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Thomas Thesen

Illustrator, author, educator.

Senior Visual Development / 20 yrs

Germany

Hire Me

Shrek 2 (2004)

Skills

Illustration Drawing Painting

Software

Photoshop

Herr Thomas Paul Thesen is an author, illustrator, and artist with over 25 years of experience in art and animation. He has worked with studios like Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sprite Animation and has taught composition, storytelling, and visual design at universities worldwide.
Herr Thesen has also authored books on composition and character design, Composition for the 21st ½ Century, Volumes 1 and 2 (https://www.routledge.com/Composition-for-the-21st-12-Century-2-Volume-set/Thesen/p/book/9781138740921 ).

Work History

Senior Lecturer

De Montfort University (DMU)

January 2022 - April 2024

Leicester
Visiting Associate Professor

Nanyang Technological University

August 2019 - May 2021

Singapore
Senior Lecturer

Sheffield Hallam University

August 2015 - July 2019

Sheffield
Assistant Professor of Animation

Savannah College of Art and Design Hong Kong

September 2013 - August 2015

I am teaching classes in:
2D Animation
Screen Design
Storyboard
Animation History
Character-design and layout
Assistant Professor of Animation

NYU School of the Arts, Tisch Asia

September 2010 - August 2013

teaching courses in
Phones and Themeparks
Children's Animation for TV
Animation Studio: Rhythm in Animation and Film
Animation History
Elements of Composition
Animation Studio: Character Design
Dynamic Environments for the day after tomorrow
Interactive content for Children
Professor of Animation

Savannah College of Art and Design

2013 - 2013
Assistant Professor for Animation

Hongik University Seoul, Korea

January 2009 - August 2010

Courses: Concept Design, Animation Layout, Introduction to Animation, Storyboard,
Visual Development Artist

Sprite Animation Studios

February 2007 - July 2009

• Visual Development Artist for various projects:
• GON, CG feature animation based on a japanese comic-
book (character design)
• Franklin BC; CG feature animation produced for Disney
TV (character environment- and prop design)
• Journey to the West; CG feature animation development
based on the chinese story of the same name (character
design)
• Tikkis; character design for TV-show development
Visiting Professor for Animation

Kyung Sung University, Busan, South Korea

July 2008 - January 2009

Courses
Storyboarding, Character Design, Character Animation, Thesis workshop
Visual Development Artist

DreamWorks Animation

August 2003 - June 2005

Assistant Character Animator on Shrek 2
Visual Development Artist on Bee-Movie, Puss in Boots and short term assignments on other features
Visual Development Artist

Pixar

June 2002 - August 2002

Inspirational character development for Ratatouille