Rex Grignon
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Degree: Animation - Technical
Year of graduation: 1984
An Animated Life
I moved to Europe for two years in 1986, working as staff animator and then as Art Director in Frankfurt and Paris, working on early 3D commercials and broadcast graphics.
In 1988, I started at PDI in Northern California as Senior Animator before co-founding their Character Animation Group in 1990. The company was bought by DreamWorks Animation and since then, the group has grown into a feature animation department with over 100 animators on two campuses. I have been the Head of Character Animation on three films: Antz, Shrek and Madagascar. I'm currently in production on Madagascar II.
I briefly left PDI from 1995 1996 to work at Pixar on their first film, Toy Story. I was an animator for the film and was honoured to work with many of the top animators in the industry—and Sheridan alum Glenn McQueen—on the groundbreaking project.
I am a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—the Oscars—in the Animation Branch.
I have been married for 15 years to my beautiful wife, Patti. We have an 11-year-old daughter, Grace, who seems to be a budding fashion designer, so maybe I can get her to come Sheridan when she's ready.
Current Occupation: Head of Character Animation, PDI
Career Details
After graduating Sheridan, I was awarded a Presidential Scholarship to work and study at the New York Institute of Technology's pioneering Computer Animation Lab where I learned 3D-animation tools and techniques.I moved to Europe for two years in 1986, working as staff animator and then as Art Director in Frankfurt and Paris, working on early 3D commercials and broadcast graphics.
In 1988, I started at PDI in Northern California as Senior Animator before co-founding their Character Animation Group in 1990. The company was bought by DreamWorks Animation and since then, the group has grown into a feature animation department with over 100 animators on two campuses. I have been the Head of Character Animation on three films: Antz, Shrek and Madagascar. I'm currently in production on Madagascar II.
I briefly left PDI from 1995 1996 to work at Pixar on their first film, Toy Story. I was an animator for the film and was honoured to work with many of the top animators in the industry—and Sheridan alum Glenn McQueen—on the groundbreaking project.
I am a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—the Oscars—in the Animation Branch.
I have been married for 15 years to my beautiful wife, Patti. We have an 11-year-old daughter, Grace, who seems to be a budding fashion designer, so maybe I can get her to come Sheridan when she's ready.
Sheridan Memory and Faculty
I have many wonderful memories from Sheridan but what sticks in my mind are the many, many late nights in the camera room with Glenn getting our “thesis" films out the door. And somehow, we managed to get them in the can. Inconceivable! Jim Macaulay was a big influence on me while at Sheridan.Advice for Sheridan Students
Work hard, have fun and get it all on tape before you leave—you'll need that demo reel if you want to eat!Current Occupation: Head of Character Animation, PDI