A Bunch of Short Guys in partnership with UT Dallas are proud to announce Industry Giants 2024.
We have another amazing lineup of speakers, Portfolio reviewers, Figure Drawing Facilitators and we will soon be opening applications for Artist Alley spots! Keep checking back as we will update this page as soon as we can.
Dallas, Texas annual Industry Giants conference presented by the nonprofit guild, A Bunch of Short Guys, offers one full day of Inspirational Speakers, Portfolio Reviews, Figure Drawing, Artist Alley discussions and networking. Industry Giants features a distinctive lineup of industry professionals working in animation, visual effects and games.
2024 Venue
800 W Campbell Rd #3021, Richardson, TX 75080
2024 Special Guests
Randy Pitchford
THE ARTIST”S DILEMMA – Lessons from the Gearbox Founder of the Gearbox Entertainment Company Randy…
Mindy Johnson
MOVEMENTS IN MOTION: The Transitional Evolution of Animation Artistry & Technology. Award-winning author, historian, filmmaker,…
Brad Graeber
THE FUTURE OF PITCHING ANIMATION: Navigating Developing Originals and Takes in the Age of IP…
Leah Hoyer
FROM SURVIVAL TO THRIVAL: Taking Charge of your Animation and Games Career in a Tumultuous…
Emerson Tung
FROM SKECHBOOK TO ARTBOOK: How I created TANKHEAD. Emerson is an Art Director, Concept Artist…
2024 Figure Drawing
Ellie Garvey
Elizabeth has worked previously at Reel FX as a Render Wrangler, and at Rooster Teeth…
Michael Mentler
As a master painter, sculptor, draughtsman, designer, photographer and author Michael Mentler’s creative journey has…
Rex Kare
Rex Kare is an artist and educator currently residing in North Texas. Having received his…
Portfolio Reviews
Tomas Gonzalez
Tomas Gonzalez Jr is a seasoned Character Animator with over 20 years of experience in…
Ean Vasquez
a Senior Environment artist at Epic Games on the Fortnite Battle Royale team. I have…
Aaron Walls
Game & level designer since 2008, having worked on titles for the Sony PlayStation (2,…
Benji Raz
Benji is a Motion Designer based in Houston, Texas, with a specialization in Character Animation….
David Chiu
David Chiu is a Character Rigger currently working at id Software. He graduated with both…
Ricardo Orellana
Kent Alfred
Adam Nusrallah
Tyler Reed
Brad Lackey
Chris Fowler
Ramsey Ruelas
Jimena Rodríguez Barceló
Rose Miller
Lindsay Wakefield
Elise Hatheway
William Bao
Brooks Fobian
Colin Campbell
Taylea Stepp
Seth Olson
Ludo Michaud
Eric Craft
Hamid “Hammy” Shah
Limbert Fabian
In Partnership with
Gold Sponsorship
Silver Sponsorship
Bronze Sponsorship
Past Speakers
Alan Chan – Sony Imageworks
Allan McKay – Catastrophic FX
Arman Serrano
Augusto Schillaci – ReelFX
Austin Meyers – The Molecule LA
Bert Van Brande – Reel FX
Bettye Zoller
Bobby Beck – AnimationMentor.com
Brad Clark – RiggingDojo.com
Brad Gabe – Janimation
Brandon and Jarrod Shiflett
Brandon Fricks – ReelFX
Brandon Oldenburg – Moonbot Studios
Brett Briley – Id Software
Bryan Brewer – Cloud Emporium
Bryan Engram – Reel FX
Bryan Godwin - Shade VFX
Chad Sellers-Walt Disney
Chas Naylor – ReelFX
Chris Fowler – Pixar Canada
Chris Olivia – Troublemaker Studios
Chris Williams -Sony Imageworks
Christian Lorenz Scheurer
Dale Carmen – ReelFX
Dan Kuenster – iStation
David Bossert – Walt Disney
David Igo - Sideshow Collectables
David Schaub – Sony Imageworks
David Tart – DNA Productions
Deke Kincade – the Foundry
Ed Hooks – Acting for Animators
Ed Jones – Reel FX
Ed Mendez – Dive Visual
Ed Whetstone Reel Fx
Eliot Lilly
Elise Hatheway
Elizabeth Hitt – Digital Domain
Farhez Rayani – Rhythm & Hues
Francis Vallejo
Frank Abney - Pixar Studios
Fred Gardner Reel FX
Gerard H Baldwin
Grace Liu - Airship Syndicate
Greg Brown the Foundry
Greg Punchatz-Janimation
George Tsougkouzdis
Harry Michalakeas – Reel FX
Hoyt Yeatman – Whamaphram
Ian Johnson
J. Schuh – Toons N Design
James Gentile – Monolith Productions
Jason Felix
Jason Manley – Massive Black
Jay Hawkins – Epic Games
Jean-Eric Henault – CGChannel.com
Jeff Alcantara – ReelFX
Jeffrey Dates – the Mill NY
Jens Zalzala – Digital Domain
Joan Panis – MPC Montreal
Johan Klingler – AID
John A Davis – DNA Productions
John Carmack – i.d. Software
John Pomeroy - John Pomeroy Productions
Johnny Gibson – Digital Domain
Jorge Gutierrez – ReelFX
Jose Ramirez
Joseph Gilland
Josh Carey – Reel FX
Katie Heckey – Brazen Ent.
Kevin Johnson – Sony Pictures
Kevin Johnstone – Epic Software
Krishnamurti M.Costa – ILM
Lila Martinez - Fox Animation
Lionel Cornelius Jr – Robot Ent.
Loni Peristere – Zoic
Lorin Wood – Gearbox
Luke Olson – Trinity Broadcasting
Marc Gilpin
Mark Simon - Storyboard
Mary Morgan
Michael Mentler – TSOFA.com
Michel Gagné
Miguel Ortega – Spy Films
Mike B Anderson – Simpsons
Mike Mattesi – Author
Miyo Nakamura
Monika Sawyer – Reel FX
Nate Stephens – Sony Santa Monica
Norma Klingler – AID
Orlando Sanchez – The Art Department
Paul Gaboury – Pixologic
Phil Tippett – Tippett Studios
Piyush Patel – Digital Tutors
Rachelle Lewis – Rachelle Lewis Talent
Ramahan Faulk – ReelFX
Randy Pitchford – Gearbox Software
Raul Aparicio – Hammer and Chisel
Renato dos Anjos – Sony Imageworks
Richard Lyons - Naughty Dog
Rita Street – Radar Cartoons
Robby Lamb – Bioware
Ron Clements - Disney Animation
Ronnie Wiliford-Powerhouse Animation
Samantha Youssef – Studio Technique
Sarah Mensinga
Scott Gordon – CafeFX
Scott Kester – Gearbox
Scott Peterson – Digital Anvil
Shawn Dunn -Weta Digital
Shawn Spetch – Nerve Software
Silvia Pompie – The Simpsons
Stephan Martiniere – id Software
Stephen Hess – Jovian Minds
Stephen Silver
Stephen Steinbach – AID
Steve Emerson – LAIKA
Steve Gaconnier – Janimation
Steve Quentin – 900lbs of Creative
Steve Wang - Onyx Forge Studio
Steven Stahlberg – ZeniMax
T. Dan Hofstedt – Sony Imageworks
Tadao Mihashi – Digital Domain
Terryl Whitlatch – ILM
Tom Bancroft
Tomas Gonzalez
Tony Bancroft
Tony Bonilla – Disney
Tony White – “The Animators Workbook”
Tymon Pitts – Reel FX
Tyson Murphy – Blizzard Ent.
Will Nicholson