Mike Gilbert

Mike Gilbert

Supervisor Background Artist / 18 yrs

Vancouver, Canada

Hire Me

Scene Setup Artist;scene Set-up

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)

Background Artist

Rick and Morty (2013)

Clean-up Artist;character Designer

My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic (2010)

Digital Ink & Paint

Curious George (2006)
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Layout Artist
The Ruff Ruffman Show
Layout Artist
Plum Landing
Work History

  • Layout Artist

    Turquoise Sky Entertainment

    December 2024 - February 2025
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Remote

    PROJECT
    ✦ Undisclosed

    ROLES
    ✦ Layout Artist
    ✦ Background Painter

    LAYOUT DESIGN
    ✦ Created layered, production-ready layouts adhering to project specifications and animation
    requirements, incorporating layout animations as needed.
    ✦ Ensured all layouts included accurate field guides and storyboard panels to maintain consistency.
    ✦ Verified and updated animatics to reflect the latest revisions and timing adjustments.

    BACKGROUND PAINT
    ✦ Rendered layout files into polished backgrounds, ensuring all set pieces work in unison with neighboring layouts.
    ✦ Formatted and prepared final background assets for delivery according to production guidelines.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop CC (primary tool for layouts and painting)
    ✦ Mudstack (project file tracking software)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)
    ✦ Slack (team communication)

  • Layout Artist / Background Painter

    Awesome Inc

    February 2023 - October 2023
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States · Remote

    PROJECT
    ✦ Ren & Stimpy (Paramount+)

    LAYOUT DESIGN
    ✦ Created layered, production-ready layouts adhering to project specifications and animation
    requirements, incorporating layout animations as needed.
    ✦ Participated in weekly team meetings to review progress, receive feedback, and revise layouts whenever callouts were issued.
    ✦ Ensured all layouts included accurate field guides and storyboard panels to maintain consistency.
    Provided essential animation elements (e.g., doors, windows, props) in all layouts for seamless
    animation integration.
    ✦ Verified and updated animatics to reflect the latest revisions and timing adjustments.

  • Illustrator

    Double Jump Games LLC

    December 2022 - February 2023

    PROJECTS
    ✦ Rainbow Friends
    ✦ Poppy Playtime
    ✦ Five Nights at Freddy's
    ✦ Alphabet Lore
    ✦ Among Us
    ✦ Roblox

    ROLE
    ✦ Illustrator
    ✦ Graphic Designer

    TASKS
    ✦ Creation of YouTube video covers and similar promotional graphics for the popular gaming channel "SSUNDEE"

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Designed YouTube video covers and various promotional graphics tailored to each project's brand
    and audience.
    ✦ Adjusted designs based on client feedback and revision call-outs, ensuring timely delivery of high-
    quality assets.
    ✦ Collaborated with clients and team members to align visual content with marketing strategies and
    viewer engagement goals.

  • Layout Artist

    Global Mechanic

    May 2022 - October 2022

    PROJECT
    ✦ Jam Van (YouTube Originals)

    ROLES
    ✦ Layout Artist
    ✦ Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created production layouts utilizing sourced images and provided photography to support animation requirements.
    ✦ Developed rough, clean, and final layouts, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and readiness for the animation pipeline.
    ✦ Collaborated with team members to implement feedback, ensuring visual assets aligned with creative and production goals.

  • Layout supervisor / Generalist

    Global Mechanic

    September 2021 - May 2022

    PROJECT
    ✦ Birdgirl: Season 2 (Adult Swim)

    ROLE
    ✦ Senior Layout Artist
    ✦ Layout Supervisor

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created conceptual layouts and production keys to establish visual direction and support the animation process.
    ✦ Oversaw the layout department, providing redline revisions and detailed feedback to ensure quality and consistency.
    ✦ Guided and mentored junior layout artists, offering constructive critiques and approving finalized layouts.
    ✦ Produced rough, clean, and finished layouts, ensuring alignment with production specifications and animation requirements.

