recommendations...
animation director | saving bikini bottom: the sandy cheeks movie (SpongeBob SquarePants)
"I had the privilege of working with Paul at Redefine where he excelled in his role while I served as a Production Coordinator.
Paul's talent in animation is exceptional. His creative vision and attention to detail brought the characters to life in a remarkable way. Throughout the project, he displayed strong leadership, inspiring the animation team to deliver their best work.
Paul's professionalism and dedication were evident in every aspect of our collaboration. He effectively managed deadlines and resources, ensuring the project stayed on track while maintaining high-quality standards.
What sets Paul apart is his commitment to excellence. He encouraged the team to explore innovative techniques, resulting in a final product that exceeded expectations.
Beyond his skills, Paul is a pleasure to work with. His approachable nature and open communication style fostered a positive and collaborative environment.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Paul on a project together. His talent, professionalism, and leadership make him an invaluable asset to any animation project."
Suyash Songaonkar - Production Coordinator at ReDefine Animation - June 29, 2023
"I've had the privilege of working with Paul at ReDefine. Not only did he have a unique ability to keep our team organized and on schedule, but his constant communication helped lift our spirits in challenging situations. His humor and empathy fostered a comforting work environment. He sets realistic goals and gives reasonable deadlines to complete those goals. His understanding of people’s needs is outstanding and everyone working under him feels comfortable. Paul is a great motivator. He instills positive energy in every team member, keeping everyone focused on what needs to be achieved. He would always make time to answer any questions and provide clarifications. He is such an inspiration to me, and I feel fortunate to have worked with him. Anyone would be lucky to work with a true leader like Paul. I would highly recommend Paul and would love to have the opportunity to work with him again in the future."
Eliska AzavedoEliska Azavedo - Human Resources ProfessionalHuman Resources Professional June 2, 2023
animation supervisor | zack snyder's army of the dead: lost vegas
"As a Senior Animator at Meduzarts I had the chance to work with Paul on Army Of the Dead.
Well...my experience with Paul was a smooth ride. But thats because he made it smooth.
Clear and meaningful direction, solid story telling ,always with an eye on "less is more", good humor, interpersonal and communication skills ,opened minded ...
What can I say, the man is like an all terrain vehicle. :-)
Its been a privilege, Paul!"
Cristinel Bostan • Lead Animator Moving Picture Company February 16, 2022
"I was honored to meet Paul, the first leader I met in this strange city, who always encouraged me, helped me, and immersed me in this job and life. I am very grateful to him! Paul is humorous, it's comfortable to work with him, he can respect the ideas of each artist, give artists the opportunity to make the most of their ideas, accept and give advice, I really enjoy working with him and I hope to have the opportunity to continue working together in the future!"
Rachel Hou • Senior Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 31, 2022
"I've worked with Paul in Digital Dimension, he was the animation director and he was great!
Always listening and available for the animators, he has an ability to guide us in the best direction to find solutions to our various problems or questions we could have for the best of production.
He is also able to reassure us in times of stress.
He was a great help, he always managed to channel my talent and my energy at the right time and in the right direction.
No matter which studio Paul finds himself in, I'm sure he'll be a perfect asset to direct productions and ensure the smooth running of the many projects he's going to take part in. I will be pleased to work with him again in the future!"
Joannie Vaillancourt • Animatrice 3D chez Digital Dimension Entertainment Group January 23, 2022
"One of my favourite things about this industry is the opportunity to work alongside artists that inspired me to get into art in the first place. Paul is one such artist. His work speaks for itself, and I would like to take a moment to celebrate Paul's abilities as a leader.
Paul and I worked together at Meduzarts. I was a Junior Animator, while he was my Animation Supervisor. As a Junior I never once felt lost or confused. Paul knew exactly what he wanted, and always communicated his vision clearly. He taught me a lot about filmmaking and storytelling. I was very impressed with how well Paul steered the ship, especially through some rough waters. He was always warm, insightful, and did a great job of keeping the morale high. Knowing that I can trust Paul's leadership meant that I could focus entirely on my shots. He's also got great stories! It's a shame that the pandemic and distance prevented the team from gathering all in one place. Paul is a pleasure to chat with.
I feel very fortunate to have worked with Paul. I wish him all the best, and hope that we can work together in the future, as I still have a lot to learn from him!"
Eugene Vasylenko • Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 18, 2022
'It was my pleasure to work with Paul at Digital Dimension. Paul is very experienced, knows exactly what he needs to make the show look good, and patient to guide animators to achieve his and the client’s vision. I highly recommend Paul and would love to work with Paul in the future when there is an opportunity.'
Gene Xu • Senior Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 17, 2022
animation supervisor | head of department • zoic studios
“I have known Paul Griffin for a little over a year while he has worked as an Animation Supervisor within Zoic. Paul’s attitude towards his work and his performance on the job is exceptional.
His interpersonal and communication skills have allowed him to develop great working relationships that have enabled our animation department to work in a smooth and professional manner. Most of all Paul’s ability to remain calm and diagnose problems during frenzied periods proves his ability to work well under pressure. I recommend him for employment without reservation.”
Darren Spence • Associate Producer at Zoic Studios April 16, 2020
“I had a great experience working with Paul. Our project had a wide range of full CG characters that he helped bring to life. We relied heavily on his enthusiasm and experience to come up with creative solutions. He was quick to understand the big picture of a sequence and guide our animators to it.”
Andrew Bardusk • Legends of Tomorrow, Visual Effects Supervisor April 14, 2020
“I had the pleasure to have Paul as my animation supervisor for almost 3 years at Zoic. He juggles many projects at once which was admirable. His focus for animators was very effective in telling the story as a primary goal. He knows the abilities and limits of the department and will boldly represent and draw the line when its needed during aggressive schedules. He allowed me to grow s an artist during my dual role with heavy emphasis on technical support. As a Senior Tech Animator, It was very easy to work with Paul by consulting with him about problems that needed his input for resolving. He has a great understanding of the many technical challenges that the animation department deals with and that was helpful for me to bounce ideas back and forth. His personality is very calm and friendly and I can honestly say that it was a highlight for my career to have him as my Animation Supervisor. I sincerely hope we cross paths again.”
Terry Kalinich • Technical Animator at Zoic Studios July 4, 2019
“I worked with Paul at Zoic Studios in Vancouver, BC where he was the Animation Supervisor. In general, the size of the team he manages ranges from 5-15 artists and the team works on multiple shows at the same time, which Paul juggles very well. Paul has a very great understanding of performance and how it relates to story, how to achieve the perfect needed acting points within a shot length so that everything cuts perfectly and seamlessly together in a sequence. He communicates all this to his team with a natural sense of enthusiasm.
Paul’s influence at Zoic Studios has definitely helped shape the now better workflow of the animation team. He set up the defined stages of animation known as Staging, Blocking, Performance and Polish, which Zoic never really used in an effective way before. This, as a result, has cut animation production time down a load, where back and forth notes from the client is more or less avoided. And this is so important to not waste valuable time in a tight tv production schedule. Paul is a good supervisor, who is very approachable, kind, funny, and enjoys helping artists grow in their art. I would love to work with him again and hope that one day it happens. :)"
Anouchka Farrenc • Animation Lead/Senior - May 12, 2018
animation lead • dr d studios
“It was a real pleasure to work with Paul at Dr.D Studios on Happy Feet Two. He is the type of animation supervisor that leads from the front with effective communication and a motivated work ethic. Whether it was broad or subtle animation Paul's creative and experienced insight helped our team craft appealing and genuine character performances. He is an 'animator's animator' with a true passion for the craft! I'm looking forward to working with Paul again in the future!”
