Hi! I'm Alex, a passionate 2D and 3D artist and animator with a deep love for storytelling through motion. With expertise spanning animation, rigging, modeling, texturing, look development, and motion design, I bring creative visions to life. I thrive on solving complex creative challenges, blending technical precision with artistic expression, always pushing for the highest standards in execution.…

Alex Nechifor

PRO

Hi! I'm Alex, a passionate 2D and 3D artist and animator with a deep love for storytelling through motion. With expertise spanning animation, rigging, modeling, texturing, look development, and motion design, I bring creative visions to life. I thrive on solving complex creative challenges, blending technical precision with artistic expression, always pushing for the highest standards in execution.…

Available to hire

Hi! I’m Alex, a passionate 2D and 3D artist and animator with a deep love for storytelling through motion. With expertise spanning animation, rigging, modeling, texturing, look development, and motion design, I bring creative visions to life.
I thrive on solving complex creative challenges, blending technical precision with artistic expression, always pushing for the highest standards in execution.

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Skills

3D
3D Animation
2D
2D Animation
3D
3D Model
Ad
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Illustrator
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Experience Level

3D Animation
Expert
2D Animation
Expert
3D Model
Expert
Adobe After Effects
Expert
Adobe Illustrator
Expert
Adobe Photoshop
Expert
Short Film
Expert
Animation
Expert
Autodesk Maya
Expert
Illustration
Expert
Explainer Video
Expert
ZBrush
Expert
Corporate Video
Expert
Pencil Illustration
Expert
3D Design
Expert
Mixamo
Expert
Character Design
Expert
Motion Graphic
Expert
Substance Painter
Expert
Unity
Expert
ChatGPT
Expert
Narrative Illustration
Intermediate
Unity 3D
Intermediate
Childrens Book Illustration
Beginner
Adobe Premiere Pro
Beginner
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

3D Animator, Rigger, 2D and 3D Artist at plai studio
November 1, 2020 - December 31, 2024
Worked on multi-reality experiences and mobile games for clients including Nike, Disney, Meta, Google, BBC, and others. Utilized software such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop, After Effects, Esoteric Spine, Unity, Lens Studio, and Meta Spark to produce animations, rigs, and 2D/3D assets.
3D Animator and Rigger at Vision3
May 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020
Adapted 3D models for realtime applications including topology and textures, rigged and animated models for the Valens Reef VR Experience. Used Maya, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.
Lead 2D Game Animator at R/GA
October 1, 2018 - May 31, 2020
Led animator team and developed workflow for 2D asset adaptation, preparation, rigging, and animation for digital animated books featured in the McDonald's Happy Meal App. Worked with Unity, Spine, and Photoshop.
Animator, Illustrator, Designer at CDM London, Blue Drop Studio, Munk Studios, Seed Animation, Trigger, Golin, Contented Brothers, Muckle Hen Productions, BBD Perfect Storm, Dice Media Communications, Fifty Nine Productions
September 1, 2015 - October 31, 2018
Freelanced as animator, illustrator, and designer for various projects with clients such as BBC, Amazon, Pfizer, Oracle, and others. Used After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
2D game artist and animator at Chaos Created
October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015
Designed characters and environments, rigged and animated assets for games and apps using Photoshop, ZBrush, and Modo.
2D game artist at FormerDroid
January 1, 2014 - July 31, 2014
Designed and digitally painted backgrounds, developed concepts for original IP, created UI assets and promotional artwork using Photoshop, Illustrator, Unity, Maya, and Keyshot.
Fine Art Painter, Designer, Animator
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2013
Created 3D sculpt, models, rigged and animated the graduation short film 'In Sight'. Designed catalogues and decoration cards, completed commissions of Byzantine icons and fine art paintings. Produced mural art for Bloom! Hotel in Brussels. Used Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Maya, and ZBrush.

Education

BA (Hons) in Animation at Edinburgh College of Art, Ediburgh, UK
September 1, 2010 - June 1, 2013
BA (Hons) in Mural Art at National University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania
September 1, 2006 - June 1, 2009
BA (Hons) in Animation at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2013
BA (Hons) in Mural Art at National University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2009

