Eugene Salandra

An Italian-American native of New Jersey, I earned my BFA in Film and Television at New York University, and studied figure drawing at the Art Students' League of New York.  I have worked for over three decades as an animation artist in television, video, and film, primarily for Disney.  My style and approach have been influenced by mentors John Canemaker and the late Tissa David. 

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ANIMATION PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE

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DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION and DISNEYTOON STUDIOS.  
Storyboard on Firebuds, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Fancy Nancy, Sofia the First, Minnie’s Bow-Toons, Special Agent Oso, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Emperor’s New School, American Dragon, Fillmore, Kim Possible, Clerks, Elena and the Secret of Avalor, Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, Cinderella III, The Fox and the Hound II, and Winnie the Pooh’s Heffalump Movie; Storyboard and Character Design on The Little Mermaid III; Special Pose Design and Character Layout on House of Mouse.

 

BETTY BUCKLEY.  Main Character Design and Story Consultation on The Mayfly animated short film.

SNOWFLAKE FILMS NYC.  Storyboard for children's series and developpment projects. 

MTV ANIMATION.  Episodic Direction and Character Design on MTV Downtown; Character Layout and Timing on Beavis and Butthead, The Head, The Maxx, and Daria.

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JUMBO PICTURES/WALT DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION.  Character Design and Reference Animation on Doug’s first Movie, PBJ Otter, 101 Dalmatians (series) and Development Projects.

 

MO WILLEMS.   Animation on Life.

CURIOUS PICTURES.  Animation on Sheep in the Big City and The Offbeats Valentine Special; Assistant Animation on Kraft and Dannon spots.

 

TURNER FEATURE ANIMATION.  Character and Effects Assistant & Inbetween Animation on Cats Don’t Dance.

 

THE INK TANK.   Assistant Animation on Turner Classic Movies spot.

 

J.J. SEDELMAIER PRODUCTIONS.  Animation and Assistant animation on Planter’s and Levi’s spots.

 

JOHN CANEMAKER PRODUCTIONS.   Animation on Break the Silence: Kids Against Child Abuse, AIDS Dance-a-Thon, and Galaxy Classroom.

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INDEPENDENT ANIMATED SHORT.  Director of FaerieFilm (1993).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

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NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.  Adjunct Professor of Figure Drawing in the Department of Film and Television, Animation Program.

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COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

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Storyboard Pro, Photoshop, and Procreate.

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EDUCATION

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NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.  New York City.  BFA in Film and Television, Graduated with Honors.

BRUCE BLOCK VISUAL STRUCTURE SEMINAR.  Los Angeles.

JOHN TRUBY STORY SEMINAR.  Los Angeles.

ROBERT McKEE STORY SEMINAR.  Los Angeles.

RICHARD WILLIAMS ANIMATION MASTERCLASS.  San Francisco.

ART STUDENTS’ LEAGUE OF NEW YORK.  New York City.  Figure Drawing and Anatomy for Artists.  Studied under Sherry Camhy, Peter Cox, Kay Hazlip, Nicki Orbach, and Brook Temple.

TISSA DAVID.  New York City.  Character Animation, Independent Study/Mentorship.

 

OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCE

SAINT ANDREW’S ABBEY, VALYERMO, CA.   Benedictine Monk.