Bryon Caldwell • Animator, Dr. D Studios November 27, 2011
“Paul worked as Lead animator on team of a 12 on Happy feet Two . In my role as prod coord of the team I can say its been such a rewarding experience to work with fun, inspiring, dedicated animators lead by Paul. Paul exemplifies what a lead should be, demonstrating strong communication skills with other departments, problem solving technical issues and giving creative direction to the animators whilst having a great sense of humor. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Paul and hope we can work on another project soon!”
Tu Nhi Lam • Production Coordinator - Animation, Dr. D Studios October 24, 2011
“I am very lucky to have a chance working with Paul on Happy Feet 2 as his team member. He is Humble, approachable and like to share his thought. Paul always gives a lot of freedom for animator to explore different ideas, but at the same time he will always guide you to the right direction, which I believe it is one of the best thing i like about him as a lead. I'm looking forward to work with Paul again. He is the kind of lead you definitely want to work with!!!”
Pei-Hsuan (Emma) Shih • Animator, Dr. D Studios September 19, 2011
“I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work under Paul's lead on Happy Feet 2. He has a genuine love and passion for animation which is infectious and makes us all get excited about our shots. Paul is so eager to share his vault of knowledge that I get the sense that he wants to see the people around him succeed. As well as being a fantastic mentor, Paul has a great business sense and knows how to get the best out of us without missing a deadline. Despite all his accomplishments, I don't think you could meet a nicer, more down to earth guy, who makes being at work fun. I can't wait to work for him again!”
Katie Cibinel • Character Animator, Dr.D Studios September 18, 2011
“Paul is the kind of well-respected Lead every animator dreams of having. For starters, he has so much professional experience and knowledge from working in this industry for two decades that I couldn't wait to absorb any and all information he was willing to share.
For all of his professional experience he would have every right to come with the biggest ego, but he doesn't. What I have loved about working with Paul is how approachable he is and how involved he is. He collaborates with every animator on his team to brainstorm and explore ideas that will maximize every performance in every shot. Once you've discussed your shot with Paul and the best idea for a performance is agreed upon, he encourages you to commit to it and in the end, he lets you own it. This approach builds confidence in the animator. When we were in dailies with the Animation Director or the Director of the film, it was a great feeling to know Paul had my back. He makes you feel like not only an integral part of the team, but to the film as a whole.
I've been impressed with Paul's leadership, direction, enthusiasm, passion, knowledge, and wisdom. As a friend I've looked up to his integrity, kindness, and willingness to help in any situation. I know I speak for everyone else on our team when I say he's the kind of Lead you aim to please. It has been such a pleasure and an honor working with Paul. Any studio would be lucky to have him. I can't wait to work with Paul again.”
Phillip Hall • Senior Animator, Dr. D Studios September 16, 2011
“I have had the pleasure of working with Paul at various companies over many years in this crazy industry. His insight, understanding and leadership in the animation realm is truely inspiring. He brings the best out of each and every performance from every artist. Always open to ideas and input, all the while working with you to achieve what is best for the shot and the show. One of the best at allowing you to be the owner of your idea, and your shot while providing the guidance and encouragement to get it over the finish line. I have always enjoyed working with Paul in any capacity, and will look forward to many more years down the line.”
Neil A. Lim Sang • Senior Animator, Dr. D Studios September 15, 2011
“Paul is a great lead, during my time at DrD studios Paul was my team lead and out of all the leads there I would not have wanted anybody else. From his personable nature, through to his thorough knowledge of animation and the film pipeline, he is the best guy to have on your team to help you work as efficiently and comfortably as possible.
I have really enjoyed my time on Pauls team and would jump at the opportunity to work with him again in the future.”
Neil Kennedy • Character Animator, Dr. D Studios September 14, 2011
“This is my second time I have had the pleasure of working with and for Paul. He has a great vision of a production schedule. He sees the big picture without giving up on the details that make animation great. Paul is an asset to any production.”
Kevin Scott • Senior Character Animator, Dr. D Studios September 14, 2011
“Working on Paul's team has been an absolute pleasure and learning experience. Paul is motivating, knowledgeable and very approachable. He is also proactive, taking initiative to get the best out of his team. Paul initiated "cartoon Fridays" getting the team to share their favorite animated shorts during this end of week session, which is a great way of sharing ideas, techniques and opinions. Paul was also proactive in improving communication between departments, achieving a much better result between animation and output. I have been fortunate to have been a part of Paul's team and I look forward to working with him again.”
Adrian Lim • Animator, Dr. D Studios September 6, 2011
“First thing I want to say is, Paul is a very experience artist I respect, he did most of the project that blown me away before I know him. At work he is Awesome leader! He is very supportive, if i want to do something crazy, all I need to do is talk to him, and he will guide and leave freedom to me.
Very humble person even though with so much experience, if u keep a distance from him because he is your superior, I guess he will kick your butt! and he cares about us too.
He will be a big rock you will need for your project and your team spirit!”
Jean Poh • Senior character animator, Dr.D Studios August 31, 2011
animation director • five vfx
“While it's not like Paul needs any more recommendations, I've just got to say he's just about the most awesome and humbling person I've ever worked with. Simply put --- the most balanced, centered, easy going, focused, professional, astoundingly talented artist I've known. If you have the opportunity to work with this man, then take it.”
Nick Gray • Technical Director and IT Manager, FIVE VFX May 21, 2010
animation supervisor • image metrics
“If they gave PHD's to animators, Dr Griffin would have one. He came to image metrics with a wealth of knowledge, that i wish he could fit into a book. It was a honor to work with someone with such experience and knowledge of animation He helped us all have a better understanding of detail and subtlety . Paul new how to keep the energy level and the creative juices flowing , he was very good at explaining what he wanted in a shot, and he had no problem coming over and sitting with you to push you in the right direction. Paul is a guy i look up to as an an animator and human being. Even though we worked together for a short time I look at him as a true mentor figure, I only got to scratch the surface of his knowledge, but i hope to work with him again in the future. Paul is a great lead to have on any project.”
Leon W. Gittens • Animator, image-metrics inc August 6, 2008
“I had the pleasure of working with Paul on a major feature film. While I wasn't a part of the animation team under Paul's supervision, I can say that working around him was a lot of fun. There wasn't a day that went by, during his stay at Image Metrics, that I didn't learn something new and interesting from Paul. Perhaps one of the nicest people you will ever meet, Paul never seems to have a bad day. His excitement, enthusiasm, and expertise was very much appreciated by everyone at Image Metrics. I would be thrilled to work with Paul again in the future.” June 1, 2008
Bryan Burger • Lead Motion Tracker, Image Metrics
“Paul opened my eyes to the many subtleties there can be in animation and at times he spoke wholeheartedly about animation in general and its legends. There was never a question or a problem that Paul would be unable to answer. His patience and direction helped me overcome any challenging scene that was given to me. Paul would be a huge value to any team, and I would be delighted to work with him again.”
Christian Brierley • Animator, Image Metrics May 27, 2008
“Paul was brought on for a 5 month contract for a full length feature film. I have never seen one individual have such an impact on every single artist in such a short amount of time. Paul’s experience, knowledge, and approach to each and every frame of animation was meticulous and spot-on to what we needed to impress our client.
His amazingly positive attitude to work within several strict technical and creative limitations really showed his flexibility as a supervisor. As the Production Manager, I was impressed with his knowledge of production pipelines and his ability to adapt to our ever-evolving production schedule.
What impressed me most was how he handled each and every animator fairly and equally. He found new ways with each of them to motivate them and push their own ability far beyond any of their expectations. The five months we worked with Paul were so impactful and meaningful, far exceeding our wildest dreams—he raised the ability of our studio as a whole it was truly a pleasure working with someone of his caliber.
