Matthew Tucker

Work History

• 

  Staff Technical Artist

  Bungie

  May 2023 - July 2024

  • Developed an Unreal Engine pipeline to optimize character iteration.
  • Drove animation, rigging, and rendering targets for an incubation environment.
  • Exceeded the internal animation pillar by building diverse character archetypes including but not limited to quadrupeds, snakes and birds.
  • Enhanced external animation performance via direct supervision and pipeline integration.
  
  Incubation Project
• 

  Senior Character TD

  Insomniac Games

  June 2020 - April 2023

  Burbank, CA, USA

  • Owned and refined facial rigging pipelines for both stylized and realistic projects.
  • Beta-tested and integrated Epic’s Metahuman system, enabling over 150 character heads with multiple in-engine compatibilities.
  • Wrote complex code to enhance the modular rigging, scene assembly, & validation tool sets.
  • Conducted quality control, ingestion, and manipulation of outsourced face rigs.
• 

  Lead Character TD

  DreamWorks Animation

  November 2017 - June 2020

  • Managed a team of artists to produce high quality rigs for animated feature films.
  • Developed rapid creature rigging processes and creative rigs for stylized look development.
  • Managed character and prop setup, including rigging, weighting, and skinning, increasing delivery speed by 200%, saving ~50 man-weeks.
  • Refined abstract rigging modules and assisted in developing the rigging pipeline for a subsidiary studio.
  • Pitched and directed theatrical and technical test shorts.
  
  Trolls 2 (2020)
  Bad Guys (2021)
• 

  Character TD

  DreamWorks Animation

  March 2015 - November 2017

  Glendale, CA

  • Created high quality body, face, and prop rigs for feature films.
  • Refined and developed abstract rigging modules for a wide range of stylized needs.
  
  Boss Baby 2 (2021)
  How to Train Your Dragon 3 (2019)
  Trolls Holiday Special (2017)
  Abominable (2019)
  Larrikins (Cancelled)
  Trolls (2016)
• 

  Character TD

  DreamWorks Animation

  November 2013 - March 2015

  Redwood City, CA

  • Created high quality body, face, and prop rigs for feature films.
  
  Monkeys of Mumbai (Canceled)
• 

  Character TD

  Reel FX

  January 2011 - October 2013

  • Created body, face, and prop rigs. Developed and maintained face rig modules. Conducted cloth simulation rigs and shot work
  
  The Book of Life (2014)
  Free Birds (2013)
  Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (2012)
  Looney Tunes Shorts (2011)
  Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)
  Rockettes (2011)
  Baby Peas (2011)
  Sleep to Live Test Bed Video (2011)
  Judy Moody (2011)
  Take Your Medicine (2010)
  Open Season 3 Commercial (2010)
• 

  Rigging Apprentice

  Reel FX

  July 2010 - January 2011

  • Rigging characters and props as well as pipeline scripting.
• 

  Teacher Assistant

  Full Sail University

  November 2009 - May 2010

  Teacher Assistant for the technical department. Tasks included but were not limited to tutoring student who were enrolled in the Character Rigging Course and taking on various assignments appointed by the teachers.