SAMUEL MICHLAP

Samuel Michlap began his career in Animation as a layout artist on Walt Disney’s “Lion King”.
Sam was hired after graduating from Cal State Northridge with a B.A in Illustration.  He was trained during the early days of “Lion King” in cinematography, lighting design, story boarding, Workbooks, and rough and clean-up layout.  Sam primarily helped design pride rock, and the wildebeest canyon.

Next, Sam began working on the “Hunchback of Notre Dame”.  He helped design Paris and was a Journeyman workbook artist who was responsible for lighting design, and cinematography for several sequences in the film. During the time spent on Hunchback, Sam freelanced as a concept artist in live action.  Early script visualization and matte painting keys were the focus of this work. Sam worked as a concept artist on “Kull” and “Mortal Kombat”.

In early 1995, shortly after Dream Works was formed, Sam was asked to join the Art Dept. for the Prince of Egypt. Sam helped develop the feature animation division in addition to working on “The Prince of Egypt”. Sam was responsible for assisting with color style, light, and design several key sequences.  He was one of the first to style the look of the Red Sea. During the ten years Sam spent at Dream Works, he helped Art Direction and Production Design on “El Dorado”, Sinbad” and “Shark Tale”.  In addition to managing art teams Sam was also a key Vis Dev artist in the Feature Animation Unit.

While working at DW, Sam began a separate career as a Fine Artist.  Sam primarily painted urban landscapes, which he would make up from his imagination. The focus of this body of work was to create settings which viewers would have an emotional response to instead of trying to capture an exact replica of a place.  He believes emotion and soul should be the first concern of a serious artist and not technique. “If the art does not say anything then I have failed”. This philosophy began with Sam’s Visual Development Work and carried over into all of his art. Sam is also an avid Plein Air Painter.

In the summer of 2005 Sam was asked to join the newly formed Feature Animation Company, IDT Entertainment (Now Starz Entertainment) as the Head of Visual Development.  Sam helped establish the art department for Starz.  He and his group of artists are working to create fresh new looks for Starz’ upcoming feature Animated Films.