Any animation production would be blessed to have someone of Paul’s stature—I strongly recommend and hope to work with this amazing man again.”
Pete Busch • Production Manager, Image-Metrics May 13, 2008
“We were lucky to get Paul to supervise the facial animation on a "certain project". Paul imparted decades of experience to our animators. He trully enjoys his job and enlivens the workplace. I especially enjoyed dailies with Paul, which always ended with a cartoon. Paul is a very friendly, professional, and interesting person. I'd work with him again any day.” Oleg Alexander • Lead Technical Artist, Image Metrics May 11, 2008
“With his many years of experience in this industry, Paul has in my opinion perfected the art of leadership. While working with him, i had always felt comforted and encouraged to do my best for him and the company. He is the kind of person you WANT to do more for, especially because he treats you with respect and never gets frustrated. He has definitely set the bar as far as leads are concerned. I hope to work with him again real soon. Hire this man!! I promise you will not be sorry.”
Cesar Bravo • Animator, Image Metrics May 3, 2008
“We recently completed a ground-breaking VFX project for a feature film to be released later this year. About 3 months before the project started we began our search for an Animation Supervisor. As soon as we saw Paul's resume we were very interested. After meeting him once we were convinced he was the man! Paul oozes experience, ability, personality, and class. The experience and animation knowledge he brought to our team for this difficult project was invaluable, we literally couldn't have done it without him. For that we will always be in his debt. Can't wait for this movie to be released and that opens the floodgates for more similar projects, and the chance to work with Paul once more. As an aside, he also has vast knowledge about the entire animation/vfx process, on the creative and business fronts. And excellent contacts throughout the industry.”
David Barton • Producer, Image Metrics May 3, 2008
“While working with Paul I could see that he had a great sense of what animation can and should be. He could instantly point out what was lacking in an animation and offer a real solution, often pushing it past that invisible line, giving the performance life. This matched with his extensive experience in the industry and fun, positive attitude throughout made the entire project a great experience. I would love to work with Paul again, I feel there is much more I could learn from him.”
David Ham • Animator, Image Metrics April 30, 2008
“Working with Paul was a wonderful experience. Paul is a seasoned animator and has a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the film industry. He brought a positive attitude everyday to work, which made the entire team motivated and eager to do their best. He was always ready to share his knowledge in animation and gave nothing but positive comments when working with his crew. A genuinely nice person with a strong animation eye, Paul would be an incredible asset to any project. I can only hope that our paths cross again in the future.”
Matt Onheiber • Animator, Image Metrics April 1, 2008
“Paul is one of those sups you hope to work for. He has the rare ability to elicit work of extremely high quality, while maintaining a calm and productive demeanor. No staplers were ever thrown. I definitely hope to work with Paul again someday soon.”
Kyle Ware • Production Assistant, Image Metrics March 19, 2008
“Paul's the kind of guy you wish you had worked with your first years in this industry. I knew right away after our first conversation about cartoons and 80's pop music that I was about to learn a lot from this man. Always sharing his trade secrets and pearls of animation wisdom with everyone without hesitation. The kind of supervisor that brings the best out of his team because he is an animator himself. Thats something you can't fake, and to me, that is the best kind of supervisor to have on your team. I wish Paul the very best in his future gigs and it would be my pleasure to work with him again soon.”
Anthony P. Rizzo • Senior Animator, Image Metrics March 16, 2008
“I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Paul during my time at Image-Metrics. While working under him there on projects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Mummy: The Rise of the Dragon Emperor, I quickly saw why his body of work and reputation stands as well as it does. Paul is a true professional and has a great eye for detail. He is a genuinely good person, who I could only hope to work for/with again in the future.”
Aaron Papa • Animator, Image Metrics March 15, 2008
series director / supervising producer • bardel entertainment Inc.
“Paul was my line director when I got my start in animation at Bardel Entertainment, and the wealth of animation knowledge I learned from him is priceless. He shook me out of my safety zone with character animation, encouraging me to take my acting that little bit further to gain an explosive piece of cartoony, funny animation. Paul has an extensive industry background, but his work and his creativity speak for itself.”
Ryan Nickell • Character Animator, Bardel Entertainment August 7, 2008
“In production Paul was very valuable . As a director, he was able to understand the limitations of production and see the big picture. Paul added to the quality of the show and improved it everywhere possible in ways that did not have large impacts on other departments. Working
with other directors over the years and experiencing their hectic approach, it was a pleasure to work with someone who had the backbone, foresight and experience to make a smooth, decisive production work flow possible.”
Matthew Baldwin • TD env. Lighting., Bardel August 5, 2008
“I really enjoyed working on Viva Pinata, and that had a lot to do with Paul. He was always attentive, respectful, and completely enthusiastic about the show and the efforts of his crew. He maintained a friendly and open demeanour while at the same time never tolerating substandard quality. Not many directors can do that.”
Kate Burgess • Designer, bardel entertainment February 12, 2008
“I highly recommend Paul, not only was his work outstanding but his communication skills made him a joy to work with.”
Richard Ducker • Senior Technical Director, ILM January 29, 2008
“Keeping quality and meeting deadlines. Two items that often contradict each other. However, Paul helped us find the perfect compromises in order to keep the shows as entertaining as possible. His attitude is always fresh and optimistic. He has not forgotten that we're all here to have fun, and that our love for our work does not have to be sacrificed in order to get the job done. While working with him at Bardel, he was a strong source of inspiration & motivation for all of us. Paul is certainly someone I look forward to working with again in the future.”
Jeremy Sabo • Lead Digital Puppet Creator, Bardel Entertainment December 21, 2006
“I enjoyed working with Paul, his friendly personality encouraged a creative, fun atmosphere in the workplace and his open approach to management allowed for a greater sense of "artistic ownership" for the other artists in the studio.”
Andrew Duncan, Unit Director, Bardel Entertainment November 2, 2006
“I think the stork delivered Griff to the wrong parents. Clearly he was meant to be the baby of Roger and Jessica Rabbit, but some rift in the time-space continuum caused him to be born rather than drawn. That Griff carries the 'toon gene is evidenced by his encyclopedic knowledge of classic cartoons, the uncanny ability for his liquid rubber face to go through gyrations only an
animated character should be able to achieve and his sharp eye for great animation design, writing and timing. You couldn't have anyone better than Griff leading an animated production even if you dug up Chuck Jones and cloned him.”
Zeke Norton • Director, Bardel Entertainment October 24, 2006
“I met Paul at Bardel as he started his role as series director, from what i noticed, the show simply would simply not be the same if it wasn’t for his influence on it. Paul constantly pushed to squeeze as much "funny" into the show as possible. I believe this was a crucial role, while other directors might ask for impossible things that, in the end, did little to improve a show, Paul had the ability to see around the problem and get as much payoff as u can, with as minimal labour attached. This is what most impressed me. At the same time it created good morale because it gave a sense that the director was on the artists side.
'All in all, 5 stars from me! Would love to work with him again.”
Mike Wasilewski • Character Modeling Supervisor, Bardel Entertainment October 24, 2006
“A really inspirational director and animator. He Is loads of fun to work with and always made animation fun when production was at its worst of times.
Highly recommended.”
Patricia Binga • Lead Animator, Bardel Ent. October 20, 2006
“It was my pleasure to work with Paul on Bardel Entertainment's project Viva Pinata. His depth of knowledge concerning animation and his abundance of energy were evidence that he not only knows his job inside and out, but loves it as well. This passion coupled with humility made Paul both a joy to work with and a highly effective leader of the crew at Bardel.”
