G. Melissa Graziano-Humphrey

G. Melissa Graziano-Humphrey

Animation Director, Animator, Storyboard Artist, Teacher

Supervisor Retake Animation Director & Animator / Mid-level Storyboard Artist / 16 yrs

Los Angeles

Hire Me

Retake Animation Director

Little Demon (2022)

Storyboard Artist

Farzar (2022)

Animation Retake Director

The Freak Brothers (2021)

Additional Storyboard Artist

HouseBroken (2021)

Additional Storyboard Artist / Storyboard Artist

Tuca & Bertie (2019)

Animator

Alien News Desk (2019)

Storyboard Artist / Additional Storyboard Artist

Paradise PD (2018)

Visual Effects

Yamasong: March of the Hollows (2018)

Storyboard Artist

Final Space (2018)

Storyboard Revisionist

The Adventures of Kid Danger (2018)

Retake Animator

Hot Streets (2016)

Retake Animator

Animals. (2016)

Animator

Rick and Morty (2013)
Melissa Graziano is a director, storyboard artist, and animator who has worked at Warner Bros., Bento Box, Starburns Industries, ShadowMachine, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, Powerhouse Animation, WTG Enterprises, and 6 Point Harness/6 Point 2. Melissa has also worked as a Toon Boom Harmony consultant and freelance rigger/animator on many independent projects. Since 2014, she has taught Harmony and Storyboard Pro at LAAFA, Studio Arts, and Microdesk and at the college level at Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, and USC.
Work History

  • Retake Animation Director

    ShadowMachine

    November 2024 - Present
    West Hollywood, CA

  • Retake Animator

    ShadowMachine

    July 2024 - November 2024

    Lil Kev for BET+

  • Toon Boom Harmony Instructor

    LA Academy of Figurative Art-LAAFA

    September 2015 - May 2024
    Van Nuys

    Teaches a series of comprehensive weekend classes in Toon Boom Harmony courtesy of Microdesk/Starfish Creative and Eido, in conjunction with IATSE Contract Services, for animation professionals.

    In addition to four-week Intro through Intermediate courses, Melissa also teaches "Advanced Topics" classes in Advanced Rigging, Visual Effects, and Advanced Puppeted Animation.

  • Storyboard Artist

    Bento Box Entertainment

    February 2019 - October 2021

    Storyboard Artist on Seasons 2 and 3 of Paradise PD and Season 1 of Farzar for Netflix. Also provided Storyboard Revisions and Retake Animation on Season 1 of HouseBroken for Fox. Worked in Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Harmony.

  • Animator

    Rip Media Group

    September 2015 - September 2015
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Animated informational video on Recurring Metastatic Breast Cancer for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

    Animated provided Photoshop assets with Adobe After Effects.

  • Character Animator

    Starburns Industries

    October 2015 - October 2015
    Burbank, CA

    Animated characters on the upcoming HBO show "Animals."

  • Storyboard Revisionist

    Bento Box Entertainment

    October 2015 - December 2015
    North Hollywood, CA

    Storyboard Revisionist for "Legends of Chamberlain Heights" Season 1
    Edited storyboards as per Directors' instructions, writers' notes, and network notes
    Storyboarded additional sequences
    Worked in Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
    Advised Producers, Designers, and Coordinators with Harmony questions and issues

  • Animator, Retake Animator

    Starburns Industries

    October 2016 - February 2017
    Burbank, CA

    Provided original animation and retake animation for "Animals" Season 2. Worked in Toon Boom Harmony.

    Created animation and fixed overseas animation according to Director's specifications.

  • Retake Animator

    Rick and Morty LLC

    November 2023 - December 2023
    Los Angeles, California, United States · Remote

    Made changes to scenes per directors' notes. Worked on Toon Boom Harmony (hybrid rigged and traditional animation, some VFX)

  • Animation Retake Director

    WTG Enterprises

    January 2023 - July 2023

    • Worked on "Freak Brothers" for Tubi.
    • Led team of remote "in-house" Retake animators to make changes to final color animation according to Showrunner and Executive Producer notes.
    • Became the de facto Supervising Director; sought out and hired Art Director, Designers, Storyboard Artists, and Coordinators in addition to Retake Animators.
    • Worked closely with Showrunners, Producers, and overseas team to solve technical & creative problems while still delivering on time.
    • Reviewed every scene and noted errors.
    • Clearly redrew needed and requested changes for overseas and in-house artists.
    • Instituted Post pipeline documentation, efficiencies, and file/tracking organization.
    • Encouraged team communication via triweekly checkins, video conferencing, and dedicated messaging channels.

  • Retake Animation Director

    ShadowMachine

    March 2022 - October 2022
    Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

    • Hired and lead team of 13 in-house Retake Animators
    • Worked closely with Supervising
    Director, Showrunners, Producers, and
    overseas team to solve technical & creative problems while still delivering on time
    • Reviewed every scene and noted errors, which were then relayed to the Retake team via Shotgrid and/or one-on-one Zoom meetings
    • Clearly redrew needed and requested
    changes for overseas and in-house artists
    • Instituted Post pipeline documentation,
    efficiencies, and organization
    • Encouraged team communication via
    triweekly checkins, video conferencing, and dedicated messaging channels

  • Storyboard Artist

    ShadowMachine

    November 2021 - January 2023

    Storyboarded on Season 3 of Tuca and Bertie for Adult Swim. Worked in Adobe Animate (Flash).

