Sesame Street and Food Network and more.

Please check out my Character Design Portfolio here: https://www.nelsart.com/portfolio/cdesign/

I’d love to talk to you more about your new projects!
Work History

  • Creative Director

    The Animation Project, Inc.

    June 2022 - June 2023
    New York City Metropolitan Area

    As Creative Director, my goal is to bring together all the creative energy and output from our amazing Creative Arts Therapists, Animators, Apprentices, and participants to comprise one unique, powerful artistic vision with humility, passion and grace. But also...

    -Bring new artistic/creative energy to all aspects of TAP.
    -Use every medium, technique and means necessary to create and deliver beautiful animated projects. Whether 2D or 3D.
    -Work with the Director's team to ensure organizational flow.
    -Work with Managing Director and Programming Director to complete budgets for programming and studio.
    -Work with Programming and Workforce Development Manager to create new and exciting curriculums that help young creatives on their path into the industry.
    -Manage team of animators and apprentice animators to complete projects.
    -Be open to every voice, but bring a tight and refined vision of what TAP is
    going forward into the future.
    -Bring passion, talent and skill to our animation team, participants and TAP staff.
    -Uplifting the animators and the staff
    -Explore avenues for further funding.
    -Colloborate with leadership to bring larger overarching TAP goals to fruition long term.
    -Research, explore and implement new tech and software for our team and participants. Skills: Concept Development · Branding · Adobe Creative Suite

  • Supervising Animator

    The Animation Project, Inc.

    September 2021 - July 2022
    New York, United States

    As Animation Supervisor I value teamwork, credibility and creativity; welcoming thoughtful and meaningful dialogue while having fun and supporting the technical and professional development of The Animation Project’s (TAP) animators (staff, interns, and participants).


    • Oversee animation in each of TAP's programs (Community-based, Internship, STUDIO)
    • Establish and ensure efficient production pipelines for staff animators.
    •Research and implement various animation styles.
    • Co-create and oversee animation curriculum for all TAP programs .
    • Support technical and professional development of TAP animators (staff, interns, and participants)
    • Understand and help develop budgets and timelines as needed. Skills: Concept Development · Adobe Creative Suite

  • Character Designer

    Late Night Cartoons, Inc.

    July 2021 - September 2021
    New York, United States

    On a not yet aired new show, I helped create various character assets for use in Adobe Character Animate and After Effects. Tasks include creating characters based on real world reference, altering to match show style, and creating turnarounds. All while making sure the corresponding parts of the design work for the rigging team. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Character Design Professor

    School of Visual Arts

    June 2018 - June 2021
    Greater New York City Area

    As Character Design Instructor, my job is help students acquire skills they'll need: Shape Language, Silhouettes, Opposing and contrasting size and shape variance, dynamic posing, dramatic and subtle facial expressions, Appealing Prop and vehicle and narrative design. My focus is on them using their draftsmanship through rigorous in-class drawing exercises, but even for those who just want to learn the fundamentals of what makes a great personality and a character people- room is made for all styles, and levels of competency. Together we create "A whole person" instead of a one dimensional "cool" design. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Character Designer

    Asurion

    February 2020 - June 2020
    NYC

    Ideated, Designed and Animated five unique superheroes for Asurions Tech Persona campaign.

  • Character Designer and Animator

    Asurion

    January 2020 - April 2020

    Designed Characters for Asurions Tech Persona Quiz (https://www.asurion.com/techpersona/quiz/). This included creating five unique superhero designs that pushed the usual Asurion graphic style as well animating loops for each character. Worked with the Asurion creative team from pre-production concept sketches, to finished animation. All five characters were created to be on one superhero team, yet still have individual personalities and traits. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Character Designer

    Late Night Cartoons, Inc.

    December 2019 - February 2020
    Greater New York City Area

    On Season 3 of Our Cartoon President, I helped create various character assets for use in Adobe Character Animate and After Effects. Tasks include creating characters based on real life politcal figures, starting from a conceptualizing phase that includes caricaturing the figure, revising that design and polishing, cleaning up in photoshop and creating front, 3/4 bodies and heads.

