Kenn McDonald, Animation Supervisor

Kenn McDonald most recently completed work on Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf as animation supervisor.  In this role, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of digital character performance from the moment performance capture is completed through to final animation.  In addition he works closely with the character modeling and rigging teams to develop the look of the characters.

Prior to Beowulf, McDonald was an animator on Open Season, the first feature from Sony Pictures Animation. He came to that project after having been lead CG animator on The Polar Express, the pioneering animated feature which also was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Before that McDonald was a lead animator on Stuart Little 2 and CG animator on The Matrix Reloaded.

McDonald’s other credits include CG animator on Pandemic Studios/THQ’s award-winning combat simulation video game Full Spectrum Warrior and animator on two Imageworks shorts, The ChubbChubbs! (winner of the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Short Film) and Early Bloomer.

McDonald joined Sony Pictures Imageworks in 2001 from Saban Entertainment, where he was animation supervisor and supervising technical director on What’s with Andy and Micromaniacs webisodes in addition to handling story development and character design on Tae Kwon Do.

Before that, McDonald was at Renegade Animation where he was lead animator on dozens of commercials with notable characters like the Trix Rabbit and Chester Cheetah. He also was lead animator on the Elmo Aardvark online series and animator on several video games, including 101 Dalmatians: Escape from Castle DeVil.

His early career includes stints at Turner Feature Animation and Rich Animation Studios.

McDonald earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado as well as a certification from the Tokyo International Animation Institute.

Panel: 3D: From Asset Creation to Projection