Hi! My name is Cole Goco, and I'm an award-winning animator, illustrator, cartoonist and filmmaker. I am passionate about all forms of visual storytelling, and in all mediums I strive to create work that is accessible, engaging and meaningful. I studied film and biology at Wesleyan University, and since then I’ve sought to combine those art and science disciplines by creating work that is educational and public-facing in nature. This pursuit has led me to clients such as the National Museum of Natural History and the National Aquarium. Animals and natural ecosystems have always featured prominently in my artwork, and it’s my dream to use art to communicate environmental and ecological themes to the world! But I am also open to go wherever imagination takes me in art, even to less scientific, more fantastical subjects.

Colman Goco

Hi! My name is Cole Goco, and I'm an award-winning animator, illustrator, cartoonist and filmmaker. I am passionate about all forms of visual storytelling, and in all mediums I strive to create work that is accessible, engaging and meaningful. I studied film and biology at Wesleyan University, and since then I’ve sought to combine those art and science disciplines by creating work that is educational and public-facing in nature. This pursuit has led me to clients such as the National Museum of Natural History and the National Aquarium. Animals and natural ecosystems have always featured prominently in my artwork, and it’s my dream to use art to communicate environmental and ecological themes to the world! But I am also open to go wherever imagination takes me in art, even to less scientific, more fantastical subjects.

Available to hire

Hi! My name is Cole Goco, and I’m an award-winning animator, illustrator, cartoonist and filmmaker. I am passionate about all forms of visual storytelling, and in all mediums I strive to create work that is accessible, engaging and meaningful.

I studied film and biology at Wesleyan University, and since then I’ve sought to combine those art and science disciplines by creating work that is educational and public-facing in nature. This pursuit has led me to clients such as the National Museum of Natural History and the National Aquarium. Animals and natural ecosystems have always featured prominently in my artwork, and it’s my dream to use art to communicate environmental and ecological themes to the world! But I am also open to go wherever imagination takes me in art, even to less scientific, more fantastical subjects.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Illustrator at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
July 7, 2023 - June 10, 2025
Created hand-drawn and digitally colored illustrations and infographics.
Animation Director at "Vish Doc"
November 11, 2024 - April 25, 2025
Created animated sequences for independent documentary feature. Drew storyboards and animatics; drew frame-by-frame character animations and designed motion graphics; composited sequences in After Effects.
Animator at National Aquarium
October 14, 2024 - February 14, 2025
Created looping animations for use on National Aquarium’s social media pages. Drew frame-by-frame character animations; applied motion and visual effects to background illustrations.
Animator at String Light Group / PBS SoCal
March 31, 2024 - May 30, 2024
Animated pre-drawn graphics in After Effects for "Cooking Counts," a kids’ cooking program.
Student Curator at Wesleyan Natural History Museum
March 6, 2020 - May 27, 2023
Designed and installed museum display; drew reconstructions of fossilized animals in display. Contributed illustrations of ocean ecosystems to "Crafting Sea Critters" exhibit. Designed posters and wrote descriptions for exhibits.
Animation Intern at Big Ocean Media
May 28, 2022 - August 6, 2022
Produced 5-minute animated explainer video for client. Created all graphics in Illustrator; assembled and animated graphics in After Effects.

Education

Bachelor of Arts at Wesleyan University
August 28, 2019 - May 28, 2023
Double Major: Film Studies and Biology. Hamilton Prize Honorable Mention; granted $5,000 for creative pursuits by panel chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail. Wrote, directed and edited award-winning thesis film, "Snap Away"; received departmental Honors. Created fully animated scenes for student film, "The Racecar Driver"; drew storyboards, background artwork and character designs.
Study Abroad Program at University of St Andrews
January 12, 2022 - May 10, 2022
Coursework in film, marine biology and ecology. Nominated for the Anita Loos Award for the most Outstanding Undergraduate Essay in Film Studies.

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Life Sciences