Kelsey Wagner, lead animator, bardel entertainment October 19, 2006
“I met Paul J Griffin ("Griffy McGriff" as he lets me call him) in the early days of 2006. He challenged me to a game of rock paper scissors where I beat him three out of four games. We've been best pals ever since.
It has been a pleasure to work with Griff and learn under him. His experience and leadership is highly respected on our crew. With genuine enthusiasm for the projects he works on, he brings humor energy to the table every day. Always open to new ideas, he involves everyone and encourages us to speak up. It's nice to know he respects our ideas and makes us feel that we have a hand in the creative process.
I would cross the street to spit on his head if it was on fire. Of course I'm the one who started it....but thats another story.”
Aaron Smyth • Production Coordinator, Bardel Entertainment October 18, 2006
animation director • cafeFX
“While I worked with Paul, I remember he was a very confident and insightful artist on our team and I enjoyed working with him. He is not only someone I would enjoy working with again in the future, but he is someone I would go to lunch with also.”
Tracy Nicole Irwin • Character Rigger, CafeFx December 13, 2007
“In the time I worked with Paul at Cafe FX and at Weta Digital, he really showed his skills. He is a brilliant animator and one of the best animation directors I have worked with.
I would without a doubt recommend Paul to anyone, for his skills, his mentorship he demonstrated with other animators, and his client skills.”
Todd Widup • Lead Creature TD, Cafe FX December 22, 2005
“Paul is a great professional, with a very good eye for acting, physics, anatomy and 2D animation. He's a serious and passionate artist and also a great and funny guy to be around. Working with him was a great experience.”
Krishnamurti Costa • Lead Character Artist - 3D Generalist, CafeFX December 16, 2005
“Paul Griffin's experience and insights into performance animation are truly inspirational and show a genuine love for the art form. During his time at CafeFX, he was instrumental in creating a solid character animation department from the ground up. Paul is a great mentor and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Domenic DiGiorgio • Technical Animation Supervisor, CafeFX October 24, 2005
“Paul is one of my favorite supervisors. And...since I am playing favorites, let me explain why. He gets it. He has animated before and he's really good. He is an "Animator's Supervisor" and you know how temperamental we can be.
He also can migrate some of the thickest political mires in CG...and still walk around with a smile on his face and a great attitude. I cannot wait for the day we work together again.
Besides, he worked on the Fly like 20 years ago. He knows a lil' sumthin' about sumthin'. Don't let this one get away, seriously.”
Angie Jones • Digital Character Animator, Cafe FX December 7, 2007
animation director • industrial light + magic
“Paul Griffin sets the tone for the animation crew to be a positive creative environment to work in. His work style is collaborative and supportive. He reminds me of a great football coach that helps direct the team in a fun and creative atmosphere. If he were in the Bay Area I would enjoy working with him in a heartbeat because he has integrity and all around good guy. He's great at leading his teams in a positive direction!”
Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity
Millie C. Li • Production Coordinator, Industrial Light + Magic, January 18, 2008
“Working with Paul was an amazingly productive and educational experience not only for me personally, but for everyone involved in the Star Wars Bounty Hunter video game cinematics at LucasArts and ILM, the first real collaboration between these groups. His attention to quality and detail in visual storytelling is apparent in every single frame. This talent, as well as his methods for streamlining production techniques, allowed his team to finish a mind-boggling amount of high quality work in a very short timeframe. As a "client" and a colleague, I could't have been more pleased with the results.”
Jon Knoles • Director, LucasArts Entertainment Company February 21, 2007
“Working with Paul was an absolute pleasure. He is a rare Supervisor/Director that allows your creative input as an artist while working towards achieving the goals of the client. His door was always open for you to discuss things and work out ideas. I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
Neil A. Lim Sang • Creature TD/Animator, CafeFX December 14, 2006
“I've had the pleasure to have had Paul as a colleague and friend for over 13 years. I've always tried to work with him on whatever project he was on, as you were guaranteed a positive experience.
Paul is just one of those unique individuals that understands the big picture of a production, knows how to get the most out of his artists, while keeping everyone uplifted with his never-ending enthusiasm.
With his amazing work ethic and passion for the work, Paul continues to be an inspiration and mentor both as a great animation director and as a wonderful human being.”
C. Michael Easton • Sr. Animator, Industrial Light & Magic October 27, 2006
“I have known Paul for years and it has always been a pleasure to work with him. Paul possesses a true love of animation and brings that passion to work every day. He is a problem solver who is self directed and a leader who is always thinking about his crew.”
Rob Coleman • Animation Director, Industrial Light and Magic October 26, 2006
“Paul is just an all around great guy to work with. I edited several projects with Paul and each one was a smooth, easy, enjoyable process. Paul brings new ideas, clear direction and a great sense of humor to all that he does.”
Brent Bowers • Avid Editor, Industrial Light & Magic October 26, 2006
“Paul was my animation supervisor on various projects at Industrial Light & Magic. He is a pleasure to work with, and is as professional as can be. His is creative, and communicates extremely well.”
Jonathan Lyons • Animator, Industrial Light & Magic October 18, 2006
“Paul cares about people. This is evident in the way he interacts and listens to others. His constant upbeat, positive attitude can be extremely refreshing during stressful crunch-time moments.
Paul cherishes the craft of animation, to which he brings an equally infective enthusiasm: A valuable commodity in this jaded industry.”
Brian Lafrance • Technical Director, Industrial Light and Magic October 18, 2006
“I worked with Paul Griffin on Mummy2. I was fortunate to work as a Technical Director on a team which Paul lead as the Animation Supervisor. I must say, without hesitation, Paul is one of the most positive, enthusiastic, and inspiring supervisors I have worked with. Because of this, he inspires those on his team to deliver the highest quality of work. Paul provided feedback with fantastic solutions, always sharing his animation expertise. I learned a great deal from Paul. In addition to his technical knowledge, I respected his aesthetic observations. His aesthetic suggestions included subtle nuances to bold movement, all of which pushed a visual effects shot into realism. Despite being under extreme time deadlines, Paul always maintained an upbeat attitude, maintained a great sense of humor, and displayed tremendous appreciation to every person on the team. I would work with Paul again in a second. In my opinion, Paul Griffin exemplifies what it takes to be an Animation Supervisor / Director.”
Jennifer McKnew • Senior Technical Director, Industrial Light & Magic January 7, 2008
“Paul is one of those rare folks you meet in animation with a true passion for the art; Good humoured and seasoned in his craft, he is a joy to work with, and a great asset to any studio seeking an animation leader. I would gladly welcome an opportunity to work with Paul again.”
Tim Stevenson • Animator, CG / Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light And Magic December 9, 2007
“In the heat of production deadlines when people are screaming/crying/panicking , Paul always remained stoic. That was my favourite thing about him as he is very calming to have around in a leadership role.”
Andrew "Spanky" Grant • animator, Industrial Light and Magic December 27, 2005
“Paul was such an inspirational animation director at ILM that the crew made a short film about how productive and fun it was. This was primarily due to Paul's excellent leadership skills.”
Doug MacMillan • CG Supervisor, ILM October 23, 2005
senior animator dome productions
“Paul is one of the most talented animators I have worked with. He manages to combine a remarkable eye for nuance, passion for excellence and yet remains gracious, easy going and collaborative. His sense of humour often saves the day - even when the day has been horrible. It can be a difficult business at times - which makes Paul all the more unique in that he never let the blue meanies get him down. The scope of his work and level of responsibility has never stopped growing over the last 15 years. What Paul is capable of will be decided by him - not other people.”
