Naoki Murdock

I’m Naoki Murdock, a Japanese American 2D/3D character animator in Washington, raised in Okinawa, Japan.I'm passionate about the art of movement and character animation that combines awesomely with dialogue. I enjoy drawing my original characters, and love cats, rocks, and biology.

Areas Of Specialty
Hand-drawn 2D Character Animation
• Clip Studio Paint EX, Toon Boom Harmony, OpenToonz, Blender Grease Pencil, Adobe Animate
3D Character Animation
• BlenderEducation
Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
• BA in Entertainment, Arts & Animation (cum laude)
• Animation Student of the Year
• Institutional Certificate, 2D AnimationExperience Overview
Freelance Animator, Illustrator, & Conceptual Artist
• Created animations, illustrations, and digital assets using a variety of programs for several Youtube channels and indie video games.
• Headed a team as Lead Artist for an indie video game, managing lists of game assets and project assignments, critiquing elements needing revision.
• Overcame deadlines by implementing dedicated project planning, prioritizing tasks and communicating with team members and clients.Experience
2D Animator for The Rejects Series Team
• Rough Animation2D Animator/Character Artist for MegaDrive Studios
• Character turnaround sheet
• Rough, Rigged, & Clean-up Animation2D Animator/Story Artist for Masterjade Studios
• Character design style concepts
• Storyboard & Animatic
• Rough & Clean-up Animation
• CompositingCharacter Artist for Transparent Games Game Jam
• Designed 8 character sprites with a variety of facial expressions for the choose-your- adventure style visual novel game Dusk & Dawn, with costume changes
• Developed character art for the menu screenClean-up Animator for "SiegeTales" YouTube channel
• Adobe Animate Symbol Clean-upTeaching Aide for Animation Department Chair at Utah Tech
• Mentored, guided, and provided feedback to students learning 3D computer graphics, modeling, animation, and rigging technology as a teaching aide.
• Delegated assignments, managed deadlines, and facilitated script discussion, shot composition, and animation improvements for production of 3D short film, UNeARTHED.
• Storyboard and Modeling
• Key and Clean-up AnimationCharacter Artist for Transparent Games Game Jam
• Created 3 character sprites with a variety of facial expressions for the kinetic novel Just Another Adventure, as well as the intro screen art and the final bossLead Artist for G.T.N Studios
• Led a team of artists for indie game production
• Managed prop list and assignments, critiqued elements needing revision
• Determined the look and feel of the game with input from studio co-directors
• Created 2D digital illustrations, 3D modeled and UV textured props3D Animated Film, The Faux Firefly
• Co-designed characters, turnaround sheets and character silhouettes
• Modeling, Rigging, 3D Animation Keys and Clean-upIllustrator for Sonic the Hedgehog Charity Fanzines
• Illustration and merchandise designs for Endless Possibility Zine I & II