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DAVE TULLY

Character Animation  •  Character Content Development • Cinematic Storytelling  ​​

dtullyanimation.com  •  dtullyanimation@gmail.com  •  Moby Games  •  LinkedIn

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SUMMARY

Character animator and character content developer specializing in gameplay animation, cinematic storytelling, and real-time performance through hand-keyed and motion capture–embellished animation. Experienced in supporting teams while authoring scalable animation pipelines and modular character workflows in Maya, Unreal Engine 5, and Unity 6, delivering emotionally driven character animation across a wide range of styles and platforms

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SKILLS AND WORKFLOWS

  • Character Animation: Expert in hand-key and mocap-embellished animation (Gameplay, Cinematics, Acting, Performance).

  • Technical Rigging and Setup: Custom character development, look-dev, and complex face/body rigging (mGear, Maya, HIK, Advanced Skeleton) building retarget-ready implementation workflows.

  • Digital Human Pipelines: including MetaHuman Creator, Mesh-to-MetaHuman, MetaHuman Animator, ARKit-based facial rigs, and full performance capture and retarget workflows.

  • Animation Leadership: Mentorship, previs, storyboarding, shot layout, and cinematic camera work from blockout to final.

  • Scalable Character Systems: Visual scripting, state machines, blend trees, Animation Blueprints, universal rig authoring, in engine previs and final authoring, prop support (UE5, Unity, Maya and various 3rd party plugins).

  • Motion Capture: Full-body and facial capture pipelines including Xsens, Manus, Live Link, and Move AI, with retargeting and finalization (Xsens, Manus, Live Link, Move AI).

  • Collaboration: Cross-disciplinary work with Design, Engineering, Tech Art, and Narrative in Agile production environments.

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TOOLS AND DEV TECH

  • Engines: Unreal Engine 5.4 - 5.7 (Control Rig, Sequencer, Animation Blueprints, Core Blueprints), Unity 6.3 (Mecanim, Timeline, Cinemachine).

  • DCC: Maya (Control Rig, Anim Layers, Time Editor), ZBrush, Substance Painter.

  • Motion Capture Tech: Xsens, Manus, Move AI, Maya HIK, Live Link, Metahumans Workflows, ARKit Facial Capture, Perforce.

  • Audio Tools: Previz and post finalizing relative to animation for VO, ambient audio and Foley in Reaper, FL Studio, Ableton.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE​

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Animation Lead | Previz Lead

Studio Gerrard — Remote | May 2025 – Present

  • Direct all character animation and previs for gameplay and in-game cinematics on an unannounced title.

  • Designed scalable character pipelines supporting real-time gameplay and high-fidelity narrative delivery.

  • Collaborate with creative leadership to define character performance language and stylization early in production.

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Animation Lead | Creative Lead                                                                                                                                     

The Motion Shop – San Diego, CA | Feb 2018 – Present

  • Provide high-level animation direction and hands-on performance leadership across cinematic and interactive projects.

  • Oversee end-to-end mocap pipelines, from pre-production through final engine integration.

  • Maintain technical efficiency and rapid iteration speeds across a spectrum of platforms and artistic styles.

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Lead Animator

Eyes Out – Remote Global Team | Nov 2021 – December 2024                                                                                                                 

  • Animation lead for Sleep Awake, upcoming survival horror game focused on narrative, atmosphere and emotional tension

  • Principal Contribution: Built character animation systems for full-body and ARKit facial capture, supporting seamless gameplay-to-cinematic transitions.

  • Mentorship: Mentored Junior Animators and Associate Artists in pipeline efficiency and Unreal/Maya content development.

  • Oversaw and led co-development of 13 unique gameplay and cinematic characters, including models and rigs for all NPCs and player characters, to support scalable animation pipelines.

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Lead Animator | Technical Animator​

Jam City - Carlsbad, CA | Apr 2019 – Jun 2021                                                                                                                                                             

  • Directed gameplay and cinematic animation for high-scale mobile titles and playable demos in Unity engine.

  • Principal Contribution: Led the refactoring of top-grossing IP from legacy tech to modernized, scalable Unity animation pipelines.

  • Mentored cross-disciplinary artists in Unity/Maya character workflows.

  • Core contributor to rapid prototyping, playable demos, and new IP incubation

  • Shipped titles include: Cookie Jam, Cookie Jam Blast, and rapid prototype For HDTV Match meta game in Unity

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Lead Animator | 3D / 2D Artist​

Zynga - Carlsbad, CA | January 2012 – April 2019                                                                                                                                                                  

  • Led cinematic and in-game animation for global franchises, including Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.

  • Core contributor to rapid prototyping, playable demos, and new IP incubation.

  • Directed in-game cinematic mini-series The Adventures of Bubbles and Buttercup

  • Mentored cross-disciplinary artists in Unity/Maya character workflows.

  • Shipped titles include: Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, Game of Thrones: Slots, Wonka’s World of Candy, Wizard of Oz: Magic Match, Farmville: Harvest Swap, Ninja Kingdom, Bubble Safari, Bubble Safari Ocean​

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SELECTED FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCE (2000–2011)

Midway, High Moon Studios, Rockstar San Diego, Limbic Software, WowWee Robotics

  • Senior and Lead roles contributing to AAA, multi-platform Midcore and mobile titles. Established character pipelines and led cinematic sequences.

  • Shipped Titles include: Red Dead Revolver, Darkwatch, Saints Row 2, Zombie Gunship, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, Transworld Surf.

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​FEATURED SHIPPED TITLES                            

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🎮 Sleep Awake            🎮 Red Dead Revolver                🎮 Darkwatch     

🎮 Saints Row 2            🎮 Homefront                              🎮 Wonka’s World Of Candy             🎮 Ninja Kingdom  

🎮 Zombie Gunship     🎮Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows       🎮 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells    🎮 Transworld Surf   

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FOUNDATIONAL 2D ANIMATION | STORYBOARDING

Wild Brain, Inc. | Colossal Pictures | Mondo Media - San Francisco, CA

Classical refinement in traditional hand-drawn animation, storyboarding, and broadcast media. This foundational character acting and timing

informs my modern real-time and cinematic workflows.

 

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