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DAVE TULLY

Character Animator  •  Character Content Developer  •  Cinematic Storyteller​​

dtullyanimation.com  •  dtullyanimation@gmail.com  •   LinkedIn

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SUMMARY

Character animator and character content developer for gameplay animation, cinematic storytelling, and real-time performance using hand-key and motion capture animation. Supporting teams by building animation pipelines and scalable character workflows in Maya, Unreal Engine, and Unity, delivering character animation for gameplay and cinematic production across a range of styles and real-time platforms.

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SKILLS AND WORKFLOWS

  • Character Animation: Expert hand-key animation and motion capture integration (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: 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, 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, including character pipeline development for global franchises such as Harry Potter: Puzzles And Spells,

       Wonka’s World Of Candy and Farmville Harvest Swap.

  • 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, Wonka’s World of Candy, Wizard of Oz: Magic Match, Farmville Harvest Swap, Game of Thrones: Slots, Ninja Kingdom, Bubble Safari, Bubble Safari Ocean​

 

Lead Animator | Character Content Developer | Cinematic Lead 

Limbic Software - Palo Alto, CA

Remote mobile game development team focused on rapid iteration and small-team production.                                                                                                                                       

  • Led animation and co-designed two top-selling mobile titles

  • Directed animation across gameplay, UI, trailers, and promotional media

  • Developed visual identity and animation systems to support long-term live service

  • Shipped titles include: Zombie Gunship, Nuts!​​​

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SELECTED FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCE (2000–2011)

THQ, Midway, High Moon Studios, Rockstar San Diego, Limbic Software

  • 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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SHIPPED TITLES INCLUDE:                            ​​​​​​​​​​​

Sleep Awake               Red Dead Revolver                     Darkwatch                                           Ninja Kingdom  

Saints Row 2              Homefront                                    Wonka’s World Of Candy                  Transworld Surf   

Zombie Gunship        Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows            Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells          

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ADDITIONAL 2D ANIMATION | STORYBOARDING EXPERIENCE

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

Hand drawn 2D animation, storyboarding, and broadcast production across character-driven media projects.

 

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