Jack Geckler

Jack Geckler

Lead Animator/Previs/Crowds / 22 yrs

Los Angeles, CA

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Lab Artist

Avatar 3 (2025)

Crowds Artist

Wish (2023)

Crowds Artist

Strange World (2022)

Crowds Artist

The Sandman (2022)

Lab Artist

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Crowds Artist

Hawkeye (2021)

Crowds Artist

Encanto (2021)

Crowds Artist

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Crowds Lead

Us Again (2021)

Crowds Artist

Spies in Disguise (2019)

Crowds Artist

Frozen 2 (2019)

Lead Animator

Magnum P.I. (2018)

Animator

Ready Player One (2018)

Previs Artist

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

Senior Previz Animator

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Previs Artist

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Senior Animator

Legion (2017)

Senior Animator

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Senior Animator

The Gifted (2017)

Crowds Supervisor

Power Rangers (2017)

Lead Facial 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

Home (2015)

Crowds Artist

Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

Crowds Artist

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Crowds Lead

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Senior Animator

The Walking Dead (2010)

Previs Artist

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2010)

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

2012 (2009)

Character Animator

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

Turbo (2009)

Deja Vu (2009)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

The Eye (2008)

Massive TD

The Golden Compass (2007)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

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

Imagemotion Integrator

Beowulf (2007)

Night at the Museum (2006)

Supervising Compositor

Apocalypto (2006)

Animator

50 Cent: Bulletproof (2005)

Animator

Sky High (2005)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Animator

Fight Club (2004)

Intro

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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.”

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Education

  • Full Sail University

    1999 - 2000