Stephan Osterburg

Work History

• 

  Head of Rigging (Feature Animation)

  Double Negative

  April 2022 - Present

  London
• 

  Character Technical Supervisor

  Double Negative

  January 2021 - Present

  London, UK
• 

  Senior Technical Artist

  IMVU

  February 2020 - March 2021

  San Francisco Bay Area

  * Researching and implementing Auto-Rigging tools
  * Develop workflow tools and other tools for Maya (Python/Python API)
  * Rigging characters (body and face) for game engine (Godot)
  * Researching and developing ML models/pipeline for character deformations
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Pixelgun Studio

  December 2019 - February 2020

  San Francisco Bay Area

  * Developed and implementing pipeline tools (Python)
  * Oversaw Artists work
• 

  Technical Lead - Creature FX

  Framestore

  May 2017 - June 2018

  London, United Kingdom

  * Spearheaded muscle & skin system workflow and improvement initiative
  * Collaborated with other departments on cross-department issues
  * Developed and implemented character pipeline for the movie “Christopher Robin” (2018)
  * Created UI in Maya (Python/PySide) utilizing Shotgun to load character(s) and their asset(s) in the shot
  * Wrote an auto-rig tool in Python utilizing Maya and Qualoth to set up a character and apply the animation in the shot, saving in average three-plus hours of setup time per character/shot
  
  Projects
  * Thor: Ragnarok (2018), Christopher Robin (2018)
• 

  Technical Lead - Rigging

  DreamWorks Animation

  May 2015 - February 2017

  Glendale, CA
• 

  Technical Lead - Rigging

  DreamWorks Animation

  September 2002 - May 2015

  Redwood City, CA

  * Set creative and technical direction in collaboration with the Department Head
  * Performed weekly rounds with artists and evaluated artist work
  * Supervised the Character TD’s on creative, technical and time management issues
  * Conceptualized and implemented deformation pipelines, built robust, foundational prototypes (i.e., Branch for Trolls or Alex for Madagascar 2) used by the team to rig hero, secondary, and tertiary characters
  * Developed and implemented toolsets to streamline setup workflow process and to minimize errors
  * Coordinated and oversaw technical development and optimization efforts with other shows
  * Managed motion system and body deformations work for the film to satisfy creative and technical requirements while meeting the production schedule
  * Co-developed an Art-Directable Dynamic-Hair Shells for Alex in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
  * Co-developed the muscle system for Hal/Titan on the movie Megamind
  * Mentored and directed the implementation of the motion and deformation systems by other Character TD’s
  * Identified and prioritized software bug fixes & feature requests with R&D
  * Wrote Python helper scripts to optimize character setup workflow
  * Converted deformation operators from PDI script into C++ as well as developed new once
  * Converted the node-based motion system into a Python library, i.e. arm, digit (finger), shoulder motion system to be integrated into the new rigging software including a UI (PySide) to build a characters motion system
• 

  CG Supervisor/FX Artist/Animator

  Pacific Data Images

  September 1998 - September 2002

  Palo Alto, CA

  + Integrated industry tools, such as MAYA, into the animation pipeline
  + Worked with R&D to port part of the PDI’s proprietary software to Autodesk MAYA
  + Served as a VFX and CG Supervisor for national commercials for high-profile clients such as Saturn, Coca- Cola, Kool-Aid, Sega, and Monster.com
  + Movies: Supernova (FX Artist), Mission: Impossible II (Character TD), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (FX Artist), Forces of Nature (Compositing), Minority Report (Character TD)
• 

  Head of CG Department

  Das Werk

  March 1996 - July 1998

  Munich, Germany

  * Established the CG Department to expand the visual effects segment of the business
  * Managed and helped to grow the CG Department to up to 30 people.
  * Secured high-profile clients with responsibility for bidding, negotiation, and project management
  * Assured each project complied with time and budget requirements
  * Managed multiple teams of artists on projects like Siemens – Fantasy for an Age, Run Lolo Run, and Winterschläfer
  * On-set VFX Supervisor and CG Supervisor managing film breakdowns and motion captures, etc.
  
  Projects:
  * VFX Supervisor for the production Siemens – Fantasy for an Age
  * Directed graphic creation for BMW’s VIV / Pave Purple, a high-quality visual presentation introducing the 
company’s new car design to the board of directors
  * Developed special effects for movies such as Run Lola Run and Winterschläfer
  * Others: Geisterstunde, Kollision, Comedian Harmonists, Harald, Zeamerman, Augsburger Puppenkiste - Monty Spinne Ratz

  

• Application Consultant

  Alias|wavefront

  1995 - February 1996

  Frankfurt Am Main Area, Germany
• 

  CG Supervisor

  Freelance

  September 1994 - July 1995

  München, Germany

• Independent CG Supervisor/Technical Director

  Independent

  1994 - 1995

  Munich Area, Germany

• CG Generalist

  Bibo TV, Germany

  August 1993 - August 1994

  Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany

• Senior Animator

  Bibo TV, Germany

  1993 - 1994

• Application Consultant

  Alias|wavefront

  1991 - 1993

  Munich Area, Germany

• Modelling Artist and Software Engineer

  Vierte Art, Germany

  1990 - 1991

  Munich Area, Germany