Who the heck is this guy and does he ever just shut up?

Hah! If I had a dollar for every time I overheard someone talking to someone else about me like that, I’d buy us both a pony!

a nice one, too! maybe even a red one!

I’m just a mere mortal. one who likes to talk about pretty much anything that gets my blood pumping. Usually that means animation or computers or people or films or boogers.

Actually, I don’t talk about boogers all that much.

I like to keep that private.

other than that, by day I’m an animator.

By night, I’m a ninja who eats jelly doughnuts and grins at nothing in particular.

Every comment/post/rant/opinion expressed within these pages is only the opinion of the author, and does not reflect any employer, parent, guardian, or alien host of any kind.

Oh yeah.. and if you’re really bored, here are a couple of links to interviews…

Lord of the Rings

Madagascar

Misc

And if you really must have a resume..

From 1996 – 1999 I worked at Alias|Wavefront as an intern, support specialist, and product specialist, focusing on Maya, demoing Maya, and traveling the world speaking about Maya.

from 1999 – 2003 I worked on the Lord of the Rings trillogy. I started out as a character td, wrote the animation pipeline, and then transitioned to animation starting as an animator on film 1, senior animator on film 2, and animation lead on film 3.

In 2001 and 2002 I wrote two Master Classes on character rigging for Maya. Until recently they were available from the Autodesk website as the Jason Schleifer Rigging Bundle. I’m working to make them available again.

In 2002 I co-authored a Siggraph course on character rigging.

In 2004 I moved back to the states and began animating at PDI Dreamworks where I was promoted to Supervising Animator in 2007.

In 2008 I was promoted to Head of Character Animation for a film called Megamind, which is to be released in November, 2010.

After Megamind finished, I was Head of Character Animation for Megamind: The Button of Doom, and a supervising animator on Night of the Living Carrots. I’m currently getting ready to be Head of Character Animation for a new film coming out in 2014!

Film History

  1. New Project (to be released 2014) – Head of Character Animation
  2. Night of the Living Carrots – Supervising Animator
  3. Megamind – Head of Character Animation
  4. Madagascar 2 – Supervising Animator
  5. Monsters vs. Aliens – Preproduction Animator
  6. Shrek the Third – Senior Animator
  7. Over the Hedge – Senior Animator
  8. Penguins X-mas Caper – Senior animator
  9. Madagascar – Senior Animator
  10. Lord of the Rings – Return of the King – Animation Lead
  11. Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers – Senior Animator
  12. Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring – Animator

Awards

  1. Doctorate of Arts, honoris causa – Digital Media Arts College, 2007
  2. Maya Masters, 2002
 

37 Responses to About

  1. Ryan Connell Garvey says:
    May 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    Hey Jason,

    I’m a student at VFS in Digital Character Animation.
    As a classically trained animator, your AFR is awesome.

    So is Grease Pencil! Does it work on a Mac?

    Thanks,
    Connell

    Reply
  2. Animation Quality vs Quantity – by Jason Schleifer | ..::avneriginal::.. says:
    May 21, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    [...] over to Jason Schleifer’s blog for a great breakdown about animation quality versus quantity. Animation Quality Vs. Quantity – [...]

    Reply
  3. David Tousek says:
    August 1, 2011 at 4:26 am

    Hi Jason,

    I would like to quickly ask if your script for drawing in Maya is still available. I was not able to find the DOWNLOAD page that you refer to in your blog, neighter a log in …

    so I wonder if it is still available. Would be awesome to use it, we are having currently animation courses with Andy Schmidt from Pixar, he is a classical animator at also and I would like him and the students to use your script for planning their shots .

    would it be possible to use this great script .. ?

    thank you much
    david

    Reply
  4. João Paulo says:
    August 18, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Hi there Jason,

    I’ve bought your AFR bundle a long time ago and there was no
    documentation about the scripts that you gave us.

    I’m trying to figure out how to use the jsFkIkArmRig.mel for exemple.

