Joseph Gilland

  Joseph Gilland is an animation director, special effects animator, journalist,

author and musician. His most recent book ‘Elemental Magic - The Art of Special Effects Animation’,

has quickly become a sensation in the global animation community, bringing to print for the first

time the magic behind the visual effects animation that has dazzled animation audiences since the 1930’s.

Joseph’s approach to the animation process focuses not only on technical know how, but also reveals the

raw energy underlying all great animation works. With passion, emotion and a vast amount of

practical experience, Gilland introduces the reader to a fluid organic process of discovery and interactive

experimentation that breathes new life into a fine art form that many believe to be a highly technical and

tedious affair. While writing and illustrating Elemental Magic over the last four years, Joseph began

bringing his vision to a workshop series entitled ‘An Organic Approach to Special Effects Animation’.

The workshops and his book evolved together, feeding off of each other and resulting in a book that

not only contains Joseph’s deep expertise on the subject, but also reflects the feedback of

animation artists and students from around the world.

In his long and storied animation career, Joseph has utilized his traditional and digital

animation talents at such studios as Walt Disney Feature Animation, Don Bluth Animation,

and the National Film Board of Canada. At Walt Disney Feature Animation, Joseph served as

Supervisor of Visual Effects for the Disney classics Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear.

Joseph also served as Head of Florida Special Effects Unit for the features Kingdom of the Sun,

and Tarzan, and was Special Effects Animator on such notable titles as Pocahontas,

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, James and the Giant Peach, Hercules and Mulan.

His broad experience also includes animating on several short film projects at the

National Film Board of Canada, and directing dozens of television commercials as

an independent director. From 2003 to 2005, Joseph headed up the world

renowned animation program at the Vancouver Film School.

Joseph is currently at work on an independent short film and is writing a follow up volume to

‘Elemental Magic’ that will delve deeper into special effects and also include a DVD

with real time step by step ‘how-to’ footage, and clips from live workshops.

Animation Resume

March 2009 -Released an illustrated book about special

effects animation entitled ‘Elemental Magic’ Four years in the making,

the book has been picked up by a major international publisher,

(Focal Press, Elsevier) and is currently available in all fine book stores and online.

The book is an extremely detailed bible of classical effects animation,

and contains over 700 original illustrations by the author.

-Currently Author of the AWN Blog
‘Elemental Alchemy –Animation Insights and Musings’
http://www.awn.com/blogs/elemental-alchemy

-September 2008 to March 2008
Nitrogen Animation Studios
Director of Special Effects Animation
Thomas the Tank Engine animated TV series

-March 2008 to May 2008
Bardel Animation
Special Effects designer/consultant
Television series, ‘Pinata’, and ‘Zeke’s Pad’

-May 2006 to March 2008
Bardel Animaton / Fox 4Kids
Director of Special Effects,
Television Series ‘Chaotic’

-December 2005 to present
Animation World Network Magazine
Monthly Columnist ‘The Animated Scene’
http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&column=AniScene

-September 2003 to May 2006
 Vancouver Film School
 Head of Classical Animation
 and Digital Character Animation (Maya)

-June 2003 to September 2003
Dreamworks Animation
 Supervisor of Visual Effects for
‘Sinbad’ DVD special features film..

-January 2003 to September 2003
Bardel Animation / Silverwing Productions
Supervisor/Designer of Visual Effects
Television series ‘Silverwing’

-December 2001 to November 2002
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
Supervisor of Visual Effects on the feature ‘BROTHER BEAR’
for first eight months, then Visual Effects Animator on the same show.

As supervisor I worked on developing 3D EFX techniques using

Maya Paint EFX and Maya Particles, as well as designing a 2D EFX ‘look’ for the show.


-December1999 to December 2001
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
Supervisor of Visual Effects for feature film ‘Lilo & Stitch’
I was responsible for designing all 2D and 3D EFX,
developing 2D and 3D techniques on a fixed budget,
calculating the man-hours needed to complete the work.
and supervising all 2D and 3D EFX artists.
Worked closely with the Directors throughout the workbook stages,

determining how to best bring their story to the screen.
Also worked very closely with the Artistic Coordinator
and Art Director to determine and finalize the best final
compositing techniques for each scene in the film.


-September 1994 to November1999
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
Head of Florida Special Effects Unit, ‘Kingdom of the Sun’
under supervisor Mauro Maressa.
Head of Florida Special Effects Unit, ‘Tarzan’
under supervisor Peter Demund.

Special Effects Animator on Feature Films,
‘Pocahontas’, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’,
‘James and the Giant Peach’, ‘Hercules’ and ‘Mulan’.
 
