A Creative Artist

with an eye for Illustration, Animation, Design, Storyboards, Directing
and much more.

Growing up with a talent for Art and Pop Culture I gravitated toward the Animation Industry, there I worked for over a decade on successful TV productions.
I enjoy working on creative projects and have expanded out into the world. I work in various mediums, in various scales and draw :-) on my array of drawing styles for inspired pieces of original work.

Ideas need to be unique and I'd like to give projects that 'spacific' flare.

 Elizabeth Mitchel 
Producer
Firehorse Films Ltd

 “Ali really understands bro’Town … from the moment he joined the team he became an integral part of the show and has guided both the series, and a multitude of artists and animators through Morningside’s many adventures (both on-screen and off!). Trustworthy, talented, committed and creative … what more could you want!!!!”

Gerben Cath
School Director
Southseas Film, TV and Animation

 "During the 2 years that Ali was employed by us we were impressed at all times by his creativity, professionalism, knowledge, organisational skills, love of animation
and total commitment to any work he was involved with or was allocated".

 
Profile

 A New Zealand born Samoan who grew up in Mangere, my first memories of drawing was when I was a young boy,
my dad sketched me a cowboy with just a normal ball point a pen & abit of paper & ever since then have been fascinated about how he made that image appear on that paper.
Through school I have vivid memories of inspiring people who stood out with art work that impressed me, I enjoyed taking Art
classes in Bader Intermediate & Mangere College & found what I truly loved to do, being able to express myself.
Through those years like any teenage boy had a liking for comic's & movies & really wasn't thinking about where this could lead

I applied to the usual Elam & ATI straight after leaving 7th form & did Foundation studies in Art & Design Course at ATI,
set up an interview the following year at Elam but opted to do an OE in Melbourne, Australia. In Melbourne I was reunited with
my School buddies, we worked hard in the day & moonlighted in a dance crew at night, it was alot of fun
I didn't pursue any Art in Australia until I got home to Aotearoa

When I returned to NZ I thought about which career path to take, during that time I did an acting job on an American movie "Tommyknockers"as a stand in for the main actor,
that was a real eye opener for me, I thought ,the creative world is where I wanted to focus my path.
When the job finished I volunteered to paint murals at Robertson Road(a taskforce green job through winz), there a friend mentioned
that I do a Course in Animation, at the time Animation was never heard of in NZ so when I heard I could do a Course in NZ I just went for it
I studied at Freelance Animators Ltd for 3 years & did additional 2 years as a Tutor, after leaving I worked with established Animation Studio Flux animation moving onto Slightly off Beat Productions( see credits)

Through out this period I have also done alot of television work, Modeling & TV Commercials for Marlin Bay, Hercules, Shortland Street, Street Legal, Pacifica Fashion Show, Fubu Sports Wear, Doyles
to name a few. I have had an Acting role on Shortland Street as a gang member(2003), been a Film Extra on The Lion Witch & the Wardrobe as a centaur & more recently an Extra on Underworld 3. I like Acting & would like to pursue it further

I have also helped to establish South Seas Film & Television Schools first Animation Course by facilitating the Courses first year until
moving on to the opportunity to work on New Zealand's first Animated Prime time Series "Bro'town"( see credits)

So you can see that I have over 14 years experience in 2D Animation, Home gown & Overseas shows, the Creative Arts be it Acting, Dancing or just having fun so stick around please read on & take a look ...

SPECIALTY SKILLS

ILLUSTRATIONS

I have designed a fun image printed to T-shirts for Aucklands Annual Round the Bays Event and a recent campaign for Counties Manukau District Health Board, also Logo's and designing Tattoos.
My future plans are to write & illustrate Children's Books as I have ideas that I'd like to see published one day

ANIMATION

I trained as a Classical 2D animator under John Ewing who's background stems from the great days of the Disney Animation Studios.

STORYBOARDING

Storyboarding for Film, TV & more recently "Bro'town" (Animated Series)
I have a strong sense of visual story telling & like to take the audience for a ride, I like using various camera angles in my panels but
I can also storyboard economically. I like to inject a sense of humor into my storyboards & can storyboard Action to Drama

CONCEPTS

I have collaborated with local Graffiti Artist on Concepts for Murals...my favourite collaborated wall Mural was with Johnny Disco - Airbrush Artist

CHARACTERS

My Character Designs range from Realistic, Fantasy to cartoon...check out my Portfolio
I attended Armageddon Expo in 2007 in Christchurch & Wellington drawing Caricatures for kids of all ages...

RECENT

WORK

Workshops for Samoan Language Week Auckland Museum/Waitakere Libraries 2010
Graphic Scribe: Hapai Te Hauora Tapui Ltd 2010
Caricatures for business christmas card: O'connor Planning Consultants 2009
Animation tutor: Southseas Animation School 2009
Vector pattern: the new zealand clothing company 2009
Mural Art: Interior of voice coach studio, Sept 2009
Workshop: Gifted Kids Programme 2009
Mural Art: CMDHB 'Health could B 4 U' campaign 2009
Tee Shirt range: CMDHB 'Health could B 4 U' campaign 2009
Character Design: CMDHB 'Health could B 4 U' campaign 2009
Workshop: Matariki Festival 09
LA Pitch Event/Hollywood: Personal projects, 4 in total, April 2009

HISTORY

CREDITS

Guest Speaker: DINZ 'This & That' 2010
Animation Director: Bro'town Season 5 - 2008
Animation Director: Bro'town Season 3, Season 4 - Firehorse Films Ltd
Assistant Animation Director:Bro'town Season 2 - Firehorse Films Ltd
Storyboard Artist/Layout/Clean up: Bro'town Season 1 - Firehorse Films Ltd
Animation Tutor: South Seas Film & Television School/ Freelance Art School
Animator: Dave the Barbarian, Disney Television - Anim8 Productions
Animator: Bounty Hamster, Silver Fox Productions - Anim8 Productions
Animator: Static Shock, Warner Brothers Television - Slightly Off Beat Productions
Assistant Animator:Tamatoa the Brave Warrior - Flux Animation/Pheonix Television