  • Layout Artist

    Bardel Entertainment

    June 2021 - September 2021

    PROJECT
    ✦ Carol & The End of the World (Netflix)

    ROLES
    ✦ Layout Artist
    ✦ Harmony Assistant

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Prepared and organized layout files for seamless import into Toon Boom Harmony, ensuring compatibility with the animation pipeline.
    ✦ Created layout animation frames, including essential animation elements (e.g., doors, windows), to support the animation team’s workflow.
    ✦ Assisted with character rigging and building processes within Harmony to optimize production efficiency.

  • Layout Artist

    Bardel Entertainment

    August 2020 - June 2021

    PROJECT
    Rick and Morty: Season 5 (Adult Swim)

    ROLES
    ✦ Layout Artist
    ✦ Designer
    ✦ Harmony Assistant

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Consolidated client and internal layouts into the required format for seamless import into Toon Boom Harmony, ensuring pipeline efficiency.
    ✦ Revised and designed various elements for animation, adhering to production standards and creative direction.
    ✦ Assisted with occasional character and prop design to support animation and asset requirements.
    ✦ Imported flattened layouts into Harmony, ensuring proper formatting and functionality for the animation team.

  • Freelance Designer

    East Side Games

    May 2020 - June 2020
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · Remote

    PROJECT
    ✦ Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money (Showtime)

    ROLES
    ✦ Character Designer
    ✦ Asset Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Transformed rough sketches into production-ready designs using Adobe Animate (Flash), ensuring assets met animation pipeline requirements.
    ✦ Collaborated closely with the art director to incorporate feedback and implement necessary revisions throughout production.
    ✦ Adapted designs to maintain consistency with the project's visual style and technical specifications.

  • Scene setup

    Titmouse

    November 2019 - April 2020
    Vancouver, Canada Area · On-site

    PROJECT
    ✦ Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)

    ROLE
    ✦ Scene setup artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Prepared finalized layouts by consolidating layers for animation, ensuring proper setup of overlay and underlay files for seamless integration into the animation pipeline.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings, took detailed notes, and communicated key updates to the team to support efficient workflow.
    ✦ Collaborated with production staff to maintain consistency with project guidelines and deadlines.

  • Layout Artist

    East Side Games

    September 2019 - December 2019

    PROJECTS:
    ✦ It’s Always Sunny: The Gang Goes Mobile (FX)
    ✦ Dragon Up (Netflix)

    ROLES
    ✦ Layout designer
    ✦ Character asset builder

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created production layouts in Adobe Animate, ensuring alignment with project specifications and animation requirements.
    ✦ Participated in daily meetings with the art director, applying feedback and incorporating notes to improve asset quality.
    ✦ Revised existing layouts to match updated visual styles and maintain consistency throughout production.
    ✦ Developed character mouth charts to support lip-sync animation and enhance character performance.

  • Scene setup

    Titmouse

    August 2018 - August 2019
    Vancouver BC

    PROJECT
    ✦ Cleopatra in Space (DreamWorks)

    ROLE
    ✦ Scene setup Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Flattened finished layouts to essential layers for efficient use in the animation pipeline.
    ✦ Imported prepped backgrounds, character builds, and props into Adobe Animate, arranging each scene to ensure smooth animation flow.
    ✦ Occasionally reworked animatic lengths for scenes to maintain pacing and continuity.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings, provided status reports, and collaborated with the team to meet production deadlines.

  • Co-owner / Director of Design

    Volunteer Media Inc.

    April 2013 - June 2019
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    ROLE
    ✦ Co-Owner / Creative Director / Label Manager

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Co-owned and operated a federally funded, multi-genre boutique record label,
    overseeing 30+ Vinyl, CD, and Cassette releases
    ✦ Coordinated Canadian releases, creating physical and digital assets for Vinyl (7", 12"), CD (jewel case, slim case, digipak), Cassette, digital formats, and promotional materials (posters, stickers, online ads, magazine print ads, store cards, business cards, handbills, and apparel).
    ✦ Managed radio mailouts and follow-ups to secure airplay for key singles on broadcast and college radio platforms.
    ✦ Represented Volunteer Media in funding negotiations, industry conferences, and official functions, strengthening industry partnerships and increasing visibility.
    ✦ Organized and coordinated tour bookings and routings for qualified artists across global venues, ensuring smooth logistics and successful events.
    ✦ Secured funding from key Canadian arts organizations, including FACTOR, Creative BC, Music BC, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
    ✦ Established strategic objectives for the organization and formulated policies to enhance global reach and artist development.
    ✦ Booked and routed successful tours for artists across North America, Europe, and Asia.
    ✦ Maintained and updated the website and catalog on both label and artist pages, ensuring accuracy and consistency across platforms.

