(Email): ssawran@hotmail.com
(LinkedIn): www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-sawran-91a13659
website: http://www.stephensawran.com
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Computer Graphics; Graduated May 28, 1999; Pratt Institute; Brooklyn, New York
Work Experience:
Netflix Feature Animation
Burbank, California
November 2023-Current
Story Artist on an Unannounced CG series.
Delivered visual stories for a feature quality series to communicate an emotional character’s journey utilizing all the tools for a cinematic language.
Titmouse Studios
Los Angelees, California
Sept 2023-November 2023
Storyboard Artist on Critical Role’s spin-off series of “The Legends of Vox Machina” called “The Mighty Nein” to be released on Amazon Prime.
Marvel Studios Animation
Burbank, California
June 2019-April 2023
Provided Visual Story Panels from both written scripts and premises for Marvel's "What If?!" for three seasons as well as the "Zombie's" spinoff. I worked closely with the Director and the Head of Story to develop characters and stories by sharing ideas as well as incorporating notes and feedback from my peers.
Worked with production to implement a program called Flix to better communicate story sequences between Editorial and Story as well as between the Director and the story department without sacrificing everyone’s drawing programs of choice.
Meet yearly with the Flix development team on ways to improve the tools within the program.
Cartoon Network
Burbank, California
December 2018-June 2019
Animation Director for the animation production of Cartoon Network's "Apple & Onion".
Weekly and Daily meetings with the Creator/Director, Head of Story, and the Art Director for any notes to be implemented into the storyboards along with animation and reference notes. Make any applicable changes via notes or through the Head of Story for any problematic areas within the storyboards prior to shipping.
Provided any Animation Notes and Style Guides like "Do's and Don'ts" to maintain the style of the show for overseas production to limit any animation notes during the review process.
Oversee animation coming in from Slap Happy productions in Canada for review, notes, and approvals until the production is complete. Oversee the in-house animation team for any notes that are best implemented at home to speed the process to composite and editorial.
Received a letter of ‘Thank you” from the former General Manager, Brian Miller, for my efforts on the production prior to my departure.
Dreamworks Television Animation
Glendale, California
February 2016-December 2018
Created visual Story Panels from both written scripts and premises for Dreamworks' "Dragons: Race to the Edge". I moved quickly from working on Act A’s acting scenes to Act C’s action scenes as my first time on an action series.
I was moved over to contribute to Guillermo Del Toro’s “Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters, 3 Below, and Wizards”. Through close collaboration with my Director and Editor, we helped develop characters and stories by sharing ideas as well as incorporating notes and feedback from my peers.
I was allowed the freedom to offer my suggestions in the mid-season finale for “3-Below” to incorporate missing emotional arcs within the characters’ journeys which ended up staying in the final cut.
Cartoon Network
Burbank, California
November 2015-February 2016
Provided Visual Story Panels and revisions from both written scripts and premises for Cartoon Network’s " Mighty Magiswords". I have helped develop characters, stories, and gags by sharing ideas as well as incorporating notes and feedback from my peers.
Dreamworks Animation
Glendale, California
May 2015-October 2015
Flash Animator for a Kung Fu Panda Christmas interactive house displayed in various locations throughout the world to promote the new movie.
DHX Media
Sherman Oaks, California
January 2014-September 2015
Storyboard Artist and Animation Revisionist for “Umigo.”
Oddbot, Inc.
Los Angeles, California
April 2015-July 2015
Storyboard Artist for Disney’s “Star Darlings”
Storyboard Artist for ABC Mouse Educational videos.
Marvel Animation
Glendale, California
December 2013-April 2014
Freelance Flash Animator for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” Promo and “Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United” Direct-to-Video
Six Point Harness
Hollywood,, California
August 2013-January 2014
Flash Animator for FOX’s “Cosmos” television series.
Wildbrain Animation, Inc.
Sherman Oaks, California
January 2013-July 2013
Storyboard Revisionist for a project named “UMIGO”
DHX Media
Sherman Oaks, California
April 2013-May 2013
Animation Director for the animation production of Disney’s “Packages from Planet X.”
Oversaw animated scenes coming in from overseas production houses from China, South Korea, and Singapore. I reviewed and provided notes and approvals until the production was complete. Any animation notes that are too complicated to give, I would do myself to ease the work overseas and to achieve the desired result for the director and in-house production.
Center City Film & Video
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 2012-December 2012
Flash Animator for “The Chica Show” on the Sprout Television Network.
ActionFliks Media Corp.
Wilmington, DE
July 2012-August 2012
Storyboard Artist for “Xiaolin Chronicles”
Wildbrain Animation, Inc.
Sherman Oaks, California
April 2012-July 2012
Storyboard Artist for Mattel’s “Monster High”
Bento Box
Toluca Lake, California
February 2012-April 2012
Storyboard Artist for pilot on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim “Rolling with Dad.”
Wildbrain Animation, Inc.
Sherman Oaks, California
June 2011-July 2011
Storyboard Artist for HBO’s “The Ricky Gervais Show” Season 3.
Wildbrain Animation, Inc.
Sherman Oaks, California
August 2009-February 2012
Animation Director for the animation production of HBO’s "The Ricky Gervais Show”, Mattel’s “Monster High” and Warner Bros’ DC Nation “Super Best Friends Forever.
Weekly and Daily meetings with the Creator/Director, Head of Story, the Art Director and Editorial for any notes to be implemented into the storyboard along with animation and reference notes. Make any applicable changes via notes or through the Head of Story for any problematic areas within the storyboards.
Separated the scenes to distribute amongst the in-house animators that is fair and just to not overwhelm the animators.
Provided any Animation Notes and Style Guides like "Do's and Don'ts" to maintain the style of the show to limit any animation notes during the review process.
Oversee animation coming in from the in-house animators for review, notes, and approvals until the production is complete.
Renegade Animation
Glendale, California
February 2009-August 2009
Freelance Flash Animator for Cartoon Network’s “The Mr. Men Show” Season 2.
Supernews
Hollywood, California
October 2008-February 2009
Flash Animator for Current TV’s “Supernews” Half Hour Series.
Cartoon Network
Burbank, California
April 2006-October 2008
Lead Flash Animator on “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” Season 5 & 6.
Separated the scenes to be distributed amongst the in-house animators that is fair and just to not overwhelm the animators. Oversee animation coming in from the in-house animators for review, notes, and approvals until the production is complete.
Flash Animator on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Season 4.
Curious Pictures
New York, New York
October 2005-April 2006
2D and 3D Animator for Direct to DVD release of Disney’s “Little Einstein’s: Our Big, Huge Adventure”
2D and 3D Animator for Disney’s Little Einstein’s TV Series, Season 1.
Nickelodeon New York
New York, New York
February 2000-December 2002
Lead Traditional Animator for Little Bill TV Series, Season 2.
Separated the scenes to be distributed amongst the in-house animators that is fair and just to not overwhelm the animators. Oversee animation coming in from the in-house animators for review, notes, and approvals until the production is complete.
Traditional Animator for Little Bill TV Series, Season 1.
Commercials, Games, and Shorts in Various Companies
June 1996-Present
Software and details to be provided upon request.