I’m Rachel Cooley, an MFA in Film and Television with a focus on Animation from UCLA. I create lively, character-driven animation and storytelling, working as an animator, storyboard artist, and director on independent shorts and educational projects. I’ve earned fellowships for comedy directing and animation production, and I’ve contributed to projects like Cosmic Cooking and Boxed Out, while continuing to explore storytelling across film and television. In addition to creating, I teach and mentor—serving as a Teaching Associate at UCLA, a Teaching Assistant in Life Sciences, and a freelance content creator. My interests span medical and cellular animations to narrative-driven pieces, and I enjoy festival circuits and collaborations that bring imaginative stories to life. I’m based in New Jersey with a background in biology and art, blending science and storytelling in my work.…

Rachel Cooley

PRO

I’m Rachel Cooley, an MFA in Film and Television with a focus on Animation from UCLA. I create lively, character-driven animation and storytelling, working as an animator, storyboard artist, and director on independent shorts and educational projects. I’ve earned fellowships for comedy directing and animation production, and I’ve contributed to projects like Cosmic Cooking and Boxed Out, while continuing to explore storytelling across film and television. In addition to creating, I teach and mentor—serving as a Teaching Associate at UCLA, a Teaching Assistant in Life Sciences, and a freelance content creator. My interests span medical and cellular animations to narrative-driven pieces, and I enjoy festival circuits and collaborations that bring imaginative stories to life. I’m based in New Jersey with a background in biology and art, blending science and storytelling in my work.…

Available to hire

I’m Rachel Cooley, an MFA in Film and Television with a focus on Animation from UCLA. I create lively, character-driven animation and storytelling, working as an animator, storyboard artist, and director on independent shorts and educational projects. I’ve earned fellowships for comedy directing and animation production, and I’ve contributed to projects like Cosmic Cooking and Boxed Out, while continuing to explore storytelling across film and television.

In addition to creating, I teach and mentor—serving as a Teaching Associate at UCLA, a Teaching Assistant in Life Sciences, and a freelance content creator. My interests span medical and cellular animations to narrative-driven pieces, and I enjoy festival circuits and collaborations that bring imaginative stories to life. I’m based in New Jersey with a background in biology and art, blending science and storytelling in my work.

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Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Beginner

Work Experience

Director, Storyboard Artist, & Animator at Cosmic Cooking
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021
Directed and contributed storyboard and animation work on the project Cosmic Cooking (2021).
Director, Storyboard Artist, & Animator at Boxed Out
December 30, 2022 - December 29, 2023
Production involvement including animation and storyboard work on Boxed Out (2023).
Director/Storyboard Artist/Animator at UCLA Department of Oncology
August 6, 2023 - December 23, 2025
Working with a team of Oncologists and Medical Professionals at the UCLA Clinic, I developed scripts to cover the topics of Skin Care Management, Mucositis and Oral Care, Nutrition, Pain Management, and Introduction to Radiation Therapy. The goal of these animated series is to educate and assist head & neck cancer patients through their radiotherapy treatment/s. In addition to script writing, I also directed, voice directed, storied board, animated, and sound mixed the entire 31 video project from start in April 2023 to finish in December of 2025. These videos are currently in clinical trial and the next step is translation into the clinic's most frequent languages: Spanish, Korean, and Armenian.
Digital Content Creator at OK 4WD, Tire, & Auto
October 7, 2017 - June 9, 2020
Create and manage all digital assets such as video, photographs, graphics, animations, etc. for social media platforms and website. Work and collaborate with Marketing Head and all departments (sales & service) to create and execute a digital marketing plan. In addition, provided customer service in person, online, and on phone and helped optimize online website to improve sales at the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Creator, Visual Development Artist at UCLA Animation Workshop
September 9, 2022 - December 13, 2023
Created pitch bible for animated show for completion of my Animation MFA at UCLA.

Education

MFA at University of California, Los Angeles
September 10, 2020 - May 9, 2023
Film & Television; Animation MFA
BA Art; BA Biology at Hamilton College
April 30, 2025 - May 10, 2018
MFA in Film and Television, Animation at University of California, Los Angeles
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
BA in Biology (Honors) and Art (Honors) at Hamilton College
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2018
MFA in Film and Television, Animation at University of California, Los Angeles
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
BA in Biology (Honors) and Art (Honors) at Hamilton College
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2018

Qualifications

EMT-B Certification
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
CPR/AED Certification
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
NJ EMT-B
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
CPR/AED Certification
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
Women In Animation
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026
Graphic Artist Guild
January 11, 2030 - February 3, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Other, Life Sciences, Healthcare
    paper UCLA Oncology Animated Instructional Vidoes

    A total of 31 animated short videos- in the respective series of Skin Care Management, Nutrition, Pain Management, Mucositis and Oral Care, and Introduction to Radiation Therapy- to educate and assist head and neck cancer patients before, through, and after their radiotherapy treatments. Completed for the UCLA Oncology Department, these videos are currently under clinical trial. I served as the Director, Voice Director, Writer, Animator (2D- flash, 3D- Blender), 3D Modeler (Blender), Storyboard Artist, Character Designer, Editor, and Sound Mixer.

    https://www.twine.net/signin