Jocelyne Meinert • animator | manager of animation dept, Dome Productions January 14, 2008
animation director | saving bikini bottom: the sandy cheeks movie (SpongeBob SquarePants)
"I had the privilege of working with Paul at Redefine where he excelled in his role while I served as a Production Coordinator.
Paul's talent in animation is exceptional. His creative vision and attention to detail brought the characters to life in a remarkable way. Throughout the project, he displayed strong leadership, inspiring the animation team to deliver their best work.
Paul's professionalism and dedication were evident in every aspect of our collaboration. He effectively managed deadlines and resources, ensuring the project stayed on track while maintaining high-quality standards.
What sets Paul apart is his commitment to excellence. He encouraged the team to explore innovative techniques, resulting in a final product that exceeded expectations.
Beyond his skills, Paul is a pleasure to work with. His approachable nature and open communication style fostered a positive and collaborative environment.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Paul on a project together. His talent, professionalism, and leadership make him an invaluable asset to any animation project."
Suyash Songaonkar - Production Coordinator at ReDefine Animation - June 29, 2023
"I've had the privilege of working with Paul at ReDefine. Not only did he have a unique ability to keep our team organized and on schedule, but his constant communication helped lift our spirits in challenging situations. His humor and empathy fostered a comforting work environment. He sets realistic goals and gives reasonable deadlines to complete those goals. His understanding of people’s needs is outstanding and everyone working under him feels comfortable. Paul is a great motivator. He instills positive energy in every team member, keeping everyone focused on what needs to be achieved. He would always make time to answer any questions and provide clarifications. He is such an inspiration to me, and I feel fortunate to have worked with him. Anyone would be lucky to work with a true leader like Paul. I would highly recommend Paul and would love to have the opportunity to work with him again in the future."
Eliska AzavedoEliska Azavedo - Human Resources ProfessionalHuman Resources Professional June 2, 2023
animation supervisor | zack snyder's army of the dead: lost vegas
"As a Senior Animator at Meduzarts I had the chance to work with Paul on Army Of the Dead.
Well...my experience with Paul was a smooth ride. But thats because he made it smooth.
Clear and meaningful direction, solid story telling ,always with an eye on "less is more", good humor, interpersonal and communication skills ,opened minded ...
What can I say, the man is like an all terrain vehicle. :-)
Its been a privilege, Paul!"
Cristinel Bostan • Lead Animator Moving Picture Company February 16, 2022
"I was honored to meet Paul, the first leader I met in this strange city, who always encouraged me, helped me, and immersed me in this job and life. I am very grateful to him! Paul is humorous, it's comfortable to work with him, he can respect the ideas of each artist, give artists the opportunity to make the most of their ideas, accept and give advice, I really enjoy working with him and I hope to have the opportunity to continue working together in the future!"
Rachel Hou • Senior Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 31, 2022
"I've worked with Paul in Digital Dimension, he was the animation director and he was great!
Always listening and available for the animators, he has an ability to guide us in the best direction to find solutions to our various problems or questions we could have for the best of production.
He is also able to reassure us in times of stress.
He was a great help, he always managed to channel my talent and my energy at the right time and in the right direction.
No matter which studio Paul finds himself in, I'm sure he'll be a perfect asset to direct productions and ensure the smooth running of the many projects he's going to take part in. I will be pleased to work with him again in the future!"
Joannie Vaillancourt • Animatrice 3D chez Digital Dimension Entertainment Group January 23, 2022
"One of my favourite things about this industry is the opportunity to work alongside artists that inspired me to get into art in the first place. Paul is one such artist. His work speaks for itself, and I would like to take a moment to celebrate Paul's abilities as a leader.
Paul and I worked together at Meduzarts. I was a Junior Animator, while he was my Animation Supervisor. As a Junior I never once felt lost or confused. Paul knew exactly what he wanted, and always communicated his vision clearly. He taught me a lot about filmmaking and storytelling. I was very impressed with how well Paul steered the ship, especially through some rough waters. He was always warm, insightful, and did a great job of keeping the morale high. Knowing that I can trust Paul's leadership meant that I could focus entirely on my shots. He's also got great stories! It's a shame that the pandemic and distance prevented the team from gathering all in one place. Paul is a pleasure to chat with.
I feel very fortunate to have worked with Paul. I wish him all the best, and hope that we can work together in the future, as I still have a lot to learn from him!"
Eugene Vasylenko • Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 18, 2022
'It was my pleasure to work with Paul at Digital Dimension. Paul is very experienced, knows exactly what he needs to make the show look good, and patient to guide animators to achieve his and the client’s vision. I highly recommend Paul and would love to work with Paul in the future when there is an opportunity.'
Gene Xu • Senior Animator - Meduzarts Animation Studio January 17, 2022
animation supervisor | head of department • zoic studios
“I have known Paul Griffin for a little over a year while he has worked as an Animation Supervisor within Zoic. Paul’s attitude towards his work and his performance on the job is exceptional.
His interpersonal and communication skills have allowed him to develop great working relationships that have enabled our animation department to work in a smooth and professional manner. Most of all Paul’s ability to remain calm and diagnose problems during frenzied periods proves his ability to work well under pressure. I recommend him for employment without reservation.”
Darren Spence • Associate Producer at Zoic Studios April 16, 2020
“I had a great experience working with Paul. Our project had a wide range of full CG characters that he helped bring to life. We relied heavily on his enthusiasm and experience to come up with creative solutions. He was quick to understand the big picture of a sequence and guide our animators to it.”
Andrew Bardusk • Legends of Tomorrow, Visual Effects Supervisor April 14, 2020
“I had the pleasure to have Paul as my animation supervisor for almost 3 years at Zoic. He juggles many projects at once which was admirable. His focus for animators was very effective in telling the story as a primary goal. He knows the abilities and limits of the department and will boldly represent and draw the line when its needed during aggressive schedules. He allowed me to grow s an artist during my dual role with heavy emphasis on technical support. As a Senior Tech Animator, It was very easy to work with Paul by consulting with him about problems that needed his input for resolving. He has a great understanding of the many technical challenges that the animation department deals with and that was helpful for me to bounce ideas back and forth. His personality is very calm and friendly and I can honestly say that it was a highlight for my career to have him as my Animation Supervisor. I sincerely hope we cross paths again.”
Terry Kalinich • Technical Animator at Zoic Studios July 4, 2019
“I worked with Paul at Zoic Studios in Vancouver, BC where he was the Animation Supervisor. In general, the size of the team he manages ranges from 5-15 artists and the team works on multiple shows at the same time, which Paul juggles very well. Paul has a very great understanding of performance and how it relates to story, how to achieve the perfect needed acting points within a shot length so that everything cuts perfectly and seamlessly together in a sequence. He communicates all this to his team with a natural sense of enthusiasm.
Paul’s influence at Zoic Studios has definitely helped shape the now better workflow of the animation team. He set up the defined stages of animation known as Staging, Blocking, Performance and Polish, which Zoic never really used in an effective way before. This, as a result, has cut animation production time down a load, where back and forth notes from the client is more or less avoided. And this is so important to not waste valuable time in a tight tv production schedule. Paul is a good supervisor, who is very approachable, kind, funny, and enjoys helping artists grow in their art. I would love to work with him again and hope that one day it happens. :)"
Anouchka Farrenc • Animation Lead/Senior - May 12, 2018
animation lead • dr d studios
“It was a real pleasure to work with Paul at Dr.D Studios on Happy Feet Two. He is the type of animation supervisor that leads from the front with effective communication and a motivated work ethic. Whether it was broad or subtle animation Paul's creative and experienced insight helped our team craft appealing and genuine character performances. He is an 'animator's animator' with a true passion for the craft! I'm looking forward to working with Paul again in the future!”