    How can I get those documentations?

    thank’s

    JP

    Reply
    • jason says:
      August 18, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      There is *lots* of documentation that comes with the bundle showing how to use the scripts.. usually over 100 pages of it per dvd.

      when/where did you purchase them?

      Reply
      • João Paulo says:
        August 18, 2011 at 6:45 pm

        hi david,
        I’ve purchased over lulu.com i think. The lessons are like a lecture that you did on siggraph… the pdf included is “AWGUA Maya Master Class August 2001″

        Reply
  5. sam says:
    August 20, 2011 at 1:27 am

    Hey Jason,

    Your interviews are awesome! You should write a book and see how it does on lulu. When I was in school there was a copy of your rigging bundle that I watched a lot. its great to see more material available here.

    -Sam

    Reply
  6. Crazy joints says:
    September 18, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Jason i love yu :) I’m a big fan of yu :) Soon i’ll buy Animator Friendly Rigging bundle :) .. Please can yu tell me when is yur birthday ? :)

    Reply
  7. pelish says:
    September 23, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    this form doesn’t work.

    Reply
  8. pelish says:
    September 23, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    Ok, it didn’t work because it filters some words.
    Hi. I have accidentally found some offensive artwork about characters from madagascar where they are illustrated very corrupted – having f^tishes, s^x, lechery and suggestive p^d^philia.
    Would you do something about it? Maybe you could send a copyright claim? Contact me for details.

    Reply
  9. sami says:
    October 7, 2011 at 11:46 am

    Hi Jason,

    Are these dvds same one which were available for Autodesk subscribers and if so is there any update on them.

    Thank you very much sir.

    Reply
  10. Paul Leger says:
    October 11, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Hello Jason,
    is it true that the Night of the Living Carrots Monsters vs Aliens special is only available through Nintendo 3DS?

    im a devote fan of the Movie and am concerned im going to miss it like the BOB app…

    Reply
    • jason says:
      October 11, 2011 at 9:02 pm

      You know what? I’m not sure! :) that’s what it says on wikipedia, but hopefully it’ll be available elsewhere..

      Reply
      • Paul Leger says:
        October 16, 2011 at 7:13 am

        also how does dreamworks view fan fictions? are they glad they inspire people?

        i was wondering because i have had the time of my life writing one for Monsters vs. Aliens

        ps, when is the tv show going to start up with the pilot on Nickelodeon?

        Reply
        • jason says:
          October 18, 2011 at 5:35 am

          I don’t think I’ve ever heard any sort of official comment on fan fiction.. I do know that some of us pass it around when we see it. :)

          not sure when the pilot is coming to nickelodeon.. I’m not involved with that part of things. my focus is all on the feature animation side.

          Reply
          • Paul Leger says:
            October 19, 2011 at 1:41 pm

            oh realy? :) well i know the rules on submitting ideas and all, but on a casual note, would you or anyone else be interested in checking out my fanfic? for only enjoyment of reading, not for submitting for a sequel lol

            oh ok

          • jason says:
            October 20, 2011 at 4:01 pm

            unfortunately, I really can’t officially see them unless they are submitted by an agent. :)

  11. Paul Leger says:
    October 20, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    so you cant just take a look if i just left a link here?

    Reply
  12. Ciccio says:
    October 26, 2011 at 1:25 am

    Hello Jason,
    could you help me here?
    https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/animatorfriendlyrigging/ykoIfgc1LsE

    sorry if annoying and thanks in advance ;)

    These tutorial are awesome.
    Do you plan to make some video for rigging quadrupeds or birds ?

    Reply
  13. Natalie Rodriguez says:
    October 31, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Hi Jason,

    I was just wondering where I could find your twos.mel script, if it’s still available for download. I’m working on my graduate reel and it would definitely help me a lot.