    AWARDS / NOMINATIONS
    ✦ Excellence in Visual Design - Nomination - Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA)

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Animate CC (layout creation and scene preparation)
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop CC (asset refinement and editing)
    ✦ Adobe Premiere CC (asset editing and video production)
    ✦ Adobe InDesign (document editing and creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Layout Artist

    Titmouse

    April 2018 - August 2018
    Vancouver, Canada Area · On-site

    PROJECT
    ✦ Archibald's Next Big Thing (DreamWorks)

    ROLE
    ✦ Layout Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created episode layouts from animatics, adhering to the director's notes and maintaining visual consistency throughout the production.
    ✦ Adjusted layouts based on revision notes to ensure alignment with creative direction and animation requirements.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to discuss progress, receive feedback, and align with the overall production schedule.

  • posing artist

    WildBrain

    October 2017 - February 2018
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · On-site

    PROJECT
    ✦ Polly Pocket (Mattel)

    ROLE
    ✦ Posing Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Posed Flash character builds, creating specific keyframes for animation scenes.
    ✦ Referenced the storyboard and animatic to ensure accuracy and consistency in completing new poses.
    ✦ Checked online spreadsheets to verify all tasks were accounted for and up to date.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to discuss progress, review feedback, and ensure alignment with creative goals.

  • Temporary video editor

    Smart City Media

    September 2017 - October 2017
    329 Railway street

    CLIENTS
    ✦ Re/Max
    ✦ CBRE

    ROLE
    ✦ video editor

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Edited raw footage in Premiere Pro, organizing and arranging clips to create a cohesive story.
    ✦ Applied color treatments and stabilized footage to enhance the visual quality.
    ✦ Composited the final product, ensuring seamless integration of all elements.
    ✦ Animated paths for text and linework using After Effects CC to add dynamic motion and enhance visual appeal.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Premiere Pro (Editing)
    ✦ Adobe After Effects CC (Compositing & Animation)

  • Layout Artist

    Global Mechanic

    July 2016 - December 2016
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    PROJECT
    ✦ The New Ruff Ruffman Show! (WGBH / PBS)

    ROLE
    ✦ Layout Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created layouts for entire episodes based on animatics and director’s notes, ensuring visual consistency and alignment with the creative vision.
    ✦ Adjusted layouts as needed based on revision notes, incorporating feedback and maintaining the quality of the production.
    ✦ Participated in weekly production meetings to discuss progress, receive feedback, and align on creative and technical goals.

  • Layout Artist

    Global Mechanic

    March 2016 - July 2016
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    PROJECT
    ✦ Plum Landing Season 3 (PBS)

    ROLE
    ✦ Layout Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created layouts for entire episodes based on animatics and director’s notes, ensuring accurate translation of the creative vision into functional animation assets.
    ✦ Adjusted layouts as necessary in response to revision notes, ensuring design consistency and meeting production standards.
    ✦ Participated in weekly production meetings to review progress, receive feedback, and align with creative and technical objectives.

