DENIS MORELLA
RÉSUME
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Skilled animation professional with an excellent, varied background and a thorough understanding of the animation process. Experience spans creative duties of developing and directing a wide variety of styles in the animation industry.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PURE IMAGINATION STUDIOS
LEGO Pilot, Animation Director
2021-2022
Responsiblities include overseeing animation, draw-overs for storyboards, characters and set up shots, final color, lighting and comp, working with the PI production team and overseas studio.
TRILOGY ANIMATION GROUP
VeggieTales, Animation Director,
Jay Jay the Jetplane pilot, Supervising Director
2019-2021
Responsibilities include directing series episodes, developing the concept and look of a series pilot episode, character and story development, character design, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
WALTON ISAACSON AGENCY
Majikun pilot, Lead Creative
2017-2018
Responsibilities included redesigning characters from an existing fashion line, character development, story development and pitch package materials.
WILD CANARY ANIMATION STUDIOS/DISNEY JR.
Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Co-creator, Director, Art Director, 22 half hour episodes
2014-2016
Responsibilities included developing the initial concept and look of the show, character and story development, character design, storyboards, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
WILDBRAIN ANIMATION STUDIOS/DISNEY JR.
Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Co-creator, Co-executive Producer, Director, Art Director, 23 half hour episodes
2008-2014
Responsibilities included developing the initial concept and look of the show, character and story development, character design, storyboards, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
NICK JR.
Bubble Guppies, Supervising Director
2007-2008
Responsibilities included working with the Nickelodeon co-creators and producers, overseeing an in-house crew of 16 people, visiting the overseas studios in Korea and China at the initial pre-pro phase and continuing to work with them and the episode director on a daily basis.
WILDBRAIN/PLAYHOUSE DISNEY
Higglytown Heroes, Co-creator, Co-executive Producer, Director, Art Director, 65 half hour episodes
2003-2007
Responsibilities included everything from conception of the original idea to final series, character and story development, overall production design, overseeing voice records, composers and an in-house crew of 20 people.
WILDBRAIN
Director
2000-2003
Clients included Ford Focus, Wrigley’s, Chili’s, CA State Fair, Mattel
HRSA - Stop Bullying Now – animated online series and live action commercials
Cartoonnetwork.com – Uncle Squirly in Squirrel Interrupted, A Meal of Two Cities, Hermann and Vermin, Yogi Bear in Lullabye-bye Bear
CURIOUS PICTURES
Director
1996-2000
Clients included CBS, GTE, Pringles, Best Buy
Cartoon Network – Prickles the Cactus, a 7 minute pilot for What A Cartoon! Bob Clampett Show Open, Animate Your World – Bob, Percolate
Cartoonnetwork.com – Uncle Squirly’s Treehouse
COLOSSAL PICTURES
Director
1984-1995
Clients included Squaresoft, California Lottery, Levi’s
MTV’s Liquid Television – Invisible Hands, The Adventures of Thomas and Nardo, Rico and Klein.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2016 Emmy Award Nomination for Best Writing in a Preschool Program – Sheriff Callie’s Wild West
2016 Annie Award Nominations for Best Animated Preschool Program and Best Music in an Animated TV Production – Sheriff Callie’s Wild West
2005 Genesis Award/Best Children’s Programming - Higglytown Heroes - Kip’s Shadow
2005 Media Access Award/Best Children’s Programming – Higglytown Heroes - Twinkle’s Masterpiece
1997 World Animation Celebration – Best Animated Campaign - Animate Your World
1994 Telly Award – Squaresoft - Monsters
EDUCATION
Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) BFA in Animation
References provided upon request.
RÉSUME
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Skilled animation professional with an excellent, varied background and a thorough understanding of the animation process. Experience spans creative duties of developing and directing a wide variety of styles in the animation industry.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PURE IMAGINATION STUDIOS
LEGO Pilot, Animation Director
2021-2022
Responsiblities include overseeing animation, draw-overs for storyboards, characters and set up shots, final color, lighting and comp, working with the PI production team and overseas studio.
TRILOGY ANIMATION GROUP
VeggieTales, Animation Director,
Jay Jay the Jetplane pilot, Supervising Director
2019-2021
Responsibilities include directing series episodes, developing the concept and look of a series pilot episode, character and story development, character design, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
WALTON ISAACSON AGENCY
Majikun pilot, Lead Creative
2017-2018
Responsibilities included redesigning characters from an existing fashion line, character development, story development and pitch package materials.
WILD CANARY ANIMATION STUDIOS/DISNEY JR.
Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Co-creator, Director, Art Director, 22 half hour episodes
2014-2016
Responsibilities included developing the initial concept and look of the show, character and story development, character design, storyboards, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
WILDBRAIN ANIMATION STUDIOS/DISNEY JR.
Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Co-creator, Co-executive Producer, Director, Art Director, 23 half hour episodes
2008-2014
Responsibilities included developing the initial concept and look of the show, character and story development, character design, storyboards, working with studio executives, writers, composers and overseas studios.
NICK JR.
Bubble Guppies, Supervising Director
2007-2008
Responsibilities included working with the Nickelodeon co-creators and producers, overseeing an in-house crew of 16 people, visiting the overseas studios in Korea and China at the initial pre-pro phase and continuing to work with them and the episode director on a daily basis.
WILDBRAIN/PLAYHOUSE DISNEY
Higglytown Heroes, Co-creator, Co-executive Producer, Director, Art Director, 65 half hour episodes
2003-2007
Responsibilities included everything from conception of the original idea to final series, character and story development, overall production design, overseeing voice records, composers and an in-house crew of 20 people.
WILDBRAIN
Director
2000-2003
Clients included Ford Focus, Wrigley’s, Chili’s, CA State Fair, Mattel
HRSA - Stop Bullying Now – animated online series and live action commercials
Cartoonnetwork.com – Uncle Squirly in Squirrel Interrupted, A Meal of Two Cities, Hermann and Vermin, Yogi Bear in Lullabye-bye Bear
CURIOUS PICTURES
Director
1996-2000
Clients included CBS, GTE, Pringles, Best Buy
Cartoon Network – Prickles the Cactus, a 7 minute pilot for What A Cartoon! Bob Clampett Show Open, Animate Your World – Bob, Percolate
Cartoonnetwork.com – Uncle Squirly’s Treehouse
COLOSSAL PICTURES
Director
1984-1995
Clients included Squaresoft, California Lottery, Levi’s
MTV’s Liquid Television – Invisible Hands, The Adventures of Thomas and Nardo, Rico and Klein.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2016 Emmy Award Nomination for Best Writing in a Preschool Program – Sheriff Callie’s Wild West
2016 Annie Award Nominations for Best Animated Preschool Program and Best Music in an Animated TV Production – Sheriff Callie’s Wild West
2005 Genesis Award/Best Children’s Programming - Higglytown Heroes - Kip’s Shadow
2005 Media Access Award/Best Children’s Programming – Higglytown Heroes - Twinkle’s Masterpiece
1997 World Animation Celebration – Best Animated Campaign - Animate Your World
1994 Telly Award – Squaresoft - Monsters
EDUCATION
Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) BFA in Animation
References provided upon request.