Hi, I’m Rebecca Akli, a character design and animation artist based in Chicago. I recently graduated with MFA in Animation at DePaul University, with a BFA in Animation and a Minor in Game Design from DePaul. I’ve built a practice in 2D and 3D animation, visual development, character rigging, and branding, and I’ve contributed to a range of projects from indie games to social-media campaigns. I enjoy collaborating with art, design, and programming teams to create cohesive visuals, tell engaging stories, and bring ideas to life across formats like reels, game cutscenes, and pitch materials. My work blends technical animation skills with a keen eye for storytelling and brand consistency, and I’m excited to keep pushing expressive characters and playful worlds forward.…

Rebecca Akli

Hi, I’m Rebecca Akli, a character design and animation artist based in Chicago. I recently graduated with MFA in Animation at DePaul University, with a BFA in Animation and a Minor in Game Design from DePaul. I’ve built a practice in 2D and 3D animation, visual development, character rigging, and branding, and I’ve contributed to a range of projects from indie games to social-media campaigns. I enjoy collaborating with art, design, and programming teams to create cohesive visuals, tell engaging stories, and bring ideas to life across formats like reels, game cutscenes, and pitch materials. My work blends technical animation skills with a keen eye for storytelling and brand consistency, and I’m excited to keep pushing expressive characters and playful worlds forward.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Rebecca Akli, a character design and animation artist based in Chicago. I recently graduated with MFA in Animation at DePaul University, with a BFA in Animation and a Minor in Game Design from DePaul. I’ve built a practice in 2D and 3D animation, visual development, character rigging, and branding, and I’ve contributed to a range of projects from indie games to social-media campaigns.

I enjoy collaborating with art, design, and programming teams to create cohesive visuals, tell engaging stories, and bring ideas to life across formats like reels, game cutscenes, and pitch materials. My work blends technical animation skills with a keen eye for storytelling and brand consistency, and I’m excited to keep pushing expressive characters and playful worlds forward.

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Language

English
Fluent
Japanese
Intermediate
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Animation & Illustration at Kissing Party LLC
December 31, 2024 - May 30, 2025
Illustrated multiple viral social media posts with over 100K likes on Instagram. Created visually compelling and original artwork for the company's social media. Presented drafts and implemented feedback to meet brand guidelines. Researched brands and current social media trends to create marketing posts. Implemented feedback from stakeholders and art director to refine and enhance final project quality. Took lead in animating characters and illustrating assets for Adult Swim SMALLS short series Floor 999.
Animator & Artist at Freelance
June 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024
Created and prepped 2D sprite animation to be colored and placed in Unreal Engine. Worked closely with illustrators, designers, and programmers to shape gameplay experience. Took lead in creating inventive and fun idle animations. Animated playable cutscenes that blend gameplay with immersive visual form.
MFA Animation Graduate Assistant at DePaul University
January 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
Collaborated with creative team to set up and host May Day, a 3-day overnight animation event. Assisted with creating social media posts and content for MayDay engagement and press. Created lip sync for character rig in Illustrator and Adobe Character Animator. Illustrated background art and assets to be used for a parallax animation. Created illustration and additional animation for a client’s music video.
Mentee at Netflix
September 30, 2022 - April 29, 2023
Enhanced character design skills through illustrative portfolio assignments. Gained valuable insights into the production pipeline and visual development.
Animator & Spirit Artist at Unannounced 2.5D Exploration Game
June 1, 2023 - October 21, 2025
Created and prepared 2D sprite animation for Unreal Engine integration; crafted character idle and interactive transitional animations; worked closely with art, design, and programming teams to enhance player immersion; animated playable cutscenes to integrate with gameplay.
MFA Animation Graduate Assistant at DePaul University
June 1, 2025 - October 21, 2025
Developed 2D character rigging skills using Duik Bassel in After Effects; designed visual memes and created lip syncs in Adobe Character Animator; contributed background assets and additional animation to a client’s YouTube music video; helped set up and host DePaul's May Day, a 3-day animation event; managed and produced social media content to increase May Day engagement; curated footage and edited the undergraduate and graduate animation reel for the program; assisted in planning DePaul's Frame-by-Frame event for the Visiting Artist Series.
Virtual Chat Moderator at BRIC Foundation Summit
December 31, 2024 - Present
Provided virtual support to ensure a welcoming and engaging online experience; actively moderated chat, answered questions, and shared important event resources; maintained a safe and inclusive environment by enforcing community guidelines; tracked session attendance and documented key discussion highlights.

