Howdy,
My name is Daniel Zettl and I’m an Animator / Animation Supervisor. I’ve worked on a boat load of animated and live action feature films, commercials and tv series in the UK, Germany and New Zealand. After eight years at Weta Digital I decided to finally join the Games Industry.
For the past ~5 years I’ve been a part of the League of Legends skins team at Riot Games.
Now, I’m working at Moon Studios and we’re creating something new and breathtaking.
Creating new and original characters, with unforeseen fresh mannerisms and locomotion, through good design and an emotionally honest and deep performance is and always has been my motivation. What excites me most is a chance to spin an idea further or explore alternative choices. Learning is a hobby of mine, a passion I would say.
Thanks for reading! With questions or inquiries please hit me up under sayhitodanzettl@gmail.com
Cheers,
Daniel
Work experience
Games
| 2021 – present | Senior Animator at Moon Studios |
| 2017 – 2021 | Senior Animator on League of Legends, Riot Games |
Feature Film
| 2016 | The BFG Weta Digital, directed by Steven Spielberg, animation supervisor |
| 2015 | Fantastic Four Weta Digital, directed by Josh Trank, lead animator |
| 2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Weta Digital, directed by Peter Jackson, senior animator |
| 2013 | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Weta Digital, directed by Peter Jackson, senior animator |
| 2012 | Iron Man 3 Weta Digital, directed by Shane Black, senior animator |
| 2012 | Man of Steel Weta Digital, directed by Zack Snyder, senior animator |
| 2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Weta Digital, directed by Peter Jackson, senior animator |
| 2011 | The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn Weta Digital, directed by Steven Spielberg & Peter Jackson, senior animator |
| 2010 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Weta Digital, directed by Rupert Wyatt, senior animator |
| 2009 | The Lovely Bones
Weta Digital, directed by Peter Jackson, animator |
| 2009 | Avatar Weta Digital, directed by James Cameron, animator |
| 2007 | Dragon Hunters Trixter, directed by Guillaume Ivernel & Arthur Qwak, animator |
| 2006 | Lissi und der wilde Kaiser Scanline VFX, directed by Michael Herbig, animator |
| 2005 | Hui Buh – Das Schlossgespenst Trixter, directed by Sebastian Niemann, animator |
Commercials and Other
| 2010 | King Kong 360 3D (theme park ride) Weta Digital, directed by Peter Jackson, animator |
| 2008 | Bridgestone “Taters” (superbowl commercial) Framestore CFC, lead animator |
| 2008 | Westfield “New Light” (commercial) Framestore CFC, lead animator |
| 2008 | The Abbey Bank “Golden Acorn” (commercial) Framestore CFC, lead animator |
| 2008 | The Prince’s Rainforest Project “Frog” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Friskies “Bobo” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | British Airways “Aquarium” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Nissan “City Living” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | The Abbey Bank “Superkick” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | The Abbey Bank “Super Squirrels” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | The Chemical Brothers “Midnight Madness” (music video) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Neotel “No Restrictions” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Evonik (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Specsaver “Eerie” (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Bulmers (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2008 | Buxtons (commercial) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2007 | Primeval (Complete Season 2 – tv series) Framestore CFC, animator |
| 2007 | Animation Instructor at HTW, Dresden
Workshop in animation principles |
| 2003 | Storyboard/ Background-/ Prop Design/ 2D Animation Internship at Trixter Assistant storyboard artist Assistant prop designer Background designer for pitches Assistant animator on the 2D animated series “Hexe Lilly” |
Personal Info
| Skills | +18 years of character & creature animation experience Gameplay + Cinematic Animation (Games) Creature Animation + Motion Capture (Film) Character Development + Animation Look-Dev Character TD skills (Rigging/Modelling/nCloth/FACS facials) Storyboarding |
| Software | Maya Blender Cascadeur Unreal Unity Windows & Linux-based systems |
| Hobbies | gaming, painting, skateboarding, surfing |
| Languages | German (native) English |
Awards / Teaching / Tutorials / Publications
- Nomination for the Annie Award 2016 (Animation in a Live Action Production)
- Teaching Animation at the Technical University Dresden, Germany (Principles of Animation)
- 3D Creative Magazine (issue #35) (Tutorial: Pose-to-Pose vs. Straight-ahead)
- Interview at the online animation school Anim School
- Interview at Mike Milo’s Animation Insider
- Interview at the german tabloid Die Welt
Specialities
- Character / Creature animation
- Facial animation
- Previs / Destruction FX
- Character Rigging incl. FACS facial setup
Daniel Zettl - 3D Animator 