  • Storyboard Artist

    Bento Box Entertainment

    September 2017 - October 2021
    North Hollywood, CA

    Storyboard Artist on Paradise PD (Seasons 1-4), Unnanounced Fox Pilot, Housebroken (Season 1), and Farzar (Season 1).
    Worked on-site until lockdown in March 2020, when we immediately went to and stayed working remotely.

  • Animator, Retake Animator

    Bento Box Entertainment

    November 2018 - February 2019
    North Hollywood, CA

    Animated in Harmony on Season 1 of Alien News Desk for SyFy and Season 2 of Paradise PD for Netflix.

  • Retake Animator

    Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

    August 2018 - August 2018
    Burbank

    Retake Animator in Toon Boom Harmony for Hot Streets on Adult Swim.

  • Retake Animator

    Starburns Industries

    February 2018 - June 2018
    Burbank, CA

    Retake Animator on Season 3 of Animals for HBO.
    Created new animation and made changes to existing animation in Harmony as requested by Director.
    Provided technical advice for overseas studio regarding Harmony rigs and file setups.
    Composited in After Effects.

  • Storyboard Artist

    ShadowMachine

    May 2017 - August 2017
    Hollywood, CA

    Storyboard Artist on Season 1 of "Final Space" animated series (TBS). Worked in Toon Boom Storyboard Pro.

  • Storyboard Revisionist

    Powerhouse Animation Studios

    April 2017 - May 2017
    Burbank, CA

    Storyboard Revisionist on Season 1 of "Henry Danger" animated series for Nickelodeon.

  • Storyboard Revisionist, Storyboard Artist

    Warner Bros. Animation

    December 2015 - September 2016
    Burbank, CA

    Revised storyboard drawings according to Directors' notes.
    Added additional description to storyboards so as to be better understood by overseas studios.
    Addressed problems, offered solutions, and worked with Director to solve problems.
    Worked on "The Jetsons vs. WWE" (VOD), "Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown" (VOD), and Season 2 of "Be Cool, Scooby-Doo".

  • Harmony Rigger, Animator

    Six Point Harness

    May 2015 - August 2015
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Created final versions of characters and props for web, TV and VOD animated series.
    Rigged simple and highly complex characters using Harmony's system of pegs, deformers, and other modules.
    Worked with in-house animators and overseas studio to create most efficient rigs possible.
    Occasionally did retake animation.

  • Harmony Instructor

    The Animation Guild

    September 2015 - December 2023

    Teaches professional Animation Guild members how to use Toon Boom Harmony.
    Teaches through Contract Services and Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA).

  • Toon Boom Harmony Instructor

    Studio Arts, Ltd.

    September 2014 - September 2015
    Los Angeles

    Trains professional animators how to animate using Toon Boom Harmony.

    Trained animators at 6 Point Harness and Bento Box.

  • Independent Animator

    Self-employed

    September 2006 - May 2015
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Made independent short animated films for clients.

  • Animator, Compositor

    Vanishing Angle

    February 2015 - February 2015
    Los Angeles, CA

    Created Flash animation that was then textured and composited in After Effects for Google Science Fair commercial. Provided additional textures and compositing.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozLUJG9v35M

  • Visiting Instructor

    USC School of Cinematic Arts

    September 2014 - October 2016
    Los Angeles, CA

    Taught USC animation students Animate Pro in 5-hour workshop and individual training sessions

  • Adjunct Professor

    Loyola Marymount University

    August 2012 - December 2016
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Oversaw the completion of 14 student projects, including traditionally animated, stop-motion, and CG films and video games

  • Freelance Animator

    Pendari Inc.

    November 2014 - November 2014
    Los Angeles, CA

    Animated two short segments for UCLA Biological Chemistry Department presentation.
    Delivered on tight deadline.
    After Effects and Photoshop.

  • Freelance Animator

    Awesomeness TV

    December 2014 - 2014

    Animated two episodes of "Draw My Dream" in After Effects.

  • Freelance Animator

    TED-Ed

    January 2013 - February 2013

    Storyboarded and animated/puppeteered short video for TED-Ed about the history of the American Presidency.

  • Adjunct Professor

    Loyola Marymount University

    August 2012 - December 2012
    Los Angeles, CA


    -Oversaw the completion of two student films, created in groups of 4-5 in 15 weeks using TV Paint, After Effects and Final Cut Pro, effectively acting as Executive Producer

    -Taught Story & Visual Structure in addition to all aspects of digital animation production

    -Provided constructive feedback and encouraged inter-group discourse

  • Intern, IP Development

    Hasbro

    October 2010 - September 2011
    Burbank, CA

    Created art and wrote and edited text for brand bibles, feature film one-sheets, scripts, publishing, games, and in-house assets for Candyland, Clue, MONOPOLY, Elefun & Friends, Battleship Galaxies, Game of Life, Ouija, and Trivial Pursuit.

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Education

  • MFA in Animation

    UCLA

    2006 - 2012

  • MFA in Animation

    University of California, Los Angeles

    2006 - 2012

  • BA in Media Arts, Creative Writing

    Central Connecticut State University

    2002 - 2006

  • High School diploma

    Guilford High School

    1998 - 2002