Mike Gasaway is an award winning Director with over 6 years of directing/producing experience, specializing in computer animation.  He’s directed on three award winning shows.  Mike has also been a part of helping to build 2 animation studios - one with a traditional production approach and another with international partners.

 

After dropping out of the University of Cincinnati's Architecture program in 1993, Mike decided to take life more seriously.  Instead, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota,  and entered the field computer animation.

 

A spattering of commercials and some medical animations later, he decided to do a short film.  Television Monster was created and it landed in film festivals including Siggraph 1996.  Walt Disney Imagineering saw the film and offered him a job.

 

During his 3 years with Disney, he animated on virtual attractions including Hercules and The Pirates of the Caribbean.  He also worked on a television pilot concept along with animation that was to be seen at Epcot.

 

Following a brief stint working with Naughty Dog, Inc on the video game, Jak and Daxter, he moved to Dallas, Texas, to work for DNA Productions as an animator on the film, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.  After 2 weeks as an animator, he was promoted to Animation Supervisor.  After production wrapped, DNA made Mike one of two directors for the Nickelodeon television series: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.

 

While at DNA, Mike directed more than 16 hours of television, including 3 one-hour shows and 1 hour and a half special.  During that time, he won an Annie for Best Children’s Animated Series and was nominated for an Annie for Best Directing in an Animated Series.  Development of potential series and features was also a part of Mike's duties at DNA.

 

In 2006, Mike left Dallas, Texas and DNA Productions for Carlsbad, California and began working for O Entertainment.  From 2006-2009, while at O Entertainment, Mike served as Supervising Director on Back at the Barnyard, directing 14 episodes, including an hour long special and supervising 33 episodes.  In 2009, Back at the Barnyard earned an Emmy Award® for Outstanding Animated Program Special Class.

 

Mike also brought the show Planet Sheen to O Entertainment and acted as Co-Creator, Co-Producer and Supervising Director for most of the first season.  As co-producer, Mike was responsible for helping to build the studio as far as hiring personnel and equipment needs.  He was also very closely involved in creating work-flows and schedules.

 

Currently, Mike is involved as the principal of the Gasman Group leading development and production. Mike is writing a daily blog that chronicles his path to create a movie from original idea to final mix and eventually, a screening of the movie.  Take a look at his blog at www.gasmangroup.com/blog