Michael Cawood

Michael Cawood

Oscar Qualified Award Winning Animated Filmmaker & Director

Supervisor Previs/Layout Artist / Supervisor Character Animator / 21 yrs

Los Angeles, CA

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Animator

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)

Previs Lead

Noelle (2019)

Animator

Batwoman (2019)

Previs Artist

Shanghai Fortress (2019)

Previs Lead

Shazam! (2019)

Animator

Doom Patrol (2019)

Character Rigger

The Wrong Rock (2019)

Previs Artist

Escape at Dannemora (2018)

Animator

Black Lightning (2018)

Previs Supervisor

The Mummy (2017)

Previs Artist

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Animator

Supergirl (2015)

Animator

The OceanMaker (2014)

Technical Director

Red vs. Blue: Season 10 (2012)

Animator

Red vs. Blue: Season 9 (2011)

Animator

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (2008)

Animator

The Club (2008)

Previs Supervisor

Venom (2004)

Technical Director / Animator

Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles (2003)

Technical Director

Red vs. Blue PSA (2003)

Generalist

Lostopolis Chapter 3 Tree House

Layout Artist

Under the Boardwalk (2023)

Director

The Wrong Rook

Previs Artist

Energizer Bunny

Senior Character Animator

Titans (2018)

Senior Character Animator

Seal Team (2017)

Senior Character Animator

The Flash (2014)

Senior Character Animator

Bat Woman

Senior Character Animator

Super Girl (2011)

Postvis Artist

Lady and the Tramp (2019)

Previs Story Artist

The Monkey Prince

Postvis Animation Supervisor

Bumblebee: The Movie (2018)

Previs Supervisor

Venom

Story Artist

The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)

Previs Artist

Larrikins (2018)

Postvis Supervisor

Pete's Dragon (2016)

Senior Previs Artist

Ghostbusters (2016)

Shot Creator

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Previs Artist

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

Previs Artist

Furious 7 (2015)

Previs Artist

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Previs Artist

Divergent (2014)

Animation Director

Skylanders: Giants (2012)

Director

Devils Angels & Dating (2012)

Senior Animator

The Great Happyfication

Senior Animator

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Senior Animator / Layout Artist

Rockband 2

Animator

Happy Feet (2006)

Senior Animator

Viva Piñata (2006)

Lead Animator

Kameo: Elements of Power (2005)

Michael Cawood is a multi-award winning British Animated Filmmaker with a broad skill set. Having worked in animation since 1994, he's created VR Experiences, Films, Commercials, Games, Short Films and Animated Series. He's uniquely skilled in directing VR, previs and animation teams, as showcased in his Oscar Qualified and multi-award winning short film 'The Wrong Rock' and the 'Orson Welles Award' winning short film, 'Devils Angels & Dating'.
Work History

  • Art Director

    HEROmation

    February 2023 - August 2023
    Los Angeles, CA

    Directing a team of artists to make design and create the visuals for games.

  • Art Director

    Dumpling

    February 2023 - July 2023

    Directing a team of artists to create the art assets for a mobile game.
    Recruiting | Design | Previs | Marketing Materials | Supervising | Budget

  • Animated Filmmaker

    Narwhal Studios

    August 2022 - October 2022

    Unreal 5 | Metahumans | Cinematography

  • Animator

    Heckler

    July 2022 - August 2022
    Sydney, AU

  • Animator

    Preymaker

    April 2022 - May 2022

    VFX Character Animation

  • 3D Artist

    Mighty Coconut

    February 2022 - February 2022

    Helping my friends at Mighty Coconut with the VR game Walkabout Minigolf.

  • Animator

    Framestore

    December 2021 - March 2022
    Remote

  • Layout Artist

    Paramount Animation

    November 2020 - October 2021
    Work From Home

  • Director & Storyboard Artist

    HEROmation

    August 2020 - November 2020

    Directing a team of 2D artists to create 10 episodes of an animated series for Headspace.

