Supervising Mentors
On each project, gaming and animation experts to work on our projects as freelancers while mentoring our crew. With decades of experience at studios including Blue Sky, Dreamworks and Pixar, our mentors are committed to passing along their technical, artistic and professionalism to the next generation of the gaming and animation workforce.
On each job, our supervisors share their expertise with emerging animation artists -- creating opportunities for them to level up their skills on the job. When not on a Mud Pie Labs job they may be available to hire for your project. Contact us with opportunities for these talented, skilled and eager young professionals.
Daniel Grant
Modeler.Experienced 3D Animator with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. Skilled in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Adobe Photoshop, Maya, and Dye Sublimation. Strong arts and design professional with a Associate's degree focused in Computer Graphics from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.
Courtney Demola
Character design and modeling.
Courtney is a Long Island based artist who strives to create art larger than herself. Her style is draws from electronic art forms such as Anime, Video games, movies and television. She has experience using Maya, Zbrush, and Blender. Her dream is to design and sculpt in the animation and video game industry. Courtney interned at the The Animation Project.
Courtney is a Long Island based artist who strives to create art larger than herself. Her style is draws from electronic art forms such as Anime, Video games, movies and television. She has experience using Maya, Zbrush, and Blender. Her dream is to design and sculpt in the animation and video game industry. Courtney interned at the The Animation Project.
Juan Duran
Illustration and animation.
Juan’s interest in animation began when he watched animated films and TV cartoons during his childhood. Juan attended City Tech in Communication Design to learn about 2D and 3D animation. After graduating, Juan interned at The Animation Project working on Maya and Nuke projects. Juan aspires to tell stories that convey important and entertaining messages.
Juan’s interest in animation began when he watched animated films and TV cartoons during his childhood. Juan attended City Tech in Communication Design to learn about 2D and 3D animation. After graduating, Juan interned at The Animation Project working on Maya and Nuke projects. Juan aspires to tell stories that convey important and entertaining messages.
Tiffany Yu
Production.
Tiffany recently graduated from FIT School of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration. Currently social media manager at Richard Solomon Artists Representative. She aspires to work in production on stories that focus on character relationships and coming of age adventures. She hopes one day to write and direct stories that push the boundaries of mainstream entertainment.
Tiffany recently graduated from FIT School of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration. Currently social media manager at Richard Solomon Artists Representative. She aspires to work in production on stories that focus on character relationships and coming of age adventures. She hopes one day to write and direct stories that push the boundaries of mainstream entertainment.
Ariel Esposito
Character animation.
Ariel focuses on action. Before he started animating Ariel would always imagine fight scenes in my head but did not have the power to bring them to life. Once he learned CGI, the animation train never stopped. He spends much of his time in Maya creating short films with fight scenes -- animating every day, no mercy.
Ariel focuses on action. Before he started animating Ariel would always imagine fight scenes in my head but did not have the power to bring them to life. Once he learned CGI, the animation train never stopped. He spends much of his time in Maya creating short films with fight scenes -- animating every day, no mercy.
Gianni Agard-Corazzini
3D generalist.
Gianni has a year and a half of experience in the field and hails from Trinidad. Gianni is self-taught with an endless desire for knowledge, scraping together whatever information he can produce the best of results -- whether it be for a short film like Frog Legs or commissions. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York as a freelance texture artist.
Gianni has a year and a half of experience in the field and hails from Trinidad. Gianni is self-taught with an endless desire for knowledge, scraping together whatever information he can produce the best of results -- whether it be for a short film like Frog Legs or commissions. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York as a freelance texture artist.
Sammi WS Chan
Character design and storyboards.
Sammi is an Asian American freelance artist based in Brooklyn. Pursuing a career in visual storytelling, she first worked as a muralist with Groundswell. She then apprenticed at The Animation Project using Maya and Nuke. Seeing a lack inclusivity, social and environmental justice in the media, she is committed to illustrating those narratives.
Sammi is an Asian American freelance artist based in Brooklyn. Pursuing a career in visual storytelling, she first worked as a muralist with Groundswell. She then apprenticed at The Animation Project using Maya and Nuke. Seeing a lack inclusivity, social and environmental justice in the media, she is committed to illustrating those narratives.
Ariyana Taylor
Character design and storyboarding.
After graduating with a BFA in Illustration from FIT, Ariyana is looking to expand her artistic knowledge by joining great animation teams. In these teams Ariyana enjoys collaborating with people using different ideas to create something unique. Being skilled in both traditional and digital mediums, she aims to bring a sense of fun, style, and color into all of her work.
After graduating with a BFA in Illustration from FIT, Ariyana is looking to expand her artistic knowledge by joining great animation teams. In these teams Ariyana enjoys collaborating with people using different ideas to create something unique. Being skilled in both traditional and digital mediums, she aims to bring a sense of fun, style, and color into all of her work.
Nate Tazewell
Visual development.
Nate's work displays a love of writing and character design for animation and sequential art. Working in a unique, charismatic style of drawing and color, his work combines elements of sequential storytelling with diverse character development. He draws inspiration from Afrofuturism and illustrators such as Moebius and Phillippe Druillet, and anime films from the 70s. Nate interned for The Animation Project.
Nate's work displays a love of writing and character design for animation and sequential art. Working in a unique, charismatic style of drawing and color, his work combines elements of sequential storytelling with diverse character development. He draws inspiration from Afrofuturism and illustrators such as Moebius and Phillippe Druillet, and anime films from the 70s. Nate interned for The Animation Project.
Zander Krakowiak
Visual development.
Zander designs characters and worlds -- exploring the her favorite genres of sci-fi and fantasy video games. While an intern at The Animation Project, Zander experimented with 3D modeling and compositing, becoming an apprentice environment, character and prop designer. She is fascinated with vast environments and works playfully with scale, blue hues and boundless skies.
Zander designs characters and worlds -- exploring the her favorite genres of sci-fi and fantasy video games. While an intern at The Animation Project, Zander experimented with 3D modeling and compositing, becoming an apprentice environment, character and prop designer. She is fascinated with vast environments and works playfully with scale, blue hues and boundless skies.
Joseph Falzone
CG general and character design.
Joseph's work ethic encompasses discipline and constant learning. During his internship at The Animation Project he modeled and textured props for the film Frog Legs. He has considerable experience using Blender, Maya, Zbrush , Substance Painter, Topogun and 3D Coat. Previously, Joseph interned at Avalanche Studios.
Joseph's work ethic encompasses discipline and constant learning. During his internship at The Animation Project he modeled and textured props for the film Frog Legs. He has considerable experience using Blender, Maya, Zbrush , Substance Painter, Topogun and 3D Coat. Previously, Joseph interned at Avalanche Studios.