Hi, I’m Andrés Lieban, an internationally awarded animation director based in Rio de Janeiro. I founded 2DLab in 1998, where I serve as Creative Director and oversee animation, storyboarding, and directing for TV shows, films, and digital content. I’ve built a track record of leading teams, creating original content, and steering complex productions from concept through final delivery. My work spans licensing and expansion—My Big Big Friend was licensed to over 130 territories and expanded into live shows, mall presentations, and publishing, among other products. I’ve created and directed series like Conta Comigo, Jobi’s Room, and Annie Rose’s Critter Camp; I’ve served on evaluation boards for CORFO and PROIMAGENES and released my first feature film in 2022 within the My Big Big Friend franchise. I also teach storyboard through Studyboards and continue to mentor and collaborate with studios worldwide.…

Andrés Lieban

Hi, I’m Andrés Lieban, an internationally awarded animation director based in Rio de Janeiro. I founded 2DLab in 1998, where I serve as Creative Director and oversee animation, storyboarding, and directing for TV shows, films, and digital content. I’ve built a track record of leading teams, creating original content, and steering complex productions from concept through final delivery. My work spans licensing and expansion—My Big Big Friend was licensed to over 130 territories and expanded into live shows, mall presentations, and publishing, among other products. I’ve created and directed series like Conta Comigo, Jobi’s Room, and Annie Rose’s Critter Camp; I’ve served on evaluation boards for CORFO and PROIMAGENES and released my first feature film in 2022 within the My Big Big Friend franchise. I also teach storyboard through Studyboards and continue to mentor and collaborate with studios worldwide.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Andrés Lieban, an internationally awarded animation director based in Rio de Janeiro. I founded 2DLab in 1998, where I serve as Creative Director and oversee animation, storyboarding, and directing for TV shows, films, and digital content. I’ve built a track record of leading teams, creating original content, and steering complex productions from concept through final delivery.

My work spans licensing and expansion—My Big Big Friend was licensed to over 130 territories and expanded into live shows, mall presentations, and publishing, among other products. I’ve created and directed series like Conta Comigo, Jobi’s Room, and Annie Rose’s Critter Camp; I’ve served on evaluation boards for CORFO and PROIMAGENES and released my first feature film in 2022 within the My Big Big Friend franchise. I also teach storyboard through Studyboards and continue to mentor and collaborate with studios worldwide.

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Language

Portuguese
Fluent
English
Advanced
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent

Work Experience

Inbetweener / Clean Up / Cell Ink and Paint at Cartoon International
January 1, 1991 - January 1, 1992
Did inbetweens and clean up on traditional animation for commercial and institutional films; sometimes ink & paint cells as required by the production.
Animator at Otto Desenhos Animados
March 1, 1992 - November 1, 1994
Inbetweens and cleanup for the short film 'Novela'; promoted to Animation Director on the feature 'Rocky and Hudson'; gained experience shooting cells on set and exploring multiplan-like techniques.
Digital Animator, Animation Director at Lancast Mota Desenhos
December 1, 1994 - September 1, 1996
Led digital animation and served as Animation Director; worked on 2D/3D production, created illustrations and storyboards as needed; promoted to Animation Director.
Animator at Jaime Diaz Producciones
January 1, 1995 - March 1, 1995
Animated scenes for Disney's Alladin TV show; performed inbetweening and cleanup following X-sheet directions.
2D and 3D Lead Animator at Animaholics Digital Arte
November 1, 1996 - July 1, 1998
Lead animator responsible for the digital 2D department; produced storyboards, layouts, character designs, and concept work; early adopter of 3D in a DOS/early Windows environment.
Creative Director, Character Designer, Storyboarder, Storyboard Supervisor, Animation Director, TV Shows and Film Director at 2DLab
August 1, 1998 - Present
Founding and leading 2DLab; produced illustrations and commercial films; developed and produced original content for TV, including co-producing the preschool series 'My Big Big Friend'. Later directed feature work and expanded the portfolio with multiple shows and formats.
Storyboard Teaching at Studyboards
October 1, 2021 - Present
Created an online complete storyboard workshop with 10 classes and interactive sessions, focusing on scripting anatomy, composition, perspective, timing, framing, posing, continuity, and creative process.
Episode Director at Hype Studio
April 1, 2023 - July 1, 2023
Directed second season episodes of 'Vamos Brincar com a Turma da Mônica' for Maurício de Sousa Produções; briefed layouts and animation teams, reviewed deliveries, and coordinated sound.
Storyboard Artist at Toon Box Studios Ltd.
July 1, 2023 - Present
Created storyboard sequences and edited animatics for the unreleased adult show 'Take My Muffin' based on provided scripts, audio, and thumbnails.