  • Creative Director

    HEROmation

    June 1994 - February 2024
    Santa Clarita, CA

    Animation for Film, TV, Game Cinematics, Music Videos and Commercials
    'The Wrong Rock'________3D Short Film
    'Devils, Angels & Dating' _ 3D Short Film
    'The Ocean Maker' ______ 3D Short Film
    'Napoleon' _____________ 3D Short Film
    'DSM Mobile Rebates' ___ 2D/3D Product Demo Video
    'Tenkai Knights' ________ 3D Web Cinematics
    'Monkey King' __________ 3D Theme Park Film
    'Tenkai Knights' ________ 3D Toy Pitch Video
    'Panda Pander' _________ 2D/3D Short Film
    'Two Face Tabby' _______ 2D/3D Short Film
    'Archer' _______________ 2D Software Demo Video
    'BIT UK' _______________ 2D Commercial
    'The Fire Stoker

  • Senior Character Animator

    Encore VFX

    March 2019 - April 2020
    Burbank, CA

  • Art Director

    Kinsane Entertainment

    April 2019 - July 2019
    Remote

    'Eru and the Ghost Kingdom' - Animated TV Series

  • Previs Artist

    The Mill

    February 2019 - March 2019
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Postvis Animator

    Day for Nite

    February 2019 - February 2019
    Burbank, CA

  • Previs Supervisor

    Proof Inc

    September 2017 - September 2017

  • Previs Artist

    Proof Inc

    June 2017 - August 2017

  • Story Artist

    Warner Bros.

    February 2017 - May 2017

  • Previs Artist

    DreamWorks Animation

    May 2016 - December 2016
    Glendale, CA

  • Senior Previs Artist

    Proof Inc

    March 2015 - April 2016
    Los Angeles

  • Previs Artist

    Proof Inc

    March 2015 - April 2015

  • Shot Creator

    The Third Floor

    November 2014 - February 2015

    'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead men tell no tales' - Feature Film
    • Blocking
    • Animation
    • Layout
    • Lighting
    • Effects

  • Previs Artist

    MPC

    November 2014 - November 2014

    'Microsoft HoloLens' - Pitch Video
    Previs | Layout | Animation | Lighting | Effects

  • Senior Previs Artist

    Proof Inc

    June 2013 - November 2014

    'Night at the Museum 3' - Feature Film
    'Fast & Furious 7' - Feature Film
    • Blocking
    • Editing
    • Animation
    • Layout
    • Rigging
    • Techvis
    • Postvis

  • Previs Artist

    MPC

    April 2013 - May 2013

    'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' - Feature Film
    • Blocking
    • Animation
    • Layout
    • Lighting
    • Compositing
    • Effects

  • Shot Creator

    The Third Floor

    February 2013 - February 2013

    'Divergent' - Feature Film
    Scene Blocking | Previs | Layout

  • Animator

    Logan

    January 2013 - February 2013

    'Skylanders Swap Force' - TVC
    Animation | Previs | Rigging feedback | Motion Graphics | Linux

  • Previs Artist

    The STUDIO NYC

    December 2012 - December 2012

    ‘Bud Light’ – TVC
    Preivs | Layout | Editing | Animation | Lighting | Rendering

  • Head of Story

    Mighty Coconut

    September 2012 - November 2012
    Belize

    'The Ocean Maker' - CG Animated Short Film
    Story Development | Storyboards | Previs | Layout | Editing | Animation | Documentary | Marketing

  • Head of Story

    Martell Animation

    September 2012 - November 2012

    'The Ocean Maker' - CG Animated Short Film
    Story Development | Storyboards | Previs | Layout | Editing | Animation | Documentary | Marketing

  • Animation Director

    PandaPanther

    March 2012 - September 2012

    'Skylanders Giants' - Stereoscopic HD Cinematics & Commercials
    • Supervised 10 to 20 animators to produce 12 mins of animation
    • Layout / Previs
    • Final Layout / Camera Animation
    • Stereoscopic camera setup and review
    • Review dailies for in-house and external animators
    • Fielded client and Director review sessions
    • Briefed team on client and Director notes
    • Cast Animators to shots
    • Animatic editing guidance
    • Demoreel reviews
    • Maya Animation Mentoring
    • Pipeline tool development
    • Rigging feedback and supervision
    • Working with Motion Control Camera

  • Technical Director

    Rooster Teeth Productions

    January 2012 - March 2012

    'Red vs Blue, Season 10' - Animated Series
    Created a Transfer Rig (Poser and/or Mocap to Animator Friendly Rig)
    Rigging | Maya pipeline development | Animation | Compositing | Lighting | Rendering

