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Dave Tully   

Character Animation \ Cinematic Storytelling \ Realtime Entertainment              

dtullyanimation.com                                                                                                             

dtullyanimation@gmail.com                                                                                                                                  

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Summary

Character animator with extensive experience in cinematic storytelling, real-time development and immersive gameplay character performance. Proven leader and collaborator in animation direction thru agile content pipelines. Adept at bridging storytelling with technology while blending keyframe, mocap and procedural workflows  in creating the best performance-driven experiences from concept to scalable content across games, cinematics, and interactive media.

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Skills / Tools / Workflows

  • Animation and engagement: emotional performance, cinematic acting, character expressiveness, VO acting

  • State machine and pipeline development for both scripted cinematic, gameplay animation Unreal Engine, Unity, Live Link, Maya, Perforce

  • Motion capture and rigging, full-body and hand mocap, facial performance workflows and setup: mGear Framework, Movella Xsens, Manus, Move AI, Livelink workflows

  • Character content development tools: Maya, Substance Painter, ZBrush, Adobe Suite, Marmoset 

  • Pre-production for concept, storyboarding, pre-viz and rapid prototyping 

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Experience​​​​

Animation Director, Creative Lead                                                                                                                                     

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

  • Provide animation direction, hand keyed, motion capture integration, rapid prototyping, previz and workflow dev across real-time cinematic, and interactive projects

  • Guide preproduction through to final implementation with a focus on emotionally driven character performances in a wide range of styles and experiences

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Lead Animator

Eyes Out – Remote Global Team | Nov 2021 – Present                                                                                                                 

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

  • Developed animation pipelines to support real-time storytelling and character engagement

 

Lead Animator, Technical Animator​

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

  • Animation direction on gameplay, cinematics and character content development for all games

  • Developed prototype for HDTV meta game

  • Helped refactor and scale Unity-based pipelines for evolving IP

  • Shipped:

    • ​Cookie Jam 

    • ​Cookie Jam Blast 

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Lead Animator, 3D / 2D Artist​

Zynga - Carlsbad, CA | January 2012 – April 2019                                                                                                                                                                  

  • Led cinematic and in-game animation across multiple high-profile franchises

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

  • Shipped:

    • Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

    • Game of Thrones: Slots Casino

    • Wonka’s World of Candy

    • Wizard of Oz: Magic Match

    • Farmville: Harvest Swap

    • Ninja Kingdom

    • Bubble Safari and others

    • Bubble Safari Ocean​

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3D Shot Animator (Contract)

Motion Logic Studios - Los Angeles, CA | October 2011 – December 2011                                                                                                                                                         

  • Staging, pre-viz and animation shot polish to character animations on a feature release for Warner Bros

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Lead Animator, 3D Artist, Game Designer​

Limbic Software - Palo Alto, CA | July 2010 – January 2012                                                                                                                                                                    

  • 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:

    • Zombie Gunship

    • Nuts!​​​

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Lead Animator, Prototype Lead Artist, Co-inventor

Wowwee International - Carlsbad, CA | April 2008 – July 2011                                                                                                                                                             ​

  • Art and animation lead on conceptual product development and AR applications

  • Co-inventor on multiple interactive toy lines, combining physical play with digital features

  • Created previsualization, 2D concepts, and promotional content for launches

  • Shipped:

    • Paper Jamz / Paper Jamz Pro (Toy of the Year 2010)​

    • AppGear AR Mobile App Series

    • Roborover

    • Lightstrike

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Senior Animator,  3D Artist

​​​​Concrete Games / THQ - Carlsbad, CA | November 2005 – February 2008                                                                                                                                                    

  • In-game and cinematic character animator on flagship product Revolución

  • Character animation support for HUD select on Saints Row II (Volition, THQ)

  • Character animation gameplay prototyping and vertical slice development​

  • Shipped:

    • Saints Row II

    • Homefront (from Revolución prototype)

 

​Senior Animator, Senior Artist​​​

Midway Home Entertainment – San Diego, CA | April 2005 – November 2005

  • In-game and cinematic character animation for Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows (PS2, Xbox, GameCube)

  • Managed character setup, modeling, and rigging for multiple platforms

  • Shipped:

    • Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows​

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Lead Cinematic Animator

High Moon Studios - Carlsbad, CA | July 2003 – March 2005   

  • Cinematic animation lead

  • In-game and cinematic character animation, character setup, rigging direction

  • Shipped:​

    • Darkwatch

    • Invasion LA (Unreleased Demo)

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Senior Animator \ 2D \ 3D Artist​​

Rockstar San Diego\ Angel Studios - Carlsbad, CA | February 2000 – July 2003                                                                                                                                   

  • Character animation, modeling, and conceptual art for multiple titles

  • Contributed to both gameplay systems and cinematic sequences

  • Shipped:​

    • Red Dead Revolver

    • Transworld Surf

    • Rebirth: Oni II (Unreleased demo)​​​

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Featured Launched Game Links

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                 🎮 Darkwatch                                                     🎮 Red Dead Revolver                              🎮 Saints Row 2

            🎮 Zombie Gunship                                      🎮 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells             🎮 Game of Thrones: Slots 🎮                        🎮Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows                                 🎮 Wonka's World Of Candy                         🎮 Ninja Kingdom

                                                                                                 🎮 Transworld Surf                   

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Education

Sept. 1986 - May 1989            Grossmont College, San Diego, CA--Fine Art / Art History / Illustration   - Associate OF Arts, AA

Sept. 1990 - March 1993        New York University, New York City – Fine Art / Art History / Industrial Design - Continuation Arts Degree

2001-2008                                 Watts Atelier, Encinitas, CA –  Various continuation courses in fine art, life drawing, conceptual design and illustration

🎮 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

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​Early Career / 2D Animation Experience 

2D Character Animator / Storyboard Artist

Wild Brain, Inc. – San Francisco, CA | 1996 – 1998

  • Created expressive hand-drawn animation for commercial and television projects, integrating traditional and digital workflows

  • Focused on character performance, gesture, and visual storytelling across short-form narrative content

  • Worked closely with directors and storyboard teams to shape tone, pacing, and emotion

2D Animator / Assistant Animator

Colossal Pictures – San Francisco, CA | 1994 – 1996

  • Contributed to broadcast IDs, music videos, and high-profile advertising campaigns as an assistant animator and clean-up artist

  • Developed a strong foundation in animation timing, appeal, and stylized movement

  • Exposure to early multimedia formats and hybrid production pipelines

 

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