James Van Der Reyden

James Van Der Reyden

Senior Motion Studio TD at Weta Digital

Senior motion studio technical director / Senior motion capture operator / 22 yrs

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

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Motion Studio Technical Director

Better Man (2025)

Motion TD

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Visual Effects Motion Studio TD

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Motion Studio Technical Director

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Motion Capture Operator

Ripley (2024)

Motion Capture Operator

The Marvels (2023)

Motion Studio Technical Director

War Is Over! (2023)

Motion Capture Operator

The Flash (2023)

Visual Effects Motion Capture Operator

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

Visual Effects Motion Capture Operator

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Motion Capture Operator

The Last Of Us (2023)

Motion Studio Technical Director

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Black Adam (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Moon Knight (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Peacemaker (2022) (2022)

Motion Capture Operator

Eternals (2021)

Motion Capture Operator

Shang-Chi (2021)

Motion Capture TD

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Motion Capture Operator

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Motion Capture TD

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Motion Capture Operator

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Motion Capture Operator

Black Widow (2021)

Motion Capture Operator

The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)

Motion Capture Operator

Space Force (2020)

Motion Capture Operator

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Motion Studio Technical Director

Lady and the Tramp (2019)

Motion Capture Technical Director

Gemini Man (2019)

Motion Capture Operator

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Motion Capture Operator

The Umbrella Academy (2019)

Motion Studio Technical Director

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Motion capture operator

Mortal Engines (2018)

Motion Capture Operator

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Motion Capture Operator

Rampage (2018)

Motion Capture Technical Director

Justice League (2017)

Motion Capture Technical Director

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Motion Studio Technical Director

War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017)

Motion Studio Technical Director

Spectral (2016)

Motion Studio Technical Director

The BFG (2016)

Motion Capture Operator

The Jungle Book (2016)

Motion Capture / Motion Editing

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

Motion Capture

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)

Motion Studio Technical Director

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Motion Capture Department

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Motion Capture Studio TD

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Motion Capture Operator

Man of Steel (2013)

Motion Capture Operator

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Motion Capture Studio TD

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Motion Capture/Motion Editing

The Avengers (2012)

Motion Capture Studio TD

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Motion Capture Studio TD

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Motion Capture

The Warrior's Way (2010)

Motion Capture Technical Director

Poppy (2010)

Motion Capture Technical Director

The Lovely Bones (2010)

Motion Capture Studio TD

Avatar (2009)

Motion Capture Technical Director

District 9 (2009)

Motion Capture Team

Heavenly Sword (2007)

Motion Capture

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Motion Capture

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Mocap Studio TD

King Kong (2005)

Motion Capture

I, Robot (2004)

Mocap Studio TD

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Mocap Technician

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
I have been working at Weta Digital as a Motion Studio TD and operator for the past 22 years, specializing in the areas of real-time capture of performed animation, research and development, puppet setup, motion editing, skeleton solving, character mapping and data tracking.
Work History

  • Motion Studio Technical Director

    Wētā FX

    January 2022 - Present

  • Motion Studio Technical Director

    Wētā FX

    February 2000 - Present
    Wellington, New Zealand
Education

  • Bdes in Bachelor of Design - Visual Communication Design

    Victoria University of Wellington

    1996 - 1999

  • Diploma in Diploma in Fine Arts

    Whitecliffe College of Art & Design

    1995 - 1995