  • Director

    Devils, Angels & Dating

    September 2006 - January 2012

    'Devils, Angels & Dating' - CG Animated Short Film
    I created a dedicated virtual studio and directed a short character based CG animated film from concept to completion. Along the way I attracted over 400 artists to sign up, over 100 of which worked on the project. Then with no budget at all we created one of the most successful projects of it's kind. Learn more at DevilsAngelsAndDating.com
    AWARD WINNER - Best Short Film - Burbank Film Festival
    AWARD WINNER - Best Animation - Indiefest
    AWARD WINNER - 2012 Q2 - AnimMazSpot
    ORSON WELLES AWARD - California Film Awards
    • Animation Director
    • Layout
    • Editor
    • Script writing
    • Character designs
    • Concept art
    • Storyboards / Animatic
    • Previs
    • Character Rigging
    • Lighting / Rendering
    • Compositing
    • Effects
    • Scheduling and Assignments
    • Promotions / Marketing
    • Pipeline development
    • R&D/Tool development
    • Recruiting

  • Layout / 3D Generalist

    Rooster Teeth Productions

    August 2011 - September 2011

    'Red vs Blue, Season 9' - Animated Series
    Previs | Layout | Rigging | Editing | Mocap | Animation | Effects | Lighting | Rendering

  • Senior Character Animator

    Psyop

    January 2011 - March 2011

    Coca Cola 'Happiness Factory' - Short Film Musical for a Theme Park

  • Lead Animator

    Armature Studio

    November 2008 - December 2010

    Supervised Animation and Rigging
    Animatics | Previs | Layout | Rigging | Animation | Editing

  • Animator

    Walsh Family Media

    November 2008 - January 2009

    'We Need a Hit' - Feature Film

  • Senior Character Animator

    Glassworks

    November 2008 - December 2008

    'Churchill Insurance' - TVC
    Animation | Previs

  • Senior Animator

    Passion Pictures

    September 2008 - October 2008

    'Vodafone - Texts UNLTD' - TVC
    Previs | Layout | Editing | Compositing

  • Senior Character Animator

    Passion Pictures

    April 2008 - June 2008

    'Harmonix: Rockband 2' - Cinematic & TVC
    Previs | Layout | Mocap | Animation | Rigging Feedback

  • Senior Character Animator

    MPC

    January 2008 - April 2008

    ‘Narnia: Prince Caspian’ – Feature Film
    ‘Renault Megane Sport’ – VFX TVC
    ‘Toyota Auris’ – VFX TVC
    Animation | Editing | Previs | Shake | Unix | Linux

  • Senior Animator

    Ark VFX

    June 2007 - January 2008

    'Be Sombody' - VFX TVC
    'The Club' - Cinematics for XBox, PS3, PC
    Design | Rigging | Previs | Layout | Animation | Mocap | Effects | Rendering | Compositing | Editing | Production Tracking

  • Animation Supervisor

    Glasgow Animation

    December 2006 - May 2007

    'Guardian of the Highlands' (aka 'Sir Billi') - CG Feature Film
    • Supervised 16 animators to produce over 30 minutes of the film’s animation
    • Review dailies for in-house and external animators
    • Scheduling & assigning shots
    • Animatic supervision & editing guidance
    • Layout approvals
    • Demoreel reviews & candidate interviews
    • Training and Mentoring
    • Pipeline development
    • Rigging feedback and supervision

  • Lead Animator

    Rare Ltd.

    June 1999 - November 2006

    'Kameo: Elements of Power' - Xbox 360
    'Starfox Adventures' - Gamecube
    'Viva Piñata 2' - Xbox 360
    'Perfect Dark Zero' - Xbox 360
    ‘Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts’ - Xbox 360
    Game Design | Story Development | Writing | Concept Art | Character Design | Rigging | Storyboards | Animatics | Editing | Previs | Layout | Animation | Lighting | Rendering | Effects | Compositing | Unix

  • Technical Animator

    Animal Logic

    June 2006 - September 2006

    ‘Happy Feet’ - CG feature film

  • Director

    BIT UK

    June 1998 - August 1998

    'Archer' - Commercial
    Storyboards | Designs | 2D Animation | Coloring | Compositing | Editing

  • Previs Artist

    The Mill

    February 2000 - March 2000
View All Positions
Education

  • The University of Glamorgan

    1996 - 1999

  • Alton College

    1994 - 1996