James Morris

Work History

• 

  Senior Animator

  Blind Squirrel Games

  May 2022 - September 2024

  • Oversaw the production and quality of gameplay animations, ensuring consistency across the board.
  • Crafted dynamic in-game and cinematic animations for characters, props, and cameras, enhancing the overall player experience.
  • Captured, cleaned, and refined motion capture data for cinematic and in-game features, maintaining high standards of animation quality.
  • Executed pre-visualization and scene assembly for in-game cinematics and cutscenes, contributing to narrative impact.
  • Integrated and tested art assets into Unreal Engine 4/5 and Lumberyard ensuring full functionality and seamless gameplay integration.
  • Developed complex state machines, animation Blueprints, and blend spaces to enhance gameplay fluidity and responsiveness.
  • Collaborate with the design and programming teams to ensure smooth implementation of animations into the game engine.
  • Partnered with designers and animation teams to develop detailed motion capture shot lists and schedules, streamlining production.
  

  

  

• Instructor

  Century College

  August 2017 - May 2022

  White Bear Lake, MN

  Instructor in the Visual Communication and Technology Department (VCT).
  • Re-designing the 3D Animation Program to increase student retention and placement within the local community and abroad.
  • Taught multiple weekly classes in topics ranging from 3D Animation to Design to Project Management and Development.
  • Provide relevant assignments to students and continually redevelop curriculum to suit industry trends.
  • Challenged, engaged and mentored students to encourage participation and personal growth.
  • Maintained professional growth as required by accrediting body.
• 

  Program Chair

  Minneapolis Media Institute

  February 2015 - August 2017

  As Program Chair, I'm responsible for the day to day management of the multiple departments, ensuring the continual development of curriculum and continuing to teach classes within the departments.
  Duties and Responsibilities include:
  • Supervise all administrative, financial and departmental aspects.
  • Directed programmatic evaluations and designed strategies for their development and implementation.
  • Cultivated and improved relationships with other departments, administrators and faculty.
  • Supervise instructor professional development, improved employee retention and competency within the department.
  • Prepare and submit annual budget and related priorities.
  • Re-designed the 3D programs to reduce student costs, and improve enrollments
  • Led the department to increase student retention and placement.
  
• 

  Lead Character Animator

  Sunstone Games

  June 2013 - August 2014

  • Developed and managed project asset lists, timelines, and resources, ensuring timely and successful final deliverables.
  • Crafted dynamic in-game and cinematic animations for characters, props, and cameras, enhancing the overall player experience.
  • Integrated and tested art assets into [insert game engine here], ensuring full functionality and seamless gameplay integration.
  • Participate in conceptualizing characters and settings, contributing your expertise to the early stages of game development.
  • Worked closely with design and engineering to implement and improve overall functionality and playability of game.
  

  
• 

  Instructor

  Minneapolis Media Institute

  September 2011 - February 2014

  Edina, MN

  Instructor in the Game Art and Animation Program of the Minneapolis Media Institute (MMI). Work with other instructors and Program Chair to teach and prepare students for a future in the entertainment industry.

• Volunteer Mentor

  Minnesota First Robotics

  October 2012 - May 2013

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  I help mentor the Animation sub-team of the Minnesota FIRST Robotics, a group of motivated high school students who wish to learn 3D Modeling and Animation.

• Lead Animator

  Bobiam Digital

  March 2013 - April 2013

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  Created Character Animations for Bobiam Skate Park. Assisted with asset integration in the game engine. Worked closely within the team to help concept and execute the finished product.

• Freelance Animator

  DiscountMedia.LLC

  March 2012 - June 2012

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  Created character animations for use in media and commercials.
• 

  Artist

  Atomic Games

  March 2010 - January 2011

  Contract Artist for “Breach”. Worked closely with Owner to create screenshots and other art assets for use in promotional material and on website.
  • Developed animations, screenshots, user interface layouts and other art assets for use in promotional marketing material.
  • Designed art layouts for material to be used on website for product promotion.
  • Designed mockups and pre-production layouts whenever necessary.
  • Reviewed and assembled final designs for publication and web release.
  