    Thanks,
    Natalie

    Reply
  14. Tahereh says:
    January 11, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Hello Jason,

    I am student of 3D Animation at Seneca College in Toronto. One of my teachers gave me your name as one of the best animators and riggers. I’m glad that I know about you now and will definitely go through your videos and use your tutorials. :)

    As one of our assignments we should talk to an animator we have never met before and ask some questions. I don’t want to take so much of your time, some short answers to my few questions would be greatly appreciated. And it will help me and my fellow students to learn more about you and the route you have taken to get where you are now.

    here are the questions:

    1. What path have you taken to become an animator?

    2. What type of work are you doing now?

    3. Where do you want to be in the future?

    4. What is your favorite movie?

    Thanks very much for your time and answers,

    Tahereh

    Reply
  15. CHBY says:
    January 14, 2012 at 4:59 am

    I am from India. I would like to purchase some of the DVD. Is there any shipping charges will add with the DVD price showing in the order page?

    Reply
  16. Eric Cardeña Rodríguez says:
    February 9, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Jason,
    My name is Eric Cardeña Rodríguez. I’m planning a trip to Sillicon Valley from Mexico City for 15 students of one of the most prestigious universities in Mexico, Universidad Panamericana.
    The main purpose of the visit is to get to know how PDI/Dreamworks do the things you do, I understand you have a very important position in the company and that your resume is incredible. If you could offer some of your time to them it would make a huge difference for them.
    The students are working really hard to get their Animation Degree and others to their Engineering in Information, so it would be incredible for them to know how great PDI/Dreamworks is, how you do the things you do and to learn something unique from you. I understand that it’s very difficult for you to do this but we’re really looking forward to learn as much of you as we can.
    It would be fantastic for the students to believe they can do great things as you do. Please consider this, I would appreciate it for life.

    Sincerely yours,
    Eric Cardena Rodríguez

    Reply
    • jason says:
      February 12, 2012 at 7:49 am

      Hi Eric!

      This sounds like a very exciting opportunity for you and your students! I will contact you through your email to discuss it further. :)

      cheers!

      Reply
  17. Ville says:
    March 13, 2012 at 6:01 am

    Hi Jason,
    First of all I have to say that AFR is one of the best tutorials ever…about anything! Do you have any tutorials, or do you know any, that would go into more detail about facial rigging(production quality)? I saw this video the other day: http://vimeo.com/38257543 and I would like to know how it works and create something as lively.

    The only DVD set that I have found is “Facial Rigging for Feature Animation” from fahrenheit studios, but it is no longer sold anywhere and I have very recently bought Jason Osipa’s “Stop Staring” (still in post), but this apparently does not go into full detail about rigging techniques.

    Any help much appreciated,
    Thank you!!

    Reply
  18. raphael says:
    March 14, 2012 at 11:53 am

    Hi Jason,

    AFR is an amazing method of creating rigs. I am trying to purchase it but the links to lulu.com seems to be crashing.

    I would like to know how can I purchase the AFR Bundle and if I can use it in the industry.

    best regards,
    Raphael

    Reply
  19. chris gray says:
    March 29, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Hey Jason, I’ve been a 3d studio user since DOS days and I’m starting to get into maya a bit of late. I bought your AFR series and it’s AWESOME!!!!. The delivery structure makes it easy for an old dog to learn new tricks. Thanks.

    I love the hash rename tool so much that I wrote a maxScript version cause I couldn’t do without the functionality once I’d used it in maya. Hope you don’t mind that I copied. :|

    Cheers,
    Cg.

    Reply
  20. Nate says:
    April 30, 2012 at 8:30 am

    Hi Jason,
    Im having problems with your matchObjUI and matchOBj scripts. Im working in maya 2012 on windows7. the problem is when i import the js afr shelf, there is no match buttons. Is it possible i have an out of date shelf??? or is this a problem with coding?? please help
    Your pipeline is legendary and as im sure you know it, AFR the basis to my and im sure other colleges’ rigging curriculums.
    Thanks again,
    N

    Reply

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