Hi, I’m Mike Futcher. I design and animate 3D assets for education, industry training, and art. I’ve helped teams switch to Blender from Lightwave and I enjoy sharing tips that boost productivity and quality while delivering technically accurate visuals. Beyond studio work, I’ve contributed to educational animations for Sheffield University and to large-scale sculpture previews, including work in Moscow’s Federation Tower. I’m passionate about blending art, engineering and storytelling to make complex ideas accessible through engaging visuals.

Mike Futcher

Hi, I’m Mike Futcher. I design and animate 3D assets for education, industry training, and art. I’ve helped teams switch to Blender from Lightwave and I enjoy sharing tips that boost productivity and quality while delivering technically accurate visuals. Beyond studio work, I’ve contributed to educational animations for Sheffield University and to large-scale sculpture previews, including work in Moscow’s Federation Tower. I’m passionate about blending art, engineering and storytelling to make complex ideas accessible through engaging visuals.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Mike Futcher. I design and animate 3D assets for education, industry training, and art. I’ve helped teams switch to Blender from Lightwave and I enjoy sharing tips that boost productivity and quality while delivering technically accurate visuals.

Beyond studio work, I’ve contributed to educational animations for Sheffield University and to large-scale sculpture previews, including work in Moscow’s Federation Tower. I’m passionate about blending art, engineering and storytelling to make complex ideas accessible through engaging visuals.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

3D Artist at 5Lamps Media
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2025
Technical and realistic 3D modelling and animation for training the engineering sector. Joined shortly after 5Lamps converted from Lightwave to Blender, enabling me to teach Blender tricks.
3D Artist at Unus Safardiar
January 1, 2012 - Present
Previsualisations of large-scale kinetic sculptures and art-videos, sometimes managing a small team of 3D artists; including sculptures in The Federation Tower, Moscow (the tallest building in Europe).
MultiMedia Artist and Game Developer at Sheffield University
January 1, 2013 - Present
Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts educational animation; You’ve Got A Nerve educational animation; HappyBones educational game about bone cancer; GTAC educational game about bone cancer. 13 Teeth short film. Short Films and additional educational projects listed on yogyog.org.
3D Artist at 5 Lamps Media
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2025
Technical and realistic 3D modelling and animation for training the engineering sector. I joined shortly after 5Lamps converted from Lightwave to Blender, enabling me to teach Blender tricks and improve workflows.

Education

BA Honours Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University
September 1, 2000 - August 1, 2003
BA Honours Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2003
A Level Art + Maths at Chesterfield College
January 11, 2030 - January 26, 2026
Teaching Qualification at City Arts, Nottingham
January 11, 2030 - January 26, 2026

Qualifications

Teaching Qualification
January 11, 2030 - January 26, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Manufacturing, Software & Internet, Professional Services
    paper Maturation and Prelude Grandiose

    For a while now I have been working with artist Unus Safardiar creating CGI visualisations for giant kinetic sculptures … and, working with fellow Blender user Peter Applerock, we created what turned out to be an incredibly complex artwork to be undertaken by such a small team :

    A video artwork to be displayed on a 20m x 4m screen seamlessly looping with no cuts, multiple moving parts, close integration of CGI elements with human actors, morphs between actors, and complex mechanical rigs.

    While the neck and head morph was done in After Effects, the greenscreening and compositing of the helm was done in Blender, which allowed for 3D elements to appear both infront and
    behind the actors, and the light of the flames to reflect on the actor’s head.

    We are planning to show the final video alongside some of Unus’s giant kinetic sculptures on number of galleries in Russia, England and Germany (and perhaps more) in 2019 including
    The Federation Tower, Moscow (the tallest building in Europe) and The Saatchi Gallery, London.

    paper You've Got A Nerve

    Animation showing how nerves regrow after they are severed.

    Created for Sheffield Festival of the Mind

    Medical Consultant: Fiona Boissonade
    Sculpter and Organiser: Cassie Limb
    Animation: Mike Futcher