Hi, I’m John Zilka. I’m a versatile 3D, interactive, and video generalist with 18+ years of experience producing animation, visual effects, and interactive media for advertising, medical, and entertainment industries. I excel at bridging creative vision with technical implementation across 3D, real-time, and post-production workflows, delivering end-to-end productions for web, social, and broadcast.…

John Zilka

Hi, I’m John Zilka. I’m a versatile 3D, interactive, and video generalist with 18+ years of experience producing animation, visual effects, and interactive media for advertising, medical, and entertainment industries. I excel at bridging creative vision with technical implementation across 3D, real-time, and post-production workflows, delivering end-to-end productions for web, social, and broadcast.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m John Zilka. I’m a versatile 3D, interactive, and video generalist with 18+ years of experience producing animation, visual effects, and interactive media for advertising, medical, and entertainment industries.

I excel at bridging creative vision with technical implementation across 3D, real-time, and post-production workflows, delivering end-to-end productions for web, social, and broadcast.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance — 3D & Video Generalist at Freelance
January 1, 2008 - Present
Create high-end 3D stills, animations, and video for architectural visualization and marketing campaigns. Deliver engaging visual content for web, social media, and documentary use. Provide end-to-end production, including modeling, rigging, animation, effects, and compositing.
3D, Interactive, & Video Generalist at Hybrid Medical Animation, Minneapolis
November 8, 2021 - June 25, 2025
Produced medically accurate animations for surgical procedures, mechanisms of action, and device demos. Designed and implemented tools to improve animation and rendering workflows. Developed and maintained mobile apps for iOS and Android. Expanded company capabilities by introducing web-based interactive and real-time content.
3D, Interactive, & VFX Generalist at Gasket Studios, Minneapolis
June 16, 2007 - November 4, 2021
Delivered 3D animation, VFX, compositing, and motion graphics for advertising, games, film, and music videos. Served as on-set VFX supervisor for CG-heavy productions. Created interactive filters and applications for social media and mobile platforms. Supported cross-departmental projects with photography, video capture, and post-production.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Media Arts & Animation at Art Institutes International Minneapolis
October 1, 2004 - June 1, 2007

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Healthcare, Real Estate & Construction, Professional Services
    uniE608 Demo Reel 2025
    Here is my latest 3D animation reel with some of my favorite things I've done over the last nearly 20 years. It covers a variety of 3D animation, simulation, and interactive projects. From character animation to complex simulations, and powerful interaction, it highlights my skills in creative storytelling. Created using all the industry-standard tools including Maya, the Adobe Suite, and Unity, it demonstrates my expertise and adaptability in the creative industry. animator video videoeditor…