Bryon Caldwell • Animator, Dr. D Studios November 27, 2011
“Paul worked as Lead animator on team of a 12 on Happy feet Two . In my role as prod coord of the team I can say its been such a rewarding experience to work with fun, inspiring, dedicated animators lead by Paul. Paul exemplifies what a lead should be, demonstrating strong communication skills with other departments, problem solving technical issues and giving creative direction to the animators whilst having a great sense of humor. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Paul and hope we can work on another project soon!”
Tu Nhi Lam • Production Coordinator - Animation, Dr. D Studios October 24, 2011
“I am very lucky to have a chance working with Paul on Happy Feet 2 as his team member. He is Humble, approachable and like to share his thought. Paul always gives a lot of freedom for animator to explore different ideas, but at the same time he will always guide you to the right direction, which I believe it is one of the best thing i like about him as a lead. I'm looking forward to work with Paul again. He is the kind of lead you definitely want to work with!!!”
Pei-Hsuan (Emma) Shih • Animator, Dr. D Studios September 19, 2011
“I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work under Paul's lead on Happy Feet 2. He has a genuine love and passion for animation which is infectious and makes us all get excited about our shots. Paul is so eager to share his vault of knowledge that I get the sense that he wants to see the people around him succeed. As well as being a fantastic mentor, Paul has a great business sense and knows how to get the best out of us without missing a deadline. Despite all his accomplishments, I don't think you could meet a nicer, more down to earth guy, who makes being at work fun. I can't wait to work for him again!”
Katie Cibinel • Character Animator, Dr.D Studios September 18, 2011
“Paul is the kind of well-respected Lead every animator dreams of having. For starters, he has so much professional experience and knowledge from working in this industry for two decades that I couldn't wait to absorb any and all information he was willing to share.
For all of his professional experience he would have every right to come with the biggest ego, but he doesn't. What I have loved about working with Paul is how approachable he is and how involved he is. He collaborates with every animator on his team to brainstorm and explore ideas that will maximize every performance in every shot. Once you've discussed your shot with Paul and the best idea for a performance is agreed upon, he encourages you to commit to it and in the end, he lets you own it. This approach builds confidence in the animator. When we were in dailies with the Animation Director or the Director of the film, it was a great feeling to know Paul had my back. He makes you feel like not only an integral part of the team, but to the film as a whole.
I've been impressed with Paul's leadership, direction, enthusiasm, passion, knowledge, and wisdom. As a friend I've looked up to his integrity, kindness, and willingness to help in any situation. I know I speak for everyone else on our team when I say he's the kind of Lead you aim to please. It has been such a pleasure and an honor working with Paul. Any studio would be lucky to have him. I can't wait to work with Paul again.”
Phillip Hall • Senior Animator, Dr. D Studios September 16, 2011
“I have had the pleasure of working with Paul at various companies over many years in this crazy industry. His insight, understanding and leadership in the animation realm is truely inspiring. He brings the best out of each and every performance from every artist. Always open to ideas and input, all the while working with you to achieve what is best for the shot and the show. One of the best at allowing you to be the owner of your idea, and your shot while providing the guidance and encouragement to get it over the finish line. I have always enjoyed working with Paul in any capacity, and will look forward to many more years down the line.”
Neil A. Lim Sang • Senior Animator, Dr. D Studios September 15, 2011
“Paul is a great lead, during my time at DrD studios Paul was my team lead and out of all the leads there I would not have wanted anybody else. From his personable nature, through to his thorough knowledge of animation and the film pipeline, he is the best guy to have on your team to help you work as efficiently and comfortably as possible.
I have really enjoyed my time on Pauls team and would jump at the opportunity to work with him again in the future.”
Neil Kennedy • Character Animator, Dr. D Studios September 14, 2011
“This is my second time I have had the pleasure of working with and for Paul. He has a great vision of a production schedule. He sees the big picture without giving up on the details that make animation great. Paul is an asset to any production.”
Kevin Scott • Senior Character Animator, Dr. D Studios September 14, 2011
“Working on Paul's team has been an absolute pleasure and learning experience. Paul is motivating, knowledgeable and very approachable. He is also proactive, taking initiative to get the best out of his team. Paul initiated "cartoon Fridays" getting the team to share their favorite animated shorts during this end of week session, which is a great way of sharing ideas, techniques and opinions. Paul was also proactive in improving communication between departments, achieving a much better result between animation and output. I have been fortunate to have been a part of Paul's team and I look forward to working with him again.”
Adrian Lim • Animator, Dr. D Studios September 6, 2011
“First thing I want to say is, Paul is a very experience artist I respect, he did most of the project that blown me away before I know him. At work he is Awesome leader! He is very supportive, if i want to do something crazy, all I need to do is talk to him, and he will guide and leave freedom to me.
Very humble person even though with so much experience, if u keep a distance from him because he is your superior, I guess he will kick your butt! and he cares about us too.
He will be a big rock you will need for your project and your team spirit!”
Jean Poh • Senior character animator, Dr.D Studios August 31, 2011
animation director • five vfx
“While it's not like Paul needs any more recommendations, I've just got to say he's just about the most awesome and humbling person I've ever worked with. Simply put --- the most balanced, centered, easy going, focused, professional, astoundingly talented artist I've known. If you have the opportunity to work with this man, then take it.”
Nick Gray • Technical Director and IT Manager, FIVE VFX May 21, 2010
animation supervisor • image metrics
“If they gave PHD's to animators, Dr Griffin would have one. He came to image metrics with a wealth of knowledge, that i wish he could fit into a book. It was a honor to work with someone with such experience and knowledge of animation He helped us all have a better understanding of detail and subtlety . Paul new how to keep the energy level and the creative juices flowing , he was very good at explaining what he wanted in a shot, and he had no problem coming over and sitting with you to push you in the right direction. Paul is a guy i look up to as an an animator and human being. Even though we worked together for a short time I look at him as a true mentor figure, I only got to scratch the surface of his knowledge, but i hope to work with him again in the future. Paul is a great lead to have on any project.”
Leon W. Gittens • Animator, image-metrics inc August 6, 2008
“I had the pleasure of working with Paul on a major feature film. While I wasn't a part of the animation team under Paul's supervision, I can say that working around him was a lot of fun. There wasn't a day that went by, during his stay at Image Metrics, that I didn't learn something new and interesting from Paul. Perhaps one of the nicest people you will ever meet, Paul never seems to have a bad day. His excitement, enthusiasm, and expertise was very much appreciated by everyone at Image Metrics. I would be thrilled to work with Paul again in the future.” June 1, 2008
Bryan Burger • Lead Motion Tracker, Image Metrics
“Paul opened my eyes to the many subtleties there can be in animation and at times he spoke wholeheartedly about animation in general and its legends. There was never a question or a problem that Paul would be unable to answer. His patience and direction helped me overcome any challenging scene that was given to me. Paul would be a huge value to any team, and I would be delighted to work with him again.”
Christian Brierley • Animator, Image Metrics May 27, 2008
“Paul was brought on for a 5 month contract for a full length feature film. I have never seen one individual have such an impact on every single artist in such a short amount of time. Paul’s experience, knowledge, and approach to each and every frame of animation was meticulous and spot-on to what we needed to impress our client.
His amazingly positive attitude to work within several strict technical and creative limitations really showed his flexibility as a supervisor. As the Production Manager, I was impressed with his knowledge of production pipelines and his ability to adapt to our ever-evolving production schedule.
What impressed me most was how he handled each and every animator fairly and equally. He found new ways with each of them to motivate them and push their own ability far beyond any of their expectations. The five months we worked with Paul were so impactful and meaningful, far exceeding our wildest dreams—he raised the ability of our studio as a whole it was truly a pleasure working with someone of his caliber.