Education

Full Course at Nestor Cordoba
March 1, 1990 - November 1, 1990
Fine Arts at UFRGS - Rio Grande do Sul Federal University
March 1, 1993 - September 1, 2003
Workshop at MAURICIO RIZZO
July 1, 2015 - August 1, 2015
Seminar at Robert McKee
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013
Seminar at Robert McKee
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet
    paper Count on Me

    TV preschool series 52 x 5’
    Co Creator, co director
    https://vimeo.com/showcase/11738088?share=copy&fl=sm&fe=fs
    Password: CCM

    Max, Mindi, Mobi and Mel share their backyards and every day they meet to play. During the activity, a problem always arises and they need intuitive perception of math to solve it. Using their particular points of view they formulate ideas, compare results and develop knowledge in a positive, self-motivated and self-directed way. Together, they find their own way to overcome difficulties while having fun!

    2021 - Nominated/ Best IberoAmerican TV Show on Quirino Awards 
    2021 - 2nd Prize Best Latinoamerican Animated TV Series on Chilemonos (Chile)
    2021 - 2nd Prize up to 6 fiction Ctegory on ComKids Festival Prix Jeunesse IberoAmerican

    paper Annie Rose's Critter Camp

    Kids TV Series 13 x 7’
    Creator Co-Director
    https://vimeo.com/showcase/7253324?share=copy&fl=sm&fe=fs
    password: HSFA

    Annie Rose is a feisty girl that lives smack in the middle of a huge environmental reserve. In fact, it is a rehabilitation center where her biologist parents work, taking care of small animals – which Annie Rose lovingly treats as special guests.

    2024 - Nominated/ Best IberoAmerican TV Show on Quirino Awards 
    2024 - Official Selection - CHILEMONOS (Santiago, Chile)

    paper My Big Big Friend

    TV preschool animation series, 104 x 11’
    Creator and Director
    https://vimeo.com/showcase/11871314?share=copy
    password: BBF2T

    Everybody needs a BiG BiG Friend. The imaginations of children are truly incredible. In their imaginations, kids can go anywhere, be anyone and do anything. And sometimes their imaginations can even create new playmates; which is exactly what happened to three young friends, Yuri, Lili and Matt. They shrink down their Big problems with the help of a BiG BiG Friend.

    2006 - 1st prize / Divercine (Uruguai)
    2007 - Global License Prize - Licensing Challenge MipCom Jr - Cannes
    2009 - Prix Jeunesse IberoAmerican - Web Content Category
    2010 - APCA (Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte) - Best Children TV Show
    2013 - CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS - Nominated for Best Preschool Series
    2016 - Chilemonos (Chile) - 2nd prize/ Best Latinoamerican Animated TV Series
    2018 - TAL Award (Latinamerican) - Best Children Content

    paper My Big Big Friend - The Movie

    Feature Film 78min
    Creator and director

    password: MAOF123

    In this animated musical film, Yuri, Lili and Matt, along with their Big Big Friends Golias, Nessa and Bongo will have their biggest adventure yet! They will travel to a strange new world where they will meet Doodle Doubt - a strange creature that will test their friendship and self confidence.

    2024 - Winner Best Producer/ Best Original Score - Children Cinema Awards Film Festival (Amsterdam)
    2024 - Official Selection - Festival du Film d’Animation d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
    2023 - Official Selection - Lucerna Youth and Children Film Festival
    2023 - Official Selection - Anima Córdoba Festival (Argentina)
    2023 - Best Animation Feature Film - Aryan International Children’s Film Festival of Jaipur (INDIA)
    2023 - Golden Flower Award - BEIJING INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
    2023 - Nominee - Brazilian Academy Award (Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro)
    2023 - Official Selection - SIFFCY - ‘Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth’ (INDIA)
    2023 - Official Selection - Mi Primer Festival (PERU)
    2023 - Finalist - New York Animation Film Awards
    2023 - Official Selection - Cartoons on the bay (Italia)
    2023 - Official Selection - KIDS FIRST! Film Festival (EUA)
    2022 - Official Selection - CHILEMONOS (Santiago, Chile)
    2022 - 2º Prize, Children’s Jury - CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
    2022 - Official Selection - CINANIMA (Espinho, Portugal)
    2022 - Invited to Mostra de Cinema Infantil de Florianópolis
    2022 - Invited to Festival Internacional de Cinema Infantil