We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Abramovici recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When it comes to painting, I have always drawn pictures and painted for as long as I can remember. I took private art classes growing up. Every Saturday morning I would get up and head over to a private teacher’s home. She was a terrific nurturing person, she had a strong traditional sense while also pulling out what was naturally there within the young artists. I pursued this consistently through college. I studied Illustration and then from there moved on to computer animation where all the things I was interested in came together. Knowing what I know now I wish I would have taken math more seriously growing up. I always thought being an artist you would not need math but once I got to studying computer animation I saw how useful it would have been. I never really had any obstacles growing up with wanting to be an artist. My family was very supportive of the visual arts and my mother would bring me to art galleries constantly to further enrich my experience in the world of art.

When it comes to painting, I’ve had a lifelong passion for creating art. I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. During my formative years, I took private art classes, a tradition that involved waking up every Saturday morning and heading to a talented teacher’s home. She was not only a terrific and nurturing mentor but also had a strong commitment to preserving traditional techniques while helping young artists tap into their natural talents.

My artistic journey continued consistently through college. I pursued a degree in Illustration and then transitioned into the world of computer animation, where all my creative interests converged. Looking back, I wish I had taken mathematics more seriously during my early education. I initially believed that being an artist wouldn’t require math, but as I delved into computer animation, I realized how valuable mathematical skills could have been.

Fortunately, I was fortunate to face very few obstacles on my path to becoming an artist. My family provided unwavering support for the visual arts and animation. My mother frequently took me to art galleries, enriching my experience in the world of art

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an artist at heart, and my journey has taken me through a diverse range of roles in the film and television industry. I’ve overseen the creative implementation of stereography in iconic films such as the Ice Age franchise, Rio, and The Peanuts Movie. For the past decade, I’ve led teams in pioneering cutting-edge 3D experiences, spanning from feature films to immersive installations. One of my proudest achievements is leading a team that designed globally embraced 4D rides, expanding the Ice Age brand’s reach.

I’ve played a crucial role in conceptualizing a virtual production pipeline for Blue Sky Studios and have dabbled in prototyping virtual reality applications. Throughout my career, my innovative contributions have resulted in several patents for the workflows and tools I’ve developed, which have been integral to a diverse array of films. These experiences have shaped me into a well-rounded producer. Currently, I’m producing an undisclosed CG animated series. Previously in my career, 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 cinematic endeavors, I’m a prolific painter and illustrator known for my distinctive aesthetic style. My artworks have been exhibited in prestigious locations like New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and Toronto.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most gratifying aspects of being an artist lies in the privilege of dedicating my days to shaping mesmerizing realms in alternate dimensions for the silver screen and television or delving deeper into the intricacies of my own artistic vision on canvas or in the digital realm. This creative journey demands considerable effort, yet, as I sit amidst the culmination of a cinematic piece’s final mix or stand before the completion of a painting, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and fulfillment washes over me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I departed from my position as the Stereographer at Blue Sky Studios and embarked on my journey to California nearly four years ago, I found myself at a pivotal crossroads. This transition coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had cast a shadow over the entertainment industry and many others. Despite my initial loose plan of venturing into the world of projection mapping, I was confronted with the grim reality of a struggling job market.

In the face of this adversity, I realized I needed to reinvent myself and chart a new course to sustain my career. It was during this challenging period that I serendipitously discovered an opportunity at Moonbug Studios, where I assumed the role of a CG supervisor. The path to this position was not without its hurdles, but I managed to carve out my niche by harnessing the wealth of experience I had amassed from my previous roles in animation. This experience became the cornerstone upon which I built my success in my newfound role as a CG supervisor. I worked in this capacity for a year, this experience directly helped me in my current role as a Co-Executive Producer on an animated series.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danielabramovici.com
• Instagram: abramo_studios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielabramovici/

Image Credits
photo credits: Antelmo Villarreal