Christopher McDonnell

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Program Director, Animation
Assistant Professor, Animation

BFA, School Visual Arts

Contact Info

Animation

Terra Hall 1401C

Chris McDonnell has been teaching at UArts for more than 10 years—at first part time in the Illustration and Animation programs and now full time in Animation.

Biography

Chris McDonnell is an animation director and a bestselling author and designer of art books that explore the animation production process.

As an educator, McDonnell aims to meet each student where they are in their artistic journey and help them find their own path forward. It is a thrill every time a student brings an innovative perspective to an assignment that in turn inspires the whole class to explore and strive for higher levels of creative and technical achievement.

He previously taught courses at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia and at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. 

Experience

  • McDonnell’s animated work has aired on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Comedy Central, HBO, IFC, Netflix and Nickelodeon as segments on shows such as Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Eagleheart, Kroll Show, Lady Dynamite, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Portlandia, Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!, Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tour de Pharmacy, and Yo Gabba Gabba! 

  • He has also created character concept designs and artwork for two series in development at Warner Bros. and character concept designs for an animated feature in development at TriStar Pictures.

  • McDonnell’s books include 

    • Adventure Time