• 

  Animator

  Atomic Games

  September 2006 - August 2009

  Character Animator for “Six Days In Fallujah”. Work closely with Lead Animator and Art Director to create animations for in-game character animation and cinematics. Also work closely with Core-Tech to help develop animation tools and systems. Duties include Key-Frame Animation, Facial Animation, Handling Mo-cap shoot setup, running, post-processing and clean-up.
  • Created animations for use in-game and cinematics.
  • Worked closely with level and audio designers in small SCRUM teams to improve delivery of milestone goals.
  • Worked with core-tech team to develop animation tools, systems and pipelines to improve production time and efficiency.
  

• Animator

  Visual Affects Productions

  November 2004 - September 2006

  Character Animator for film “No Continues”

• Animator

  Fugue of Nazareth

  April 2004 - July 2004

  Character Animator, Rigger and Modeler for short film “Fugue”. Worked closely with Art Supervisor to create animations for lead characters. Duties included Animation, Animation Clean-up, and Character Rigging , and some modeling, as well as the creation of blend shapes for characters and objects

• Animator

  Cyberploc Studios

  April 2002 - October 2002

  Character Animator for short film “Grand Ma”. Worked closely with Director and Lead Animator to create animations for lead characters. Duties included Animation, Animation Clean-up and Lip-Syncing

• Instructor

  Century College

  August 2017 - May 2022

  White Bear Lake, MN

  • Re-designed and implemented the 3D Animation Program to increase student enrollment, retention and placement within the local community and abroad.
  • Optimized departmental budgeting, scheduling, and resource management, ensuring the allocation and efficiency of resources.
  • Managed resource allocation across multiple departments, optimizing productivity and workflow.
  • Challenged, engaged and mentored students to encourage participation and personal growth.
  • Directed programmatic evaluations, crafting and executing strategies that drove continuous improvement and development across the department.
  
• 

  Program Chair

  Minneapolis Media Institute

  September 2011 - August 2017

  Minneapolis, MN

  • Optimized departmental budgeting, scheduling, and resource management, ensuring the allocation and efficiency of resources.
  • Developed and managed project plans, including objectives, technologies, schedules, funding, and staffing.
  • Managed resource allocation across multiple departments, optimizing productivity and workflow.
  • Guided professional development within the department, significantly boosting employee retention and enhancing skill competency.
  • Directed programmatic evaluations, crafting and executing strategies that drove continuous improvement and development across the department.
  • Prepared and maintained multiple departmental budgets, scheduling and resources.
  • Built new relationships with industry contacts to improve company standing within the community.
  • Conferred with project personnel to identify and resolve problems and developed clear communication processes.
  
• 

  Contract Artist

  Atomic Games, Inc.

  March 2010 - June 2011

  Plymouth, MN

  • Created animations, screenshots, user interface layouts and other art assets for use in promotional marketing material.
  • Designed art layouts for material to be used on websites for product promotion.
  • Designed mockups and pre-production layouts whenever necessary.
  • Reviewed and assembled final designs for publication and web release.
  

  
• 

  Animator

  Destineer Studios

  September 2006 - September 2009

  Plymouth, MN

  • Crafted dynamic in-game and cinematic animations for characters, props, and cameras, enhancing the overall player experience.
  • Captured, cleaned, and refined motion capture data for cinematic and in-game features, maintaining high standards of animation quality.
  • Executed pre-visualization and scene assembly for in-game cinematics and cutscenes, contributing to narrative impact.
  • Integrated and tested art assets into [insert game engine here], ensuring full functionality and seamless gameplay integration.
  • Worked closely with design and engineering to implement and improve overall functionality and playability of game.
  • Worked in small SCRUM teams alongside level and audio designers to meet and exceed milestone delivery goals.
  • Collaborated with the core-tech team to develop innovative animation tools, systems, and pipelines, improving production efficiency.