Ray Faenza

Ray Faenza

Character TD Mentor at Think Tank

Senior Character TD / 17 yrs

Canada

Hire Me

Senior Rigger

The Willoughbys (2020)

Character Rigging Lead

Hellboy (2019)

Setup Artist

Mune: Guardian of the Moon (2015)

Creature Rigger

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Modeling Artist

Bubble Guppies (2011)

Animator

Ollie & the Baked Halibut (2009)

Modeling Artist

Chop Socky Chooks (2007)
My heart has always been in story and animation. Having high expectations for my craft, has lead me to understand many of the technical aspects of CG animation. This knowledge is critical when trying to produce quality work with a tight deadline. When problems arise, applying quick, but solid solutions is something that I constantly look forward to adding during production.

I am always open to new opportunities, especially to work with passionate artists in Feature Productions. I love to learn new techniques and different ways of accomplishing high quality work.
I have a solid background in Classical Animation, and from there stems the rest of my talents and skills. I have been recently employed by several studios for my knowledge and
skills in character rigging. However my career interests lie in Character Animation and Story as well.

Specialties: Character Artist : Designing, Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Tool Building

Softwares:

Proficent :Maya, Maya Python Scripting, Mental Ray for Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, AfterEffects, Mudbox

Text Editors of Choice: XCode, Eclipse ....and sometimes Crimson :)

OS: Windows , OSX
Work History

  • Raymond Faenza (Sole Proprietorship)

    August 2006 - Present

    Available for hire to :
    -Create high quality character performance and character setups.
    -Consulting on 3D production in regards to character asset building to fit your timeline and budget in Maya.
    -Technical advice with effective alternative solutions to hair/fur/cloth.

    Worked collaboratively with :

    Industrial Brothers - Yub Yubs, Pitch Work
    Spitball Entertainment
    Tantrum - Wonderland, Ford
    Chuck Gammage Animation - Lunch Crunch - Short Film
    Rune Entertainment - Linamar

  • Freelance 3D Artist- Modeler/Rigger/Animator

    Raymond Faenza (Sole Proprietorship)

    August 2006 - Present

    Available for hire to :
    -Create high quality character performance and character setups.
    -Consulting on 3D production in regards to character asset building to fit your timeline and budget in Maya.
    -Technical advice with effective alternative solutions to hair/fur/cloth.

    Worked collaboratively with :

    Industrial Brothers - Yub Yubs, Pitch Work
    Spitball Entertainment
    Tantrum - Wonderland, Ford
    Chuck Gammage Animation - Lunch Crunch - Short Film
    Rune Entertainment - Linamar

  • Senior Character TD

    FuseFX

    August 2016 - December 2016
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    VFX Shows: Timeless, Magicians, Legacy.
    RnD Work: Quadruped Rigging, Muscle Explorations (Ziva)

  • Sony Pictures Imageworks

    August 2014 - May 2016

  • Mikros Image

    March 2013 - August 2014

  • Character Rigger

    Industrial Brothers

    October 2012 - March 2013
    Toronto, Canada Area


    Yup Yups Season 1
    Preschool Disney Jr. Canada

    - Model Prep/Screening for Deformations.
    - Character/Prop Rigging: Initial Joint placements, Skinning, Blendshapes, modular approaches using rig utility scripting(Python)
    - Adjust/Repair/Add to Legacy Characters for Animation and Final Render

  • Creature TD

    Mr. X

    October 2011 - October 2012
    Toronto, Canada Area


    Resident Evil Retribution
    Mama
    Carrie

    - R&D and implementation of Maya cMuscle systems in creature rigs.
    - create/update/maintain character rig build scripts in Python, Pymel and MEL.
    - Character Facial Rigging
    - Character Finaling

  • Pipeline Studios

    April 2010 - May 2011

  • March Entertainment

    October 2009 - April 2010

  • Rigging Lead

    Starz Animation

    May 2009 - October 2009


    Yes, Virginia - Christmas Special

    Managed the project's rigging team under an extremely tight deadline, and oversaw the character setups for a 22 minute television Christmas special.

    Worked closely with Modeling,Animation and Surfacing Leads to accommodate the needs of each department.

    Trained a junior team to adhere with studio workflows,procedures,
    good modeling and rigging practices.

  • Character Rigger

    Starz Animation

    March 2009 - June 2009


    Ormie - Short Film

    Character Artist for the hero character. Primarily rigging "toon" style deformations and implementing feature level control structures. Also assisted with model and topology changes.

    Worked closely with the Director and character designers to achieve the character they in visioned on the page, in 3D.

  • Red Rover/House of Cool

    July 2008 - March 2009

  • Lead Rigger

    Red Rover

    January 2008 - May 2008


    "Dandy" - TV Series

    Responsibilities were to develop character tools to automate and build multiple character rigs.

  • C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures

    July 2007 - December 2007

  • Teaching Assistant

    Sheridan College

    September 2006 - August 2007


    Taught and helped animation students after class hours in the evenings with specific issues in animation, modeling, rigging, rendering.

  • Animator

    Rune Entertainment

    August 2006 - August 2006


    Freelance Animator

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Education

  • CGWorkshops

    2010 - 2011

  • iAnimate

    2010 - 2011

  • Sheridan College

    2006 - 2007

  • Sheridan College

    2005 - 2006

  • DiplomaDiploma

    Sheridan College

    2001 - 2005

  • CertificateCertificate

    Sheridan College

    1999 - 2000