Hello!

My name is Daniel Zettl and I’m currently an animator at Moon Studios working on a new IP.

I’ve worn many hats in the past and produced a wide variety of animation products with focus on style, originality and highest quality.

Collaboration with a myriad of fantastic directors in the entertainment industry allowed me to develop my own visual/motion style and I’m excited to apply this in production, personal work and through empowering teams and artists around the globe.

Thanks for reading! With questions or inquiries please hit me up under sayhitodanzettl@danielzettl

Cheers,
Daniel

Work experience

Games

2021 – presentSenior Animator at Moon Studios
2017 – 2021Senior Animator on League of Legends at Riot Games

Feature Film

2016The BFG
Animation Supervisor at Weta Digital
2015Fantastic Four
Lead Animator Weta Digital
2014The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2013The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2012Iron Man 3
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2012Superman: Man of Steel
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2012The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2011The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2010Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Senior Animator at Weta Digital
2009The Lovely Bones
Animator at Weta Digital
2009Avatar
Animator at Weta Digital
2007Dragon Hunters
Animator at Trixter
2006Lissi und der wilde Kaiser
Animator at Scanline
2005Hui Buh – Das Schlossgespenst
Animator at Trixter

Commercials and Other

2010King Kong 360 3D (theme park ride)
Animator at Weta Digital
2008Bridgestone “Taters” (superbowl commercial)
Lead Animator at Framestore
2008Westfield “New Light” (commercial)
Lead Animator at Framestore
2008The Abbey Bank “Golden Acorn” (commercial)
Lead Animator at Framestore
2008The Prince’s Rainforest Project “Frog” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Friskies “Bobo” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008British Airways “Aquarium” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Nissan “City Living” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008The Abbey Bank “Superkick” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008The Abbey Bank “Super Squirrels” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008The Chemical Brothers “Midnight Madness” (music video)
Animator at Framestore
2008Neotel “No Restrictions” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Evonik (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Specsaver “Eerie” (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Bulmers (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2008Buxtons (commercial)
Animator at Framestore
2007Primeval (Complete Season 2 – tv series)
Animator at Framestore
2007Animation Instructor at HTW, Dresden

Workshop in animation principles
2003Storyboard/ 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)
Previz + Storyboarding
SoftwareMaya
Blender
Cascadeur
Unreal
Unity
Hobbiesgaming, fitness, cooking
LanguagesGerman (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
  • Style and Locomotion Development
  • Previsualization