James Bennett

James Bennett

Animation, previs, creative production consultation..

Supervisor creative consultant / Supervisor Animator / 22 yrs

San Francisco

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Senior Animator

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Senior Animator

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Lead Layout Artist

Wendell & Wild (2022)

Animation Director

Ghost Recon: Wildlands (2017)

Rough Layout Artist

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Senior Animator

Godzilla (2014)

Animator / Previs Animator

Avatar (2009)

Lead Previs Animator

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Lead Previz Artist

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Previz Animator

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Cinematics Animation Director

For Honor (2017)

Animator

King Kong (2005)

Senior Animator

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

VFX Staffing

Kaiden's Cargo (2018)

Lead Previs Animator

The Warrior's Way (2010)

previz animator

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

La Noria (2018)

Previs Animator

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Senior Animator

The Water Horse (2007)

Freelance Animator

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Senior Animator

Eragon (2006)

Senior Animator / Lead Previs Artist

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Concept Artist

Happy Feet (2006)

Animator

Jumper (2008)

Animator

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)

Animator

Inspector Gadget 2 (2003)
Projects
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I am an animation supervisor & creative consultant with 20 years of industry experience running and managing creative teams. If you want it to move, & move realistically, then that's what I do. I am 'battle tested', direct & above all very professional. I specialize in short term contracts with tight deadlines. I work well under pressure & promise to add stability & energy to any team I join.

I am the co-founder of Zerply.com a creative platform designed to help bridge the gap between creative talent and creative companies. I am the founder of Shomen Productions, a remote-based studio that helps companies clarify their brand through the beautiful medium of animation.
Work History

  • Animation Director

    Shomen Productions

    March 2017 - November 2024

  • Founder

    Shomen Productions

    January 2018 - January 2023
    San Francisco, California, United States

    We help companies communicate their message through story-based animation. From 2D product walk-throughs to full scale 3D character animation. Helping our clients add more punch to their content branding.

    Everything from concepting and storyboarding right through to full character animation and sound design.

  • Senior Animator

    Wētā FX

    February 2022 - August 2022

    Brought in to help out the animation team on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

  • FX Supervisor

    Argonaut

    December 2021 - January 2022
    San Francisco

    Shomen Productions produced a small character piece as part of a social media campaign for Cricket Wireless

  • Lead Layout Artist

    Netflix

    September 2020 - January 2021
    San Francisco, California, US

    Working on the new Henry Selick stop motion animation 'Wendell & Wild'.

  • Senior Animator

    Tippett Studio

    June 2020 - September 2020
    Berkeley, California, US

    I was brought in to help previs and animate a fun media piece for a large Chinese monorail company.
    I helped build the initial set and determine the animation style of the sequence. I animated 3 of the 7 sequence that will be shown in China.

  • Creative Production consultant

    BYJUS

    June 2019 - April 2020
    San Francisco, California, US

    Providing creative and production assistance and direction to the multitude of creative teams at the Bangalore studio.

  • Animation Consultant

    BYJUS

    April 2019 - May 2019
    Palo Alto, California, United States

    Helping to lift the standard of in-game animation across the Byju's studio.

  • CEO

    Zerply

    January 2018 - February 2019
    San Francisco, CA

  • Co-Founder & Lead Creative

    Zerply

    September 2014 - December 2017
    San Francisco

    It never ceases to amaze me how someone can be a world class professional artist, and still find it hard to get work. It all comes down to timing, connections and reputation. At this level, most artists maintain strong reputations, but few have extensive connections and almost none have any control over timing. It was with this in mind that we set about creating Zerply. A place to showcase people's skills, strengthen professional networks, and display their availability.

  • Producer

    Perspective Labs

    July 2017 - August 2017

  • Teacher

    iAnimate

    April 2017 - June 2017

  • Cinematics Animation Supervisor

    Ubisoft

    March 2016 - February 2017

    I was the cinematic animation supervisor for two titles, 'For Honor' and 'Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands'.

    I supervised two remote based teams, one in France and the other in Spain.

  • Instructor - Creature Workshop 2 &3

    iAnimate

    November 2014 - December 2016
    San Francisco, CA, United States

  • Teacher

    iAnimate

    April 2016 - June 2016

  • Senior Freelance Animator

    MPC

    November 2013 - February 2014
    Vancouver - Canada

    I have been assigned a number of the larger, more complicated shots to animate where giant monsters are fighting. I am also helping some of the less experienced animators in the team with their workflow and shots.

  • Freelance Previz Artist

    Wētā FX

    August 2013 - October 2013
    Wellington

    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

  • CEO

    TheCreditz

    April 2012 - August 2013
    San Francisco Bay Area

  • Lead Previs Artist

    DreamWorks Animation

    May 2010 - June 2013
    Redwood city

    Had a terrific time at DreamWorks, where I was a part of a an amazing team. The Previz team at PDI lead by Kent Seki, Nol Meyer and Conan Low is truly raising the quality of Previz to ridiculous heights.
    I was a Lead Previz Artist on the following shows.

    Madagascar 3
    Rocky and Bullwinkle (Short)

    I was a Previz Artist on the following shows.

    How to Train Your Dragon 2
    Penguins of Madagascar

  • Senior Animator

    Industrial Light & Magic

    September 2009 - May 2010
    San Francisco, CA, United States

    Project: Iron Man 2
    I animated a number of key Iron Man and War Machine shots.

  • Senior Animator / Lead Previs Artist

    Wētā FX

    February 2005 - October 2009
    Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand


    Movie list.
    King Kong - Animator
    X-Men 3 - Animator
    Jumper - Animator
    The Water Horse - Senior Animator / Previs Animator
    Eragon - Senior Animator
    The Day the Earth Stood Still - Previs Animator
    Halo - Lead Previs Animator
    The Warriors Way - Lead Previs Animator
    Tin Tin - Senior Previs Animator
    Australian War Memorial - Senior Previs Animator
    Avatar - Animator / Previs Animator
    The Hobbit - Lead Previs Animator

  • Senior Animator

    MPC

    2008 - 2008
    London, United Kingdom

    This was a short 8 week contract during Crunch on Prince Caspian.

  • Character Designer

    Animal Logic

    March 2004 - February 2005
    Sydney, Australia

    I worked on Designs for the Penguins in Happy Feet. Particularly in the area of Facial Range of Movement (Designing the different facial expressions)

  • Freelance Animator

    MPC

    August 2002 - September 2003
    Soho, London

    I worked in MPC's commercials department. Some of the projects were.
    Coke
    Potato Chips
    Troy

  • Animator

    Cutting Edge

    2000 - September 2002
    Brisbane, Australia

    Inspector Gadget 2

  • Cut Scene Animator

    Krome Studios

    1999 - 2000
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Education

  • Bachelor of Communication Design

    Queensland University of Technology

    January 1996 - December 1999