Any animation production would be blessed to have someone of Paul’s stature—I strongly recommend and hope to work with this amazing man again.”
Pete Busch • Production Manager, Image-Metrics May 13, 2008
“We were lucky to get Paul to supervise the facial animation on a "certain project". Paul imparted decades of experience to our animators. He trully enjoys his job and enlivens the workplace. I especially enjoyed dailies with Paul, which always ended with a cartoon. Paul is a very friendly, professional, and interesting person. I'd work with him again any day.” Oleg Alexander • Lead Technical Artist, Image Metrics May 11, 2008
“With his many years of experience in this industry, Paul has in my opinion perfected the art of leadership. While working with him, i had always felt comforted and encouraged to do my best for him and the company. He is the kind of person you WANT to do more for, especially because he treats you with respect and never gets frustrated. He has definitely set the bar as far as leads are concerned. I hope to work with him again real soon. Hire this man!! I promise you will not be sorry.”
Cesar Bravo • Animator, Image Metrics May 3, 2008
“We recently completed a ground-breaking VFX project for a feature film to be released later this year. About 3 months before the project started we began our search for an Animation Supervisor. As soon as we saw Paul's resume we were very interested. After meeting him once we were convinced he was the man! Paul oozes experience, ability, personality, and class. The experience and animation knowledge he brought to our team for this difficult project was invaluable, we literally couldn't have done it without him. For that we will always be in his debt. Can't wait for this movie to be released and that opens the floodgates for more similar projects, and the chance to work with Paul once more. As an aside, he also has vast knowledge about the entire animation/vfx process, on the creative and business fronts. And excellent contacts throughout the industry.”
David Barton • Producer, Image Metrics May 3, 2008
“While working with Paul I could see that he had a great sense of what animation can and should be. He could instantly point out what was lacking in an animation and offer a real solution, often pushing it past that invisible line, giving the performance life. This matched with his extensive experience in the industry and fun, positive attitude throughout made the entire project a great experience. I would love to work with Paul again, I feel there is much more I could learn from him.”
David Ham • Animator, Image Metrics April 30, 2008
“Working with Paul was a wonderful experience. Paul is a seasoned animator and has a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the film industry. He brought a positive attitude everyday to work, which made the entire team motivated and eager to do their best. He was always ready to share his knowledge in animation and gave nothing but positive comments when working with his crew. A genuinely nice person with a strong animation eye, Paul would be an incredible asset to any project. I can only hope that our paths cross again in the future.”
Matt Onheiber • Animator, Image Metrics April 1, 2008
“Paul is one of those sups you hope to work for. He has the rare ability to elicit work of extremely high quality, while maintaining a calm and productive demeanor. No staplers were ever thrown. I definitely hope to work with Paul again someday soon.”
Kyle Ware • Production Assistant, Image Metrics March 19, 2008
“Paul's the kind of guy you wish you had worked with your first years in this industry. I knew right away after our first conversation about cartoons and 80's pop music that I was about to learn a lot from this man. Always sharing his trade secrets and pearls of animation wisdom with everyone without hesitation. The kind of supervisor that brings the best out of his team because he is an animator himself. Thats something you can't fake, and to me, that is the best kind of supervisor to have on your team. I wish Paul the very best in his future gigs and it would be my pleasure to work with him again soon.”
Anthony P. Rizzo • Senior Animator, Image Metrics March 16, 2008
“I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Paul during my time at Image-Metrics. While working under him there on projects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Mummy: The Rise of the Dragon Emperor, I quickly saw why his body of work and reputation stands as well as it does. Paul is a true professional and has a great eye for detail. He is a genuinely good person, who I could only hope to work for/with again in the future.”
Aaron Papa • Animator, Image Metrics March 15, 2008
series director / supervising producer • bardel entertainment Inc.
“Paul was my line director when I got my start in animation at Bardel Entertainment, and the wealth of animation knowledge I learned from him is priceless. He shook me out of my safety zone with character animation, encouraging me to take my acting that little bit further to gain an explosive piece of cartoony, funny animation. Paul has an extensive industry background, but his work and his creativity speak for itself.”
Ryan Nickell • Character Animator, Bardel Entertainment August 7, 2008
“In production Paul was very valuable . As a director, he was able to understand the limitations of production and see the big picture. Paul added to the quality of the show and improved it everywhere possible in ways that did not have large impacts on other departments. Working
with other directors over the years and experiencing their hectic approach, it was a pleasure to work with someone who had the backbone, foresight and experience to make a smooth, decisive production work flow possible.”
Matthew Baldwin • TD env. Lighting., Bardel August 5, 2008
“I really enjoyed working on Viva Pinata, and that had a lot to do with Paul. He was always attentive, respectful, and completely enthusiastic about the show and the efforts of his crew. He maintained a friendly and open demeanour while at the same time never tolerating substandard quality. Not many directors can do that.”
Kate Burgess • Designer, bardel entertainment February 12, 2008
“I highly recommend Paul, not only was his work outstanding but his communication skills made him a joy to work with.”
Richard Ducker • Senior Technical Director, ILM January 29, 2008
“Keeping quality and meeting deadlines. Two items that often contradict each other. However, Paul helped us find the perfect compromises in order to keep the shows as entertaining as possible. His attitude is always fresh and optimistic. He has not forgotten that we're all here to have fun, and that our love for our work does not have to be sacrificed in order to get the job done. While working with him at Bardel, he was a strong source of inspiration & motivation for all of us. Paul is certainly someone I look forward to working with again in the future.”
Jeremy Sabo • Lead Digital Puppet Creator, Bardel Entertainment December 21, 2006
“I enjoyed working with Paul, his friendly personality encouraged a creative, fun atmosphere in the workplace and his open approach to management allowed for a greater sense of "artistic ownership" for the other artists in the studio.”
Andrew Duncan, Unit Director, Bardel Entertainment November 2, 2006
“I think the stork delivered Griff to the wrong parents. Clearly he was meant to be the baby of Roger and Jessica Rabbit, but some rift in the time-space continuum caused him to be born rather than drawn. That Griff carries the 'toon gene is evidenced by his encyclopedic knowledge of classic cartoons, the uncanny ability for his liquid rubber face to go through gyrations only an
animated character should be able to achieve and his sharp eye for great animation design, writing and timing. You couldn't have anyone better than Griff leading an animated production even if you dug up Chuck Jones and cloned him.”
Zeke Norton • Director, Bardel Entertainment October 24, 2006
“I met Paul at Bardel as he started his role as series director, from what i noticed, the show simply would simply not be the same if it wasn’t for his influence on it. Paul constantly pushed to squeeze as much "funny" into the show as possible. I believe this was a crucial role, while other directors might ask for impossible things that, in the end, did little to improve a show, Paul had the ability to see around the problem and get as much payoff as u can, with as minimal labour attached. This is what most impressed me. At the same time it created good morale because it gave a sense that the director was on the artists side.
'All in all, 5 stars from me! Would love to work with him again.”
Mike Wasilewski • Character Modeling Supervisor, Bardel Entertainment October 24, 2006
“A really inspirational director and animator. He Is loads of fun to work with and always made animation fun when production was at its worst of times.
Highly recommended.”
Patricia Binga • Lead Animator, Bardel Ent. October 20, 2006
“It was my pleasure to work with Paul on Bardel Entertainment's project Viva Pinata. His depth of knowledge concerning animation and his abundance of energy were evidence that he not only knows his job inside and out, but loves it as well. This passion coupled with humility made Paul both a joy to work with and a highly effective leader of the crew at Bardel.”