Education

Master of Fine Arts at DePaul University
September 1, 2021 - June 13, 2025
Bachelor of Fine Arts at DePaul University
September 9, 2015 - March 20, 2020
MFA in Animation at DePaul University
September 1, 2021 - June 1, 2025
BFA in Animation, Minor in Game Design at DePaul University
September 1, 2015 - March 1, 2020

Qualifications

Google UX Design Certification
July 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Gaming, Education, Software & Internet
    paper Floor 999 (Adult Swim SMALLS)

    EP01:
    EP02:
    EP03:

    “Tony gets a big promotion, which sounds really cool until he realizes no one respects him and the job might kill him”

    Created by Kissing Party
    Written and Directed by Alan Moutal
    Produced by Daniel Dabach
    VO by Alan Moutal and Stephanie Kerbis
    Art Direction by Abbey Haines
    Character Design by Alan Moutal and Abbey Haines
    Animation Direction by Alan Moutal
    Lead Animation by Abbey Haines and Amanda Rau
    Assistant Animation by Jay Wirth, Finn Ryan, and Rebecca Akli
    Edited by Alan Moutal and Abbey Haines
    Backgrounds and Illustration by Hannah Morris, David Holderman, Carlos Roques, Amanda Rau, Alan Moutal, and Abbey Haines
    Gross Blob Animation by Logan White
    Sound Supervisor and re-recording mixer by Christian Blair
    Sound Design by Israel Hernandez
    Music by Tristan Wells and Daniel Feldman
    Sound Mix by Brent Busby

    paper Plat 1 - Anarchy 99

    From the album “Rockstar Super Heat” out now. Expand to view full credits

    Animated and directed by Jacob Ciocci (Extreme Animals, Paper Rad, Wyld File)
    https://linktr.ee/extremeanimalz

    “I” and “Me” character designs by Eddy Atoms (Pinky and Pepper Forever)
    / eddyatoms

    additional animation by Rebekah Dulski
    / 10me20theoneandonly

    and Rebecca Akli
    / rebecca.akli

    Thanks so much for the love and support that allows us to continue doing super cool projects like this! Jacob Ciocci is an internet art legend and I’ve always wanted to work together with him on something! not to mention eddy and everyone else involved. My heart is swollen so big in my chest, I promise I am grateful every day for your support and stuff like that!
    / blacksquares

    paper Belladonna

    Laurels: DePaul University Premiere Fest 2021

    McMinnville Sci-Fest 2021

    Chicago Made Shorts 2022

    AniMate Australian Animation Festival 2021-2022

    Synopsis:
    Belladonna is a dark sci-fi fantasy inspired by the darker tones and themes in the magical girl genre. The main character receives a terrifying vision in what seems to be the midst of her daily life, and is left with either taking the tremendous task of saving everyone, including herself, or looking away. Belladonna is an amalgamation of feeling helpless, sexualized, over burdened by the word “strong”, and learning that you can be both weak and powerful. For me, those were all things that poured out into this film as I created Belladonna.

    Creator, Director, Sound Designer, Composer, Animator

    Rebecca Akli 2021 ©

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Hominidae

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    3D VR Film Hominidae depicts an ecosystem of x-ray visibility. Creatures have evolved in surprising ways, where humans, birds, spiders and frogs share unique anatomies. This experience follows an Arachnid Hominid, an intelligent creature with human and spider physiology, as she struggles to raise her young in a hostile environment. The story is told in five vignettes, from the birth of the children to the death of the mother in the teeth of her prey.