Qualifications

Creative Pool Annual Shortlist in the category Animation - individual
February 13, 2018 - April 1, 2018
Microsoft Beautiful Game Award - 4th place
September 1, 2014 - September 2, 2014
BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award Nomination
April 27, 2025 - April 27, 2025
For "In Sight" - graduation short film for my BA (Hons) in Animation at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK
BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award Nomination
March 25, 2014 - March 25, 2014
For "In Sight" - graduation short film for my BA (Hons) in Animation at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK
Winner of Experimental Film Award at International Student Film Festival “CineMAiubit" in Bucharest, Romania
December 6, 2009 - December 10, 2009
For "Organic" graduation short film for my BA (Hons) in Mural Art at National University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania
Creative Pool Annual 2018 Shortlist in the category Animation - individual
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Microsoft Beautiful Game Award, 4th place
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
BAFTA Scotland New Talent 2014 - nomination
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Experimental Film Award at International Student Film Festival “CineMAiubit"
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Gaming, Software & Internet, Professional Services
    uniE608 Showreel 2025
    This showreel is a glimpse into the world I help create as a multidisciplinary 2D and 3D artist and animator with a passion for storytelling through motion — from stylized characters and immersive environments to interactive AR experiences and mobile games. With a background spanning animation, rigging, modeling, texturing, look development, and motion design, I thrive on blending artistic vision with technical precision. I’ve had the pleasure of working on projects for Nike, Disney, Meta, Google, BBC, McDonald’s, Kygo, Timberland, and more. Tools of the trade: Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop, After Effects, Spine, Unity, Lens Studio, Meta Spark. Thanks for watching — I’m always excited to collaborate on bold, creative projects. Let’s bring ideas to life!…
    uniE608 Nike LeBron XX
    2022 was LeBron’s 20th year in basketball. Nike set out to create a standout digital experience for the launch of the brand new shoe LeBron XX. The campaign used Infinite Windows, Meta’s cutting-edge Instagram ad format, that makes a traditional ad feel like a video game. Inspired by the LeBron vs. Father Time campaign, the experience lets users control an epic race where LeBron defies time itself. Players engage with the action through real-time interactions to help LeBron in the race. The project combines 3D character animation, immersive world design and cinematic slow-motion events to create a next-level branded experience. My Role: 3D character modeling, sculpting, texturing, look development, rigging and animation. Software: Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Unity…
    uniE608 Nike Air Max DN at the MSG Sphere
    Nike's Super Bowl 2024 campaign for the launch of Air Max DN included this alien character. Part of that campaign was plai's seemingly impossible task of making the MSG Sphere disappear, no matter the weather conditions or what is being shown on the sphere, using machine learning based recognition tools and AR. After recognizing the sphere, the effect replaces it with the dancing alien. My role was to rig and animate this super cute character. And just as a note, the off-line render included in this video was not part of the campaign, I just did that for fun in my spare time and to try out Arnold in Maya.…
    uniE608 Full Moon Frenzy - AR Game
    A fully playable pinball table in AR emulating a retro arcade game within the horror genre, with themed animations, bonus events, and paddle and ball physics. You can drop the AR cabinet anywhere and play Full Moon Frenzy! My role: animation, lighting, shading and rendering, compositing, video editing, AR integration Software: Maya, Octane, After Effects, Lens Studio…
    uniE608 2D Game - Illustration, Rigging, Animation
    My work process for an upcoming game from Chaos Created. I did all the illustrations used in the game - characters and environment assets - using Photoshop. Made a fun challenge for myself to only use a single brush for everything, the mighty "Big Wide Softy", my favourite brush from Kyle T. Webster's Megapack. For rigging and animation, I used Esoteric Spine, a software that is so fun to use, which really is the industry standard for this type of game animation.…
    uniE608 Valens Reef - VR Experience
    Valens Reef is a VR experience for Oculus Quest, taking users on a journey down to an Indonesian coral reef. My role: adapting models for VR (retopology, adjusting textures), rigging and animation. Software: Maya, Photoshop, Unity Client: Vision3 Studio Platform: Oculus Quest…
    uniE608 McDonald's Happy Meal Readers
    This long term project involved the production of digital books included in the Happy Meal App, with animated illustrations based on stories by Cresida Cowell (best known for the book series "How to Train Your Dragon"). As Lead Animator, I was responsible for developing workflows involving the preparation of assets in Photoshop, rigging and animating them in Esoteric Spine and integrating them in Unity and coordinating with the rest of the team - animators, designers, developers and producers. My role: Lead Animator - develop and perform workflows involving 2D asset preparation, rigging, animation, game engine integration and team coordination. Software: Photoshop, Spine, Unity…
    uniE608 McDonald's Happy Meal - SpongeBob AR
    Instagram filter for McDonald's Happy Meal App featuring SpongeBob SquarePants. Created at plai studio, in collaboration with R/GA London. My role: Adapting 3D model for real-time deformation, texturing, rigging and animation. Software: Maya, Substance Painter, Photoshop, SparkAR…
    uniE608 Multiple Sclerosis
    A short animated film about the effects and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Commissioned by Biogen, produced by Dice Media Communications. My role: Animated parts of the short film. Software: After Effects. Client: Biogen…
    uniE608 Opera Shorts
    Three of the best known operas condensed in super-short form to make this classical genre more accessible. My role: create part of the vector illustrated assets (characters and environment), rigging and animation. Software: Illustrator, After Effects Client: Classic FM…
    uniE608 Star Wars - Skeleton Crew AR experience on Snapchat
    Star Wars - Skeleton Crew AR experience on Snapchat is an interactive game and AR experience developed at plai studio. It brings the adventure of the Disney+ series into augmented reality, allowing players to step into the world of Star Wars in a whole new way. My Role: Retopology of main character and vehicle to allow real time deformation in AR 3D modeling of key environmental elements (such as houses, street props, tunnel) Rigging and animation of main character, Neel Software: Maya, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Lens Studio…
    uniE621 Langeroo Adventures - Lemur
    Lemur character designed, rigged and animated for Langeroo Adventures game. “Langeroo Adventures” is a cross-platform suite of educational games made at Chaos Created - Bristol Based game and app dev company. It is designed to teach English as a first or second language. The mini games consist of challenges and interactions with animal characters that test and develop knowledge of words, the alphabet, colours, shapes and numbers. My role: Designing and rendering the characters, environments and assets (Photoshop, Corel Painter, Filter Forge, Modo and Keyshot). Rigging (convert 2D assets to custom meshes, skin to skeletons, create IK constraints, free form deformation in Esoteric Spine, a 2D animation software specialized for games). Animating (in Esoteric Spine). Assembling all the environments in Unity game engine. illustration characterdesign environmentdesign animation Photoshop EsotericSpine Unity…