Daniel Morales

Daniel Morales

Character Effects Artist/Hair, Cloth, and Fur

Mid-level CFX Artist / 8 yrs

Seattle, WA

Hire Me
My name is Daniel and I am a Character Effects artist living in Seattle, WA. I have experience mostly in cloth and hair simulation, as well as skin fixing and scene finaling for film, but I do enjoy expanding my tool set whenever possible.

I have worked primarily using Autodesk Maya for cg and simulations, with some marvelous designer on the side. Mudbox for sculpting, Nuke and After effects for compositing, and Photoshop for design/editing work.
Work History
  • Lead Creature FX Artist

    Image Engine

    September 2022 - August 2023
    Vancouver, BC

    Created realistic simulations of Cloth, Hair, Fur, Skin, and Muscles for film and TV while leading a small team of artists, training/onboarding new team members, and upkeeping department documentation.

    Lead the following projects...
    The Mandalorian Season 3 (2023)
    - Lead a team of 3-5 artists
    - Created cloth and wire simulation rigs in Houdini

    The Three-Body Problem: Season 1 (2023)
    - Lead a team of 3-7 artists
    - Created complex fur simulation rig for photoreal hero chimpanzee

    Kraven the Hunter (2024)
    - Lead a team of 3-7 artists
    - Created highly detailed cloth simulation rig for hero digi-double

  • CFX Artist

    Image Engine

    November 2020 - September 2022
    Vancouver, Canada

    Created realistic simulations of Cloth, Hair, Fur, Skin, and Muscles for film and TV. Worked on the following projects...

    Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
    - Simulated skin, cloth, and environment effects. Major skin fixing work on Digi-doubles. Maya/Houdini
    - Created Cloth and Hair simulation setups in Maya & Houdini

    Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
    - Simulated hair, skin & cloth effects in Houdini
    - Co-created simulation setup for slow motion hair/cloth sim scene

    The School for Good and Evil (2022)
    - Simulated cloth & feather effects in Houdini
    - Created simple feather simulation rig
    - Helped train new team members.

  • CFX Artist

    Method Studios

    October 2017 - October 2018
    Vancouver, Canada

    Responsible for designing, simulating and delivering elements in shots that involve cloth, hair or other specialist technology, including setups for character effect simulation. Also responsible for character and scene cleanup post-animation/simulation.

  • Technical Animator

    MPC

    January 2017 - October 2017
    Vancouver, Canada

    Responsible for delivering high quality dynamic cloth and hair simulations, as well as
    carrying out skin fixing tasks. Many times, we were required to troubleshoot issues
    throughout the pipeline.

    In my time there I worked on:

    - A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
    - Justice League (2017)
    - The Mummy (2017)

  • Technical Animator

    MPC

    December 2014 - September 2015
    Vancouver, Canada

    Responsible for delivering high quality dynamic cloth and hair simulations, as well as
    carrying out skin fixing tasks. Many times, we were required to troubleshoot issues
    throughout the pipeline.

    In my time there I worked on:
    - Monster Trucks (2017)
    - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
    - Goosebumps (2015)

  • Tour Gude

    Full Sail University

    February 2013 - September 2014
    Winter Park, Florida

    My position involves the set up and take down of the monthly Full Sail Behind the Scenes Tour, as well as guiding the guests along their respective tours. Customer relations and quick problem solving skills were required to perform properly.

Education
  • Computer Animation

    Full Sail University

    May 2012 - October 2014
  • N/A, General Studies

    Ave Maria University Latin American Campus

    2010 - 2011
  • High School Diploma in K-12

    Colegio Centro América

    2001 - 2010