I'm a professional artist with over 20 years of experience in the animation industry. My journey has allowed me to explore both traditional and digital animation, engaging in storyboarding and character design. I thrive in collaborative environments, where I can merge creative visions with team dynamics to bring stories to life. With a passion for animation that resonates through my work, I strive to meet and exceed quality standards while mentoring upcoming talents in the field.…

Joe Apel

I'm a professional artist with over 20 years of experience in the animation industry. My journey has allowed me to explore both traditional and digital animation, engaging in storyboarding and character design. I thrive in collaborative environments, where I can merge creative visions with team dynamics to bring stories to life. With a passion for animation that resonates through my work, I strive to meet and exceed quality standards while mentoring upcoming talents in the field.…

Available to hire

I’m a professional artist with over 20 years of experience in the animation industry. My journey has allowed me to explore both traditional and digital animation, engaging in storyboarding and character design. I thrive in collaborative environments, where I can merge creative visions with team dynamics to bring stories to life. With a passion for animation that resonates through my work, I strive to meet and exceed quality standards while mentoring upcoming talents in the field.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Illustrator/Motion Graphics Animator at Freelance
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2013
Designed and animated an interactive video for students on 'How to Make a Visual Poem' for the Getty Museum of Los Angeles.
Animation Director / 2D Animator at Freelance & Studio Collaborations
January 1, 2004 - Present
Supervised and directed animation teams for top-tier studios, ensuring projects aligned with creative vision and were delivered on time. Provided comprehensive direction from storyboard to final animation and mentored junior animators, including leading animation technique workshops.
Storyboard Artist / Revisionist at Freelance & Studio Collaborations
January 1, 2007 - Present
Developed and revised storyboards to ensure they met the narrative and visual standards. Collaborated with directors and writers to refine story flow and pacing.
Character Designer at Freelance & Studio Collaborations
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2020
Created character designs, turnarounds, and props, focusing on visual consistency and appeal.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts at College for Creative Studies
September 5, 2000 - May 23, 2003
Focus in Animation and Digital Animation
Bachelor of Fine Arts at Wayne State University
September 7, 1993 - December 11, 1998
Focus on Drawing

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment
    uniE608 Charlie Chimp short
    A personal storyboard project about a chomp sightseeing. Storyboarded in Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Storyboardartist storyboard…
    uniE608 Animation reel
    A selection of work I personally animated, either traditional (on paper) or in Adobe Animate/Flash: Axe Cop Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs Bunnicula Problem Solverz The Ricky Gervais Show Golan the Insatiable I'm Dirty All the World The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon 2danimator animator adobeanimate adobeflash traditionalanimator…
    uniE621 Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf
    An illustration of Red Riding Hood, knowing better…
    uniE621 Pigeon Man
    An illustration of a man who a boy thinks is a pigeon…
    uniE621 Ape characters
    A selection of ape characters I designed…
    uniE621 Female characters
    A selection of female characters I designed…
    uniE621 Elephant Characters
    A selection of elephant characters I designed…
    uniE621 Bird Characters
    A selection of bird characters I designed…
    uniE621 Broose Monster Character poses
    A selection of poses of my character, Broose Monster…
    uniE621 Animal characters
    A selection of animal characters I designed…
    uniE621 Clown Characters
    A selection of clowns I designed…
    uniE621 Broose Monster Turnaround
    A turnaround of my character, Broose Monster…