We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Abramovici and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Daniel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I embarked on a creative career because it felt like the most natural path from my early days. While I had various interests as a youngster, the act of crafting imagery always took precedence. Despite the uncertainty of which specific direction to pursue, I held onto an open-minded approach. This adaptability has been a fundamental aspect of my creative journey. Over the years, I’ve ventured into diverse roles within the entertainment industry, spanning animation, technical direction, layout artistry, compositing, stereography, and even delving into the realm of VR development. I’ve also had the privilege of forming and overseeing multiple teams in the animation and film sectors, underscoring the importance of adaptability and an open-minded ethos in a creative career. Amid all of this, I’ve made sure to sustain my personal painting projects, continuously exploring my unique aesthetic.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Presently I serve as a Co-Executive Producer at Nickelodeon Animation Studio, contributing to an upcoming animated series that has yet to be announced.
During my tenure at 21st Century Fox Studios, I oversaw the implementation of creative stereography across numerous films within the Ice Age franchise, as well as titles like Rio and The Peanuts Movie. Over the past decade, I have excelled in leading teams dedicated to pioneering groundbreaking 3D experiences, spanning from feature films to immersive location-based installations. One of my notable achievements includes spearheading a team of artists responsible for designing 4D rides that have been embraced globally, expanding the reach of the Ice Age brand.
I played a pivotal role in conceptualizing a virtual production pipeline for Blue Sky Studios. Additionally, I engaged in prototyping virtual reality applications. Throughout my career, my innovative contributions have earned me several patents for the workflows and tools I developed, which have been integral to a diverse array of films.
I have taken center stage at prestigious conferences including SIGGRAPH, FMX in Germany, and the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France, sharing my wealth of expertise and insights.
Balancing my professional pursuits, I have also taken on the role of an adjunct Professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, guiding the next generation of artistic talent. My dedication to education extends to conducting workshops on Stereoscopic 360 filmmaking and storytelling. Previously, I served as a supervising compositor and visual effects artist on major films, collaborating directly with luminaries such as Charlie Kaufman and Jim Jarmusch.
Beyond my contributions to the cinematic world, I am a painter and illustrator, characterized by a distinctive aesthetic style. My works have been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and Toronto.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a tough question to answer since I have only lived in LA for three and a half years. For the first year and a half, we lived under pandemic restrictions so I really did not get to explore LA except for the beaches. I took up surfing and explored all the various surf spots along the PCH. Once I started working I have not had any time. Between working and raising children (I have a 3 and a 5-year-old) I barely have any time to do anything. If someone came to visit me I would be taking them to the beaches of Malibu and various kid-friendly parks around LA.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My art school experience at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, was truly exceptional. I pursued studies in both Illustration and Computer Animation, and the journey was filled with inspiring instructors and talented peers. Two instructors, in particular, played pivotal roles in my artistic growth. In my first year, my painting teacher recognized and cultivated the unique style that was blossoming within me, providing a strong foundation in the fundamentals of painting while nurturing my emerging creativity. In my final year, during a computer animation course, my instructor’s guidance convinced me to stay in school even when a job opportunity arose mid-year. This decision had a profound impact on the trajectory of my career.
Website: www.danielabramovici.com
Instagram: abramo_studios
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielabramovici/
Image Credits
photo credits: Antelmo Villarreal