Full name
Skip Wrightson
Title
Artist/Animator/Cartoonist
Blurb
www.mrmeteor.net
Biography
Most of my work is based on actual events whether it be stuff on the news or things I see in the mundanities of everyday life. My life is not action packed. The two (2) issue comic book I created, “Mr. Meteor: Or How to Learn the Secrets of the Universe Using Finite Math” (2002), wove three (3) narratives around a seven (7) minute 8mm film entitled “Lines & Spheres.” As a whole, the project was a self-published comic book based on a self-produced film (both with a coded message for audience members to solve!) and the intertwining mediums of film and comic book proved to be an ambitious experiment. Although the project left audiences befuddled yet amused, it eventually led me to produce a traditionally animated short cartoon entitled “Mr. Meteor: Or How to Make a Friend without Really Trying” (2005). This film was based on events witnessed in the fish tank in my Vancouver apartment- a truly unbelievable story.
Following “MM:OHMFRT” I produced a series of Vegetable-Oil-Powered-Vehicle shorts called “Secrets of the Internal Combustion Engine” (2006) which aimed to inform the public about Bio-Fuels in the consumer market.
In 2010 I co-founded an musical ensemble called The Shakers and provided backup for Boston’s infamous frontman, Pat Martini (there’s a short film in there somewhere, and someday, somehow it will present itself when Pat makes parole).
Life soon inspired another animated short called “Fizzy Beverage" (2011). Among some of its festival screenings: Official Selections at The Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, Ottawa International Film Festival (Salon de Refuses program), and 2011 Annecy+ program in France. "Fizzy Beverage” was screened in the rejected programs at the two largest animation festivals in the world- two feathers I proudly wear in my hat.
Since 2005 I have worked for various filmmakers and studios contributing design and animation. In 2010 I embarked on a venture called You-Toon.com which produced custom tailored animated shorts for clients who sought creative wedding proposals, save-the-dates and anything “couple” related. In 2014 I worked on the design team at Soup2Nuts. 2015 brought me to Los Angles where I lived in 5 different places in 23 months. While in California, I produced some more personal work, panicked about possibly having made and big mistake, swam in the ocean, panicked, ate greasy food at diners all over southern CA, met my wife and printed three mini-comics (Sea Creature Story, Skip to the End Vol. 1 and Infinity Man 13th Anniversary Edition).
In 2017, my wife and I left the often oppressive sunshine of LA for the grey and salty airs of Cape Cod where we now enjoy frequent Nor'easters together in a spacious and lovely home with our small child. Currently, we are producing an animated short based on my mini-comic Sea Creature Story.
Experience
Designer
Soup2Nuts
Member of the design team for Astroblast Seasons 1 thru 2- a flash animated show for 2-5 year olds currently airing on Sprout and NBC. Produced conceptual drawings and finalized BG’s, props and characters.
Adjunct Faculty
Northeastern University College of Professional Studies
I taught the Animation Basics course in the Digital Media Program at NEU’s College of Professional Studies. The course covered the principles of animation (squash, stretch, spacing timing, staging, weight, etc.) Class time utilized animation demos, animation history lectures and individual projects.
Producer
You-Toon.com
Partnering with a former client, we created a web service which provided custom tailored animated shorts, e-vites and save-the-dates catering to the wedding planning industry. Many of our jobs were animated wedding proposals, birth announcements, and wedding anniversary gifts.
Assist. Animator & Clean Up artist
Lev Polyakov (independent filmmaker)
Produced traditional animation using a Wacom tablet with Flash for and independent animated feature called Only Love. Animated 15-20 sec. per week over rough keys done by the lead animator. Multiple characters, lots of action scenes.
Studio Assistant
Michael Kelleher Graphic Design
Digital painting / Digital Color Restoration / Flash Animation
Clients included Marvel Comics and Tokyo Pop
Animator/Colorist
The Park Entertainment Inc.
Worked in the VFX department on post-production of an independent documentary about comedian Eddie Izzard called Diva 51. Animated on paper several sequences of a character performing different acts. Each bit was around 12 seconds in length. Used Flash and AfterEffects for compositing.
Animation teacher
Charles River Creative Arts Program
Animation Teacher at the summer arts camp, worked with kids aged 8-14.
Instructor
Provincetown Art Association Museum
Digital Art teacher at PAAM’s Art Reach program. MCC sponsored youth program for at risk students. Lead a small group ages 15-18 in mostly student designed projects ranging from digital music composition to stop mostion animation to 2D game design. Photoshop, Dragonframe, zines and comics.
Education
Classical Animation
Vancouver Film School
BA Studio Art, Art History
University of Vermont
Bill Plympton Degree in Animation
Bill Plympton School of Animation
A 12 week workshop at Bill’s NYC studio.
Skills
Photoshop, Flash, Maya, ToomBoom, AfterEffects