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida -Animation Services
Character Animation Supervisor,

Clean-up and In-between Supervisor,

and Special Effects Supervisor on ‘The Circle of Life’,
‘Tinkerbell’s Light Magic’, Tokyo Disneyland’,
and ‘Wonderful World of Disney’ opening credits.
Trained and worked extensively on Alias/Wavefront, as
well as Disney’s CAPS compositing software,
Morphtool, and PSTOOL
(Disney proprietary particle system) software.

-1992-1994
Don Bluth Animation, Ireland
Directing Special Effects Animator,
Feature Films, ‘A Troll in Central Park’, ‘Thumbelina’,
and ‘The Pebble and the Penguin’.

-1990-1992
Don Bluth Animation Studios, Burbank
Directing Special Effects Animator,
Feature Films, ‘Rock a Doodle’, and ‘A Troll in Central Park’.
Special Projects, ‘MCA Hanna Barbara’,
and ‘Landmark, The Princess’.

 -1990-1991
Spumco Animation, Hollywood
Special Effects Director
Pilot Show, ‘Ren and Stimpy’
Director, John Kricfalusi

-1988-1989
Bardel / Shamu Productions, Vancouver
Special Effects Supervisor, Directing Animator
1/2 Hour Television Special for Sea World
Shamu, The Beginning’
Director, Al Lowenheim
-1989

Nelvana Productions (Vancouver)
Special Effects Animator
Feature Film, ‘The Adventures of Babar’
Director, Gordon Stanfield

-1988
Lion’s Den Productions, La Jolla
Special Effects Animator
‘Wizard Productions’ Promotional Film
Director, Al Lowenheim

-Fall 1985 to Spring 1988
Les Productions Pascal Blais, Montreal
In house Director, Animator, Storyboard and Layout,
Special Effects Director
Television Commercials and Live Action Feature Films
Was involved in all stages of production from
concept and development to final
video transfer.
Clients include: General Motors, Coca Cola, Honda, Macdonald’s,
Gillette, Players Tobacco, Larrouse Dictionaries, Radio Quebec.
Special Effects Animator on Feature Films,

‘The Great Land of Small’, and ‘The Peanut Butter Solution’.

-Spring 1987
Live Action Feature Production
Story Board Editor
Feature Film, ‘Nowhere to Hide’
Director, Mario Azzopardi

-1982-1986
National Film Board of Canada
Character Animation and Special Effects Animation
Short Film ‘Diploma Dilemma’ Director, George Geertsen
Short Film, ‘Paradise’ (Academy Award Nominee)
Director, Ishu Patel

-1982-1985
Freelance with Director Wayne Kimbell
(Former Robert Abel Director)
Television Commercials, Station I.D.’s,
Promos and Documentaries.
Clients include: Air Canada, Molson, Yoplait,
Canadian Imperial Bank, Bombardier, Hydro Quebec
Special Effects Director for Documentary Series, ‘The Brain’

-1984
Pascal Blais Productions
Special Effects Animator
Trailer for Feature Film, ‘The Black Incal’
Director, Pascal Blais

-1983
L’Umino City, Montreal
Director, Animation and Special Effects
Title Sequence for Documentary,
‘Quarante Ans Pour Oblier’
Television Commercial Series, ‘Sports Experts’

-1982
Les Productions La Choette, Montreal
Special Effects Animator
Documentary, ‘Les Forges De St. Maurice’

-1982
Animabec, Montreal
Director, Animator, Special Effects
Television Commercials and Promotions
Clients include: Montreal Jazz Festival, Molson,
I.G.A., Radio Quebec

-1980-1982
Heavy Metal Productions, Montreal
Story Boards, Animation and Special Effects Animation
(Worked with and trained under  director Ryan Larkin on storyboards)

Feature Film, ‘Heavy Metal, The Movie’
Directors, Gerry Potterton, John Bruno
Heavy Metal Productions, Montreal
Special Effects Animator
Promotional Film for Journey’s ‘Escape’ Album
Director, Wayne Kimbell

-1979-1980
Mike Mills Productions, Montreal
Key Character Assistant and Color Rendering
for Television Commercials

-1977-1978
National Film Board of Canada
Character Animation and Rendering
Short Film, ‘Illusions’
Director, Michel Hebert
Animation, Titles, Special Effects and Color Rendering
1/2 Hour Television Special, ‘This is Me’
Director, Ron Tunis

-1976-1977
Disada Productions
Character Design, Ink and Paint, Final Check
Naval Training films and Television Commercials
Director, Peter Adamakos

-1975-1977
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, School of Art & Design
Studied Animation for 2 years,
completed 2 student films..
Began working professionally
before completing 3rd year.