  • Layout Designer

    Global Mechanic

    May 2013 - August 2013
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    PROJECT
    ✦ Plum Landing Season 1 (WGBH & PBS Kids Production)

    ROLE
    ✦ Layout Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created completed background art based on storyboards and animatics, ensuring accuracy in design and alignment with the creative vision.
    ✦ Utilized Adobe Flash to develop functional, production-ready layouts for animation, following the specified production pipeline and technical requirements.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Animate CC (layout creation and scene preparation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Artistic Director

    Strut studios

    January 2013 - June 2013
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    CLIENTS:
    ✦ Uniserve
    ✦ Paul Anthony's Talent Time (Shaw TV)

    ROLE
    ✦ Art Director

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created comprehensive graphics packages for commercials, online branding, and print media, ensuring visual consistency across various platforms.
    ✦ Managed website graphical upkeep, ensuring all digital assets were up-to-date and aligned with the brand's visual identity.
    ✦ Oversaw physical set setup and take-down for various production uses, coordinating logistics for smooth execution.
    ✦ Designed and developed promotional and pitch documentation to support marketing efforts and project proposals.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Animate CC (layout creation and scene preparation)
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (additional graphic creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Graphic Designer / Sales Rep

    Made In Print Inc

    January 2012 - March 2013
    888 Beatty Street Vancouver BC V6B 1C2

    CLIENTS
    ✦ Vivid Greetings
    ✦ Ephin Apparel
    ✦ Translink

    ROLE
    ✦ Graphic Designer / Sales rep

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Identified and engaged potential clients, providing graphic design services to ensure materials were print-ready.
    ✦ Managed a wide range of design projects, from business cards to large-scale designs like fully wrapped buses.
    ✦ Ensured all designs met quality standards and were formatted appropriately for various print and media platforms.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (for checking artwork assets)
    ✦ Google Docs (for general documentation)

  • Design

    Vivid Greetings

    July 2012 - February 2013
    Point Grey (UBC)

    CLIENTS
    ✦ NASA
    ✦ CP Rail
    ✦ Rogers Communications
    ✦ CBRE

    ROLE
    ✦ Lead Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Supervised creative design and layout for corporate seasonal holiday cards, overseeing both print and e-card assembly to ensure brand consistency and visual appeal.
    ✦ Managed website graphical upkeep and maintenance, ensuring timely updates and high-quality design standards.
    ✦ Coordinated with various printing houses, conducting quality checks on test presses to ensure final prints met the required standards.
    ✦ Held occasional meetings with clients to review progress, discuss project goals, and refine design strategies.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (Primary design software)
    ✦ Adobe Animate (Primary animation software)
    ✦ Excel Spreadsheets (documentation software)
    ✦ Wordpress (website builder)
    ✦ Google Docs (Task & Order Management)

  • IP Material Development Artist

    Atomic Cartoons

    September 2011 - March 2012
    On-site

    PROJECTS
    ✦ Pirate Express
    ✦ Lionheart (self-made IP)

    ROLE
    ✦ Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Creation of pitch bibles, handbills, character lineups, and promotional imagery for the purchase of pitching to networks and potential clients.
    ✦ The creation of a storyboard for one-half of an episode.
    ✦ Attending writer's meetings to discuss ideas for the documentation created.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Flash (Primary software for design creation)
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (additional software for design creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Layout Designer

    Atomic Cartoons

    September 2011 - November 2011

    PROJECT
    ✦ Ella The Elephant (Disney)

    ROLE
    ✦ Layout Artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created completed background art based on storyboards and animatics, ensuring accurate visual representation of the scenes.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (additional software for design creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Prop designer

    Atomic Cartoons

    July 2011 - August 2011

    PROJECT
    ✦ Spyburbia (Unaired Pilot for FOX)

    ROLE
    ✦ Freelance Prop Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Designed props and all called-out variations and angles based on the storyboard, ensuring accuracy and alignment with the show's visual style.
    ✦ Provided character costumes and reskinning when needed, supporting the overall character design and animation pipeline.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (additional software for design creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Character Designer

    WildBrain

    September 2009 - June 2010
    Vancouver, Canada Area · On-site

    PROJECT
    ✦ My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Hasbro)

    ROLE
    ✦ Character Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created main and incidental characters, including mouth charts and rotations, ensuring consistency with the show’s style guide and animation requirements.
    ✦ Reworked redline revisions on new animation paper, ensuring accuracy and alignment with creative and technical standards.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to discuss progress, review feedback, and align on creative and technical direction.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Sketchbook Pro (Primary software for design creation)
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (additional software for design creation)
    ✦ Google Docs (collaboration and documentation)