    Was also responsible for creating props, correcting older designs and creating new poses for existing characters.

  • Animation Supervisor

    There Be Dragons Creative Media

    June 2016 - December 2019
    Greater New York City Area

  • Designer/Animator

    Nickelodeon

    2009 - June 2016
    Greater New York City Area

    -design and animate various on-air promotional designs including end pages, title cards, lower thirds for various Nickelodeon shows.

    -create fun and stylish IDs and elements for interstitials involving storyboarding, character design and character animation. Skills: Concept Development · Branding · Adobe Creative Suite

  • Animator | Designer

    Hallmark Cards

    May 2014 - January 2015
    NYC

    -Illustrated and animated various e-cards for hallmarkecards.com

  • Designer/Animator

    Hallmark Cards

    2014 - 2014
    Greater New York City Area

    -Design and Animate custom e-cards for various holidays. Skills: Concept Development · Branding · Adobe Creative Suite

  • Compositor on Secrets of the Masters for Kung Fu Panda 2

    Duncan Studio

    February 2011 - June 2011
    Pasadena, CA

    • Combined hand drawn animation, backgrounds, effects and lighting to finish final scene all in after effects.
    • Placing all art and effects in Z space for Stereo (3D anaglyph.)
    • Worked with Director & Art Director from Dreamworks to address notes and
    bring sceneto final.

  • Freelance Designer and Animator

    Food Network

    September 2010 - January 2011
    Greater New York City Area

    -Designed style frames determining look and feel of animation.

    -Animated and composed using flash, illustrator and after effects.

    -Show openings for Aarti Party, Guy's Big Bite, and Melissa D'arabian's Ten Dollar Dinners. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Animator | Designer

    Food Network

    September 2009 - January 2011
    NYC

    • Designed and animated show openings for Food Network shows Aarti Party, Guy Fieri’s
    Big Bite, Melissa D’arabian’s ten dollar dinners.
    • Using Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator and After Effects.

  • Lead Animator

    Alfalfa Studio

    July 2009 - August 2009
    Greater New York City Area

    • Guided animation process of 4- 30 second spots from animatic to final polish
    • Alfalfa Role Models Campaign for Hispanic Heritage month airing on Nick Jr.
    • Character animation and graphics animated in After Effects Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Character Animator

    Little Airplane Productions, Inc.

    January 2007 - August 2009
    Greater New York City Area

    Animated on Nickelodeons Wonder Pets and 3rd and Bird for Cbeebies

  • Freelance Storyboard Artist

    Scholastic

    April 2009 - June 2009
    Greater New York City Area

    Created Storyboards for 3 minute web video about using order forms in the classroom or online. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Animator | Designer

    Nickelodeon On Air

    May 2009 - May 2009
    NYC

    -Design and animate various on-air promotional designs including end pages, title cards, lower thirds for various Nickelodeon shows.

    -create fun and stylish IDs and elements for interstitials involving storyboarding, character design and character animation.

  • Animator

    Animation Collective

    August 2005 - January 2007

    Flash symbol based animation for 11 minute pre-school show "Ellens Acres" airing in the fall on Cartoon Network.

    Team based assignments to meet various animation deadlines including keyframing, inbetweening, lip synching and editing. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Animator

    Animation Collective

    2005 - 2007

    Character Animator Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Colorist

    Young & Rubicam

    2005 - 2006

    Photoshop coloring of storyboard frames for commercial pitches. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • After effects artist

    Upsidedownit, LLC.

    August 2005 - August 2005

    -Keyed out various photoshop images.
    -Masked out & Composited scenes in After Effects. Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Assistant Animator

    Alfalfa Studios

    June 2005 - June 2005

    -Colored various characters in Illustrator for use by animator
    -Created and prepared background elements for animator
    -Rotoscoped various characters for use in three 15 sec. spots Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Animator | Director

    Coqui

    2005 - 2005

    Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

  • Assistant Animator

    Bunko Studios, Inc.

    2002 - 2005

    Skills: Adobe Creative Suite

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Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts

    School of Visual Arts

    May 2001 - May 2005

  • Animation

    high school of art and design

    1997 - 2001