Dan Pratezina

Work History

• 

  Animation Director

  Relish Interactive

  October 2019 - Present

  Toronto, Canada
• 

  Lead Animator

  Snowball Studios

  January 2019 - October 2019

  Toronto, Canada
• 

  Sr. Development / R&D Animator

  DHX Media

  October 2017 - December 2018

  Vancouver, Canada Area

  Working with the DHX development team to create trailers for in-development IP and upcoming productions, as well as developing animation styles, rigs, and production processes for incoming projects.
• 

  Cinematic Animator

  Relic Entertainment

  May 2016 - May 2017
• 

  Lead Animator

  ICON Creative Studio

  May 2015 - March 2016

  Vancouver, Canada Area

  Lead animator on an upcoming CGI fantasy-comedy series.
• 

  Presentation Animator

  Next Level Games

  November 2014 - May 2015

  Responsible for working with art direction and gameplay teams to create in game, in engine cinematics, from concept to completion.
• 

  Episodic Director

  Rainmaker Entertainment

  March 2014 - November 2014

  Vancouver, Canada Area

  
  Episodic Director on Season One of HiT Entertainment/Rainmaker Entertainment's relaunch of 'Bob the Builder'. Job Description:
  
  
  -Animation supervisor of thirty animators, creating 35-40 seconds/week of footage.
  
  -Conducted weekly animation masterclasses for the animators, created animated reference materials, authored production documents, style guides, and series promotional material.
  
  -Interpreting/rewriting client notes for artists.
  
  -Worked with the VFX department to ensure the smoothest pipeline integration of FX and character animation.
  
  -Reviewed treatments and scripts for animation complexity, asset requirements, and identifying production concerns and solutions.
  
  -Reviewing character rigs for animation use, working with rigging teams and animators to create timely and animation-friendly tools.
  
  -Conducted artist interviews, collaborated with HR and Producers on performance management, responsible for completing artists’ performance reviews.
  
  -Helped create an episodic animation pipeline, and ensure that the animation team is motivated to achieve the highest standards possible.
  
  -Collaborate with technical and creative staff to track animation production, ensure animation feasibility, and maximise asset re-use.
  
  -Provide creative input for all phases of episodic production.
  
• 

  3D Artist, Writer

  All Play, No Work

  September 2013 - March 2014

  Vancouver, Canada Area

  
  3D artist and writer on 'Tales of Wierdwood Manor', interactive fiction/gaming app produced by All Play No Work and Relish Interactive. Responsible for narrative character animation, gameplay cycles, and writing supplemental story content.
  
• 

  Character Animator

  Toonbox Entertainment

  November 2011 - September 2012

  Toronto

  
  Maya character animator on stereoscopic 3D feature film, 'The Nut Job'.
  
• 

  Animator

  March Entertainment

  August 2011 - September 2011

  
  Animator on TV series 'Mia & Me'. Created character animation at 30/sec week.
  
• 

  Lead Animator -

  Guru Studio

  October 2010 - May 2011

  
  Lead animator on Teletoon series 'Mudpit'. Responsible for producing high-quality character animation on a quota of 40sec/week. Assisted the crew and provided staffing and creative support to the series and animation directors.
  

• Assistant Director

  Big Soul Productions

  March 2010 - October 2010

  
  Directed animation for a digital 2D series crew, and worked one-to-one with the series director as liaison between director and animation staff. Assisted in the revamped development of a digital 2D, Harmony-based animation pipeline, and was responsible for interviewing and hiring of animation staff. Also responsible for shot casting, sequence progression tracking and animator workflow management.
  
• 

  Animation Supervisor

  Guru Studio

  January 2009 - March 2010

  
  Animation supervisor on Nick Jr's Emmy-nominated 'Backyardigans'. In charge of supervising animation quality, scheduling and workload distribution, and giving creative direction to a 10-person team. Also involved in the interviewing of prospective artists and mentoring interns.
  
• 

  Feature Film Animator

  Arc Productions

  May 2008 - December 2008

  
  I was an animator on Tim Burton/Shane Acker's "9" for Focus Features. Afterwards, I continued on to "Hoodwinked 2: Hood Vs Evil".
  

• Head Screenwriter

  Cream Lake Productions

  April 2008 - June 2008

  
  Head Screenwriter on a team of six for 'Adventures in Booga Land'. Wrote 3 scripts, as well as script and tone templates for the writing team.
  
• 

  Animation Supervisor

  Guru Studio

  February 2007 - May 2008

  
  Animation supervisor on Nick Jr's 'Backyardigans'. In charge of supervising animation quality, scheduling and workload distribution, and giving creative direction to a 10-person team. Also involved in the interviewing of prospective artists and mentoring interns.
  
• 

  Animator

  Guru Studio

  March 2006 - January 2007

  
  Animator on Nick Jr's 'Backyardigans', season 2.
  Animator on TV Ad spot. Client: Enablex
  

• Freelance Screenwriter

  Go Kart Animation

  August 2006 - December 2006

  
  Screenwriter of 25min direct to video animated features.
  Currently produced or in production:
  
  Paws & Tales: High Noon
  Paws & Tales: The Gift
  Paws & Tales: And Then There Were None
  

• Animator

  Red Rover Animation

  March 2005 - March 2006

  
  Animator on Disney/Jetix's 'Get Ed'. Episodes 1-26
  Animator on studio pilot for Disney's 'Chicken Little: The Animated Series'.
  

• Animator

  Go Kart Animation

  November 2004 - March 2005

  
  Animator on 'Paws & Tales': The Animated Series. DTV feature.
  

• Animator, Storyboard Artist, Production Writer

  Raven Cottage Studios

  October 2003 - August 2004

  
  Director, animator, board artist, and production writer on a variety of video and interactive educational content.
  
• 

  Animator

  Mainframe Entertainment

  December 2002 - April 2003

  
  Character animator on MTV's Spiderman, and the 'HotWheels: World Race' DTV series.