Kelsey Wagner, lead animator, bardel entertainment October 19, 2006
“I met Paul J Griffin ("Griffy McGriff" as he lets me call him) in the early days of 2006. He challenged me to a game of rock paper scissors where I beat him three out of four games. We've been best pals ever since.
It has been a pleasure to work with Griff and learn under him. His experience and leadership is highly respected on our crew. With genuine enthusiasm for the projects he works on, he brings humor energy to the table every day. Always open to new ideas, he involves everyone and encourages us to speak up. It's nice to know he respects our ideas and makes us feel that we have a hand in the creative process.
I would cross the street to spit on his head if it was on fire. Of course I'm the one who started it....but thats another story.”
Aaron Smyth • Production Coordinator, Bardel Entertainment October 18, 2006
animation director • cafeFX
“While I worked with Paul, I remember he was a very confident and insightful artist on our team and I enjoyed working with him. He is not only someone I would enjoy working with again in the future, but he is someone I would go to lunch with also.”
Tracy Nicole Irwin • Character Rigger, CafeFx December 13, 2007
“In the time I worked with Paul at Cafe FX and at Weta Digital, he really showed his skills. He is a brilliant animator and one of the best animation directors I have worked with.
I would without a doubt recommend Paul to anyone, for his skills, his mentorship he demonstrated with other animators, and his client skills.”
Todd Widup • Lead Creature TD, Cafe FX December 22, 2005
“Paul is a great professional, with a very good eye for acting, physics, anatomy and 2D animation. He's a serious and passionate artist and also a great and funny guy to be around. Working with him was a great experience.”
Krishnamurti Costa • Lead Character Artist - 3D Generalist, CafeFX December 16, 2005
“Paul Griffin's experience and insights into performance animation are truly inspirational and show a genuine love for the art form. During his time at CafeFX, he was instrumental in creating a solid character animation department from the ground up. Paul is a great mentor and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Domenic DiGiorgio • Technical Animation Supervisor, CafeFX October 24, 2005
“Paul is one of my favorite supervisors. And...since I am playing favorites, let me explain why. He gets it. He has animated before and he's really good. He is an "Animator's Supervisor" and you know how temperamental we can be.
He also can migrate some of the thickest political mires in CG...and still walk around with a smile on his face and a great attitude. I cannot wait for the day we work together again.
Besides, he worked on the Fly like 20 years ago. He knows a lil' sumthin' about sumthin'. Don't let this one get away, seriously.”
Angie Jones • Digital Character Animator, Cafe FX December 7, 2007
animation director • industrial light + magic
“Paul Griffin sets the tone for the animation crew to be a positive creative environment to work in. His work style is collaborative and supportive. He reminds me of a great football coach that helps direct the team in a fun and creative atmosphere. If he were in the Bay Area I would enjoy working with him in a heartbeat because he has integrity and all around good guy. He's great at leading his teams in a positive direction!”
Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity
Millie C. Li • Production Coordinator, Industrial Light + Magic, January 18, 2008
“Working with Paul was an amazingly productive and educational experience not only for me personally, but for everyone involved in the Star Wars Bounty Hunter video game cinematics at LucasArts and ILM, the first real collaboration between these groups. His attention to quality and detail in visual storytelling is apparent in every single frame. This talent, as well as his methods for streamlining production techniques, allowed his team to finish a mind-boggling amount of high quality work in a very short timeframe. As a "client" and a colleague, I could't have been more pleased with the results.”
Jon Knoles • Director, LucasArts Entertainment Company February 21, 2007
“Working with Paul was an absolute pleasure. He is a rare Supervisor/Director that allows your creative input as an artist while working towards achieving the goals of the client. His door was always open for you to discuss things and work out ideas. I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
Neil A. Lim Sang • Creature TD/Animator, CafeFX December 14, 2006
“I've had the pleasure to have had Paul as a colleague and friend for over 13 years. I've always tried to work with him on whatever project he was on, as you were guaranteed a positive experience.
Paul is just one of those unique individuals that understands the big picture of a production, knows how to get the most out of his artists, while keeping everyone uplifted with his never-ending enthusiasm.
With his amazing work ethic and passion for the work, Paul continues to be an inspiration and mentor both as a great animation director and as a wonderful human being.”
C. Michael Easton • Sr. Animator, Industrial Light & Magic October 27, 2006
“I have known Paul for years and it has always been a pleasure to work with him. Paul possesses a true love of animation and brings that passion to work every day. He is a problem solver who is self directed and a leader who is always thinking about his crew.”
Rob Coleman • Animation Director, Industrial Light and Magic October 26, 2006
“Paul is just an all around great guy to work with. I edited several projects with Paul and each one was a smooth, easy, enjoyable process. Paul brings new ideas, clear direction and a great sense of humor to all that he does.”
Brent Bowers • Avid Editor, Industrial Light & Magic October 26, 2006
“Paul was my animation supervisor on various projects at Industrial Light & Magic. He is a pleasure to work with, and is as professional as can be. His is creative, and communicates extremely well.”
Jonathan Lyons • Animator, Industrial Light & Magic October 18, 2006
“Paul cares about people. This is evident in the way he interacts and listens to others. His constant upbeat, positive attitude can be extremely refreshing during stressful crunch-time moments.
Paul cherishes the craft of animation, to which he brings an equally infective enthusiasm: A valuable commodity in this jaded industry.”
Brian Lafrance • Technical Director, Industrial Light and Magic October 18, 2006
“I worked with Paul Griffin on Mummy2. I was fortunate to work as a Technical Director on a team which Paul lead as the Animation Supervisor. I must say, without hesitation, Paul is one of the most positive, enthusiastic, and inspiring supervisors I have worked with. Because of this, he inspires those on his team to deliver the highest quality of work. Paul provided feedback with fantastic solutions, always sharing his animation expertise. I learned a great deal from Paul. In addition to his technical knowledge, I respected his aesthetic observations. His aesthetic suggestions included subtle nuances to bold movement, all of which pushed a visual effects shot into realism. Despite being under extreme time deadlines, Paul always maintained an upbeat attitude, maintained a great sense of humor, and displayed tremendous appreciation to every person on the team. I would work with Paul again in a second. In my opinion, Paul Griffin exemplifies what it takes to be an Animation Supervisor / Director.”
Jennifer McKnew • Senior Technical Director, Industrial Light & Magic January 7, 2008
“Paul is one of those rare folks you meet in animation with a true passion for the art; Good humoured and seasoned in his craft, he is a joy to work with, and a great asset to any studio seeking an animation leader. I would gladly welcome an opportunity to work with Paul again.”
Tim Stevenson • Animator, CG / Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light And Magic December 9, 2007
“In the heat of production deadlines when people are screaming/crying/panicking , Paul always remained stoic. That was my favourite thing about him as he is very calming to have around in a leadership role.”
Andrew "Spanky" Grant • animator, Industrial Light and Magic December 27, 2005
“Paul was such an inspirational animation director at ILM that the crew made a short film about how productive and fun it was. This was primarily due to Paul's excellent leadership skills.”
Doug MacMillan • CG Supervisor, ILM October 23, 2005
senior animator dome productions
“Paul is one of the most talented animators I have worked with. He manages to combine a remarkable eye for nuance, passion for excellence and yet remains gracious, easy going and collaborative. His sense of humour often saves the day - even when the day has been horrible. It can be a difficult business at times - which makes Paul all the more unique in that he never let the blue meanies get him down. The scope of his work and level of responsibility has never stopped growing over the last 15 years. What Paul is capable of will be decided by him - not other people.”
Jocelyne Meinert • animator | manager of animation dept, Dome Productions January 14, 2008