Zerply

Jack Geckler

Lead Animator/Previs/Crowds / 22 yrs

Los Angeles, CA

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Lab Artist

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Crowds Artist

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Crowds Lead

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Senior Animator

Madden NFL 18: Longshot (2017)

Previs Artist

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Animator

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Crowds Artist/Motion Capture Performer

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Crowds Lead

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

Massive TD

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Imagemotion Integrator

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Animator

Intro

Style / Medium

Animation 3D

Assets

Dragon Crowd Dragons

Projects

How to Train Your Dragon 2 How to Train Your Dragon

Companies

DreamWorks Animation

Lead animator with over 15 years of experience working in film, television and gaming. Strong background in leadership and production management with an emphasis in mentoring and team building. Character, facial, camera, previs, motion capture and crowds animation. Client friendly with on-set experience assisting directors and production teams in a variety of roles. Title highlights include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Avatar Sequels, How to Train Your Dragon 1 & 2, Read Player One, Madden 2018 and Frozen 2.

Work History

Senior Crowd TD

Industrial Light & Magic

September 2021 - June 2022

San Francisco, CA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

April 2019 - September 2021

Burbank, California
Crowds TD

Blue Sky Studios

2018 - April 2019

Greenwhich, CT

Feature: Spies in Disguise
3D Animator

Blue Sky Studios

June 2018 - December 2018

Greenwich, Connecticut, US
Senior Animator

Zoic Studios

February 2018 - April 2018

Culver City, CA

TV
Legion Season 2 - Episodes 1, 5, 6, 7 and 10
The Walking Dead Season 8 - Episode 16
Magnum P.I. - Pilot Episode
Lead Animator

Zoic Studios

January 2018 - January 2018
Senior Animator

The Third Floor

October 2017 - December 2017
Previz Artist/Animator

Lightstorm Entertainment

June 2017 - October 2017

Manhattan Beach, CA

Feature: Avatar Sequals
Senior Animator

Luma Pictures

May 2017 - June 2017

Santa Monica, CA
Senior Animator

CoSA VFX

April 2017 - May 2017

Greater Los Angeles Area

Worked on Marvel's upcoming television show "The Gifted"
Lead Animator/Crowds Lead

Digital Domain

June 2016 - March 2017

Playa Vista, CA

I worked on Power Rangers, NBA Promo and Ready Player One
Halon Entertainment

April 2016 - July 2016
Lead Facial Animator

EA

February 2016 - June 2016

Orlando, FL

Lead Facial Animator for upcoming projects for the Madden franchise.
Senior Animator/Crowd Supervisor/Previs Artist

Pixomondo

July 2015 - February 2016

Santa Monica, CA

Chinese Theme Park Ride
Animator/Crowds Supervisor

Pixomondo

August 2015 - January 2016
Previs Artist

Halon Entertainment

April 2015 - July 2015

Santa Monica, CA

Features:

Alice Through the Looking Glass
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Senior Animator

Industrial Light & Magic

February 2015 - April 2015

San Francisco Bay Area

Worked on Star Wars Force Awakens
Crowds Lead/Artist

DreamWorks Animation

April 2009 - February 2015

Glendale, CA

Feature:
HOME
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Turbo
Rise of the Guardians
Kung Fu Panda 2
How To Train Your Dragon

TV:
Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special

• Sequence lead for the upcoming feature film (How To Train Your Dragon 2). Tasked with setting up the stadium crowds and look to be shared with other artists on the sequence. Directed, acted in and animated one of Dreamworks first all motion capture shots. Also tasked with additional sequences
Involving flying dragons and battlefield chaos.
• Tasked with special case (difficult) shots that requ
Character Animator

Digital Domain

November 2007 - April 2009

Venice, CA

Past Features:
(Animator/Layout Artist) 2012
(Character Animator) GI Joe
(Character Animator) Thundercats (CG Test)
(Massive TD) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

• Animated characters, cameras, layout, and misc for feature film (2012).
• Animated characters, cameras, and objects for feature film (GI Joe), following shots from previz phase through to final animation.
• Created crowds, armies and individual placement of characters for feature film (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor).
• Integrated multiple software platforms into daily work
Massive TD

Rhythm & Hues Studios

June 2007 - November 2007

Los Angeles, CA

Feature: Golden Compass

• Created quadruped crowds for feature film (Golden Compass).
• Manipulated agent brain and hand-placed agents with customized brain logic.
• Integrated multiple software platforms into daily work flow including Massive, Maya, and R&H proprietary software.
Animator

Asylum FX

August 2006 - May 2007

• Animated characters, cameras, and objects for feature films and commercials, following shots from previz phase through to final animation.
• Responsible for creating slap comps of animation sequences using Shake for director approval.
• Responsible for creating final camera layout and animation for selected shots.
• Feature Titles included: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), Apocalypto (2006), Déjà Vu (2006), Sky High (2005) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as well several commercials
Character TD

Rainmaker Entertainment

July 2006 - August 2006

Feature: Night at the Museum

• Consulted on various rig and skinning issues for Night at the Museum (2006).
• Performed skinning of Sphynx character for the film.
Technical Animator

Sony Pictures Imageworks

September 2005 - July 2006

• Integrated characters into various scenes for feature film, Beowulf (2007).
• Added animation over motion capture rig.
• Troubleshot character, rig, and environment issues as well as labeled and fixed swaps on various characters’ motion data.
• Lit and added effects to environments in Motion Builder for various scenes
Facial Animator

Hydrogen Whiskey

July 2005 - August 2005

Los Angeles, CA

• Responsible for cinematic facial animation on various characters.
• Worked exclusively on Smack Down VS. RAW 2006 for PS2.
Animator

Asylum FX

December 2004 - June 2005

• Animated characters, cameras, and objects for feature films and commercials, following shots from previz phase through to final animation.
• Responsible for creating slap comps of animation sequences using Shake for director approval.
• Responsible for creating final camera layout and animation for selected shots.
• Feature Titles included: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), Apocalypto (2006), Déjà Vu (2006), Sky High (2005) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as well several commercials
Animator

Genuine Games

November 2003 - December 2004

Los Angeles, CA

• Animated characters for upcoming PS2/xbox releases.
• Created realistic animations and camera layouts for in-game cinematics.
• Integrated motion capture data onto existing characters and problem solved any rig issues.
• Responsible for lighting and rendering in Mental Ray for in-game cinematics.
• Titles include: Fight Club (PS2 and xbox) and Bullet Proof (PS2 and xbox).
Animation Lab Instructor

Full Sail University

September 2001 - August 2003

• Taught students to understand and implement the use of advanced character motion as it pertains to 3-D Animation.
• Wrote and presented various lecture materials including “Puppeteering as it Pertains to Animation” and “Acting Fundamentals to Improve the Animating Process.”