  • Key Designer

    WildBrain

    January 2007 - July 2007

    PROJECT
    ✦ George of the Jungle (Bullwinkle Studios)

    ROLE
    ✦ Designer

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created main and incidental characters, including mouth charts and rotations, ensuring consistency with the show's animation style and requirements.
    ✦ Designed new props and modified existing ones to match the visual direction and needs of the series.
    ✦ Reworked redline revisions on new animation paper, ensuring the final designs met quality standards and production needs.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to discuss progress, review feedback, and align on creative direction.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Animation light table
    ✦ Animation paper (Canson artist series)
    ✦ Prismacolor pencils (red, blue, black)
    ✦ various office equipment (tape, exacto knives, pencil sharpeners)
    ✦ Xerox copier (for various revisions)

  • flash posing artist/ builder

    WildBrain

    October 2006 - January 2007

    PROJECT
    ✦ Ricky Sprockets: Showbiz Boy (Teletoon)

    ROLE
    ✦ Posing artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Posed Flash character builds, creating specific keyframes for animation scenes.
    ✦ Referenced the storyboard and animatic to ensure accuracy and consistency in completing new poses.
    ✦ Checked online spreadsheets to verify all tasks were accounted for and up to date.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to discuss progress, review feedback, and ensure alignment with creative goals.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Flash (for character posing)
    ✦ Google Docs (for general documentation)
    ✦ BNet (internal asset upload software)

  • Posing artist

    Elliott Animation

    August 2006 - October 2006
    Toronto, Canada Area · Remote

    PROJECT
    ✦ Yin Yang Yo! (Jetix)

    ROLE
    ✦ Posing artist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created clear, comprehensive poses in Photoshop for the Flash animation team to assemble, ensuring accuracy and alignment with character design.
    ✦ Made adjustments to call-outs and revisions, ensuring the final poses met production standards.
    ✦ Checked online spreadsheets to ensure all tasks were properly tracked and accounted for.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to review progress, discuss revisions, and ensure alignment with creative goals.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (for character posing)
    ✦ Google Docs (for general documentation)

  • Visual Development Artist

    FatKat Animation Studios

    December 2005 - June 2006
    Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada

    PROJECTS
    ✦ Happy Tree Friends (Mondo Minishows)
    ✦ Sprays of Our Lives (Unilever)

    ROLE
    ✦ Visual design generalist

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Created compelling characters, layouts, and props, ensuring they fit seamlessly into the animation style and creative vision.
    ✦ Designed incidental characters, enhancing the world-building and narrative elements of the series.
    ✦ Made adjustments to revisions as required, ensuring the final designs met production quality standards.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to review progress, discuss revisions, and align on creative goals.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ Adobe Animate (primary design software)
    ✦ Adobe Photoshop (secondary design software)
    ✦ Google Docs (for general documentation)

  • Digital Ink and Paint Department

    Mercury Filmworks®

    March 2005 - December 2005
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · On-site

    PROJECTS
    ✦ Class of the Titans (Teletoon)
    ✦ Curious George: The Movie (Universal pictures)

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
    ✦ Performed frame-by-frame coloring, ensuring the visuals matched the desired aesthetic and were consistent throughout the animation.
    ✦ Revised occasional artwork inconsistencies, maintaining design integrity and ensuring all elements aligned with the production's standards.
    ✦ Ensured the image was free of unwanted artifacts, maintaining the overall quality of the animation.
    ✦ Attended weekly production meetings to review progress, address feedback, and ensure alignment with creative objectives.

    TOOLS / SOFTWARE
    ✦ TV Paint (classical animation coloring software)
    ✦ Google Docs (for general documentation)

View All Positions
Education

  • Diploma in 3D animation

    Vancouver Film School

    2004 - 2005

  • Diploma in 2D animation

    Vancouver Film School

    2003 - 2004

  • Painting, Fine Art

    Kwantlen Polytechnic University

    2002 - 2003