Runing
Eduardo Pena
Storyteller - World-builder
Singapore
Summary
Eduardo Pena is an Art Director/Production Designer and Independent Creative with over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry, specializing in world building, storytelling, and cultural exploration. He is currently overseeing the artistic direction and visual language of an animated project under development at Polygon Pictures, a leading animation studio based in Japan. Eduardo has a passion for creating immersive visual experiences in various entertainment mediums, such as animation, visual effects (VFX), and video games. He has worked with renowned production companies such as Weta Workshop, Weta Digital, Blur Studio, Lucasfilm, and ILM-XLAB, contributing his expertise to blockbuster films, theme parks, and virtual reality (VR) initiatives. Some of his notable projects include the Hobbit Trilogy, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Ready Player One, and the KIZAZI MOTO anthology. Eduardo has also collaborated on projects related to urban development, design sustainability, and education. He is always open to new opportunities to push the boundaries of storytelling and create compelling, visually stunning experiences.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Languages
Work History
Art Director
Polygon Pictures
1 2024 - Current
- Responsible for overseeing the Artistic direction and visual Language of an Animated project under development, to ensure a cohesive and visually stunning final product.
Art Director
Freelance
01.2023 - Current
- Experienced in World Building & Art Direction for the Entertainment Industry
- Passionate about crafting immersive visual experiences in Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), and Video Games
- Recognized for a dynamic career shaping imaginative worlds and narratives, influencing the artistic direction of diverse projects
- Currently operating as an Independent Creative, leveraging artistic vision and technical expertise to push the boundaries of storytelling in entertainment mediums
- Open to collaborative opportunities to create compelling, visually stunning experiences.
Production Designer
Triggerfish Animation
05.2022 - 11.2022
- Kizazi Moto Anthology for Disney +
- Worldbuilding/ Art Direction/ Lots of fun for an upcoming animated short film.
Production Designer
Chocolate Tribe
02.2022 - 06.2022
- KIZAZI - MOTO EP04-Surf Sangoma - Production Design + Visual Dev
- Early production process and Responsibilities - Exploration and Development of visual and Aesthetic language that can drive the story
- And understanding what elements to develop and/or include in the production pipeline (3d,2d, mixed media, etc)
- Building the Visual Blueprint and Foundation, of the World-building
- Working with Cameras, layout, Framing, light/color, and graphic language this process not only serves us in the art dept but also provides strong guidance to other departments (modeling, Layout, animation) and assists them in the World-Building process
- So we can simultaneously solve problems on the way.
Art Director
Lucasfilm
02.2020 - 04.2022
- Visual and concept development for major upcoming movies and industry-related projects
- (theme parks, VR,AR, others) ILMXLAB
- Some projects include: Coming 2 America (2021), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
- Responsibilities: working under the Lucasfilm Global Art department, where I was involved in Pitching, Art directing, and working under the VFX pipeline for feature film, animation, and theme parks projects.
Freelance Designer
Eidos-Montréal
01.2020 - 03.2020
- Design and Art services for an IP project under development.
Art Director
Lucasfilm
11.2017 - 12.2018
- Visual and concept development for major upcoming movies and industry-related projects
- (theme parks, VR,AR, others) ILMXLAB
- VFX art direction
- Some projects include: Bumblebee (2018), Aladin (2019), XLAB Projects: Avengers Damage Control (the VOID)
- Responsibilities: working under the Lucasfilm Global Art department, where I was involved in Pitching, Art directing, and working under the VFX pipeline for feature film, animation, and theme parks projects.
Speaker
TEDxColombo
10.2018 - 10.2018
- An amazing experience to participate as a guest speaker on the TEDxColombo
- Shared my principles of living a life with magic, the principles of imagination.
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
11.2016 - 06.2017
- Visual and concept development for major upcoming movies and Theme park: Ready Player One (2017), Deadpool 2 (2017), Pacific Rim 2 (2016), Transformers 5: The Last Knight (2017), Theme park: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Responsibilities: working under the Lucasfilm Global Art department, where I was involved in Pitching, Art directing, and working under the VFX pipeline for feature film, animation, and theme parks projects.
Course Director of Entertainment Design
The One Academy of Communication Design
11.2014 - 01.2017
- Build and develop new curriculums for the Entertainment Design Department
- Deliver lectures to top students and other lecturers
- Provide talks and workshops to promote Entertainment Design to students and people who are interested in the field.
Concept Artist
Lionsgate
09.2016 - 10.2016
- Concept art and visual development for film, Chaos Walking.
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
03.2016 - 08.2016
- Visual and concept development for major upcoming movies and TV shows
- ILM-XLAB visual development.
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
05.2015 - 10.2015
- Visual and concept development for major upcoming movies and TV shows
- ILM-XLAB visual development.
Design Consultant
McKinsey Solutions (part of McKinsey & Company)
04.2015 - 05.2015
- Design Consultant in Dubai.
Senior Designer
NINGXIA Film group
01.2015 - 02.2015
- Senior Designer for concept Illustrator
- Movie project: ASURA.
Speaker
TEDxYouth@KL
11.2014 - 11.2014
- A humbling and amazing opportunity to participate as a guest speaker on the TEDxYouth@KL
- Shared my principles of design and how to nurture your sources of inspirations.
Concept Artist
Syfy
09.2014 - 11.2014
- Visual development for Arthur C
- Clarke's "Childhoods End" (TV Show), PD: Phil Ivey.
Senior Art Director/Lecturer
FZD School of Design
05.2013 - 01.2014
- Designed new curriculum and courses to enhance students' engagement and participation
- Taught advanced classes for entertainment design and art direction.
Concept Artist
EuropaCorp
03.2013 - 05.2013
- Visual development and concept design for Europa Corp in Luc Besson's Film "Lucy".
Concept Artist
Weta Workshop Ltd
06.2011 - 03.2013
- Worked on the visual development for major movies such as: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012, Director: Peter Jackson), The Hobbit: The Desolation Smaug (2013, Director: Peter Jackson), The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014, Director: Peter Jackson), Transcendence (2014, Director: Wally Pfister), The Great Wall (2016, Director: Ed Zwick), Hercules (2014, Director Brett Ratner)
- Worked on the visual development for world-class sci-fi theme parks for a global client to develop the state-of-the-art Experience and Discovery Centers around the world
- Magic Leap Projects.
Concept Artist
Axis Animation
11.2011 - 12.2011
- Character art development for video games in Project "Dead Island".
Concept Artist
Weta Digital
01.2011 - 05.2011
- Visual development for movies.
Art Director
Contento Animation
01.2010 - 11.2010
- Built the art foundation of an IP development studio.
Design Professor
Universidad de los Andes
01.2008 - 07.2010
- Conducted classes for a new design curriculum under the The Faculty of Architecture and Design
- Conducted master classes and workshops on digital illustration, visual narratives, and digital surfaces.
Artist
Immersion Games
11.2006 - 11.2008
- Visual Development for a video game "Cell Factor".
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Graphic Design
Fundación Universidad De Bogotá 'JorgeTadeo Lozano'
Bogota - Colombia 01.2003 - 04.2007
Skills
Leadership
Creative Concept Design
Artistic Direction
Creative capabilities
Concept Development
Honors Awards
scad.edu Frances Larkin McCommon Scholarship
Publications
- 2DArtist Magazine2DArtist Magazine2DArtist Magazine: Issue 33 (13-page coverage); Issue 35, 39 (Invited gallery), issue 131 (interview), (U.K.)
2DArtist Magazine: Issue 33 (13-page coverage); Issue 35, 39 (Invited gallery), issue 131 (interview), (U.K.) - Art Squared Artbook: Digital painters 2 (U.K.)Art Squared Artbook: Digital painters 2 (U.K.)
- Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 4Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 4
- Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 5Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 5
- Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 6Café Sale Artbooks: Volume 6
- Concept Art and Sketch Dopress BooksConcept Art and Sketch Dopress Books
- Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 3Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 3
- Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 4Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 4
- Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 5Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 5
- Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 6Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 6
- Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 8Digital Art Masters Book: Volume 8
- Digital Painting Techniques: Volume 2 (U.K.)Digital Painting Techniques: Volume 2 (U.K.)
- Expose 7Expose 7
- Expose 8Expose 8
- ImagineFX Magazine: Issue 52 FX + (Interview)ImagineFX Magazine: Issue 52 FX + (Interview)
- Spectrum 17Spectrum 17
- Spectrum 19Spectrum 19
- The Art & Making of HerculesThe Art & Making of Hercules
- The Art of the Hobbit: Art BooksThe Art of the Hobbit: Art Books
- White Cloud Worlds Volume 2
Interests
Outdoor exercise
Traveling
Martial arts
Timeline
Art Director
Freelance
01.2023 - Current
Production Designer
Triggerfish Animation
05.2022 - 11.2022
Production Designer
Chocolate Tribe
02.2022 - 06.2022
Art Director
Lucasfilm
02.2020 - 04.2022
Freelance Designer
Eidos-Montréal
01.2020 - 03.2020
Speaker
TEDxColombo
10.2018 - 10.2018
Art Director
Lucasfilm
11.2017 - 12.2018
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
11.2016 - 06.2017
Concept Artist
Lionsgate
09.2016 - 10.2016
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
03.2016 - 08.2016
Senior Concept Artist
Lucasfilm
05.2015 - 10.2015
Design Consultant
McKinsey Solutions (part of McKinsey & Company)
04.2015 - 05.2015
Senior Designer
NINGXIA Film group
01.2015 - 02.2015
Course Director of Entertainment Design
The One Academy of Communication Design
11.2014 - 01.2017
Speaker
TEDxYouth@KL
11.2014 - 11.2014
Concept Artist
Syfy
09.2014 - 11.2014
Senior Art Director/Lecturer
FZD School of Design
05.2013 - 01.2014
Concept Artist
EuropaCorp
03.2013 - 05.2013
Concept Artist
Axis Animation
11.2011 - 12.2011
Concept Artist
Weta Workshop Ltd
06.2011 - 03.2013
Concept Artist
Weta Digital
01.2011 - 05.2011
Art Director
Contento Animation
01.2010 - 11.2010
Design Professor
Universidad de los Andes
01.2008 - 07.2010
Artist
Immersion Games
11.2006 - 11.2008
Bachelor's Degree - Graphic Design
Fundación Universidad De Bogotá 'JorgeTadeo Lozano'
01.2003 - 04.2007
Art Director
Polygon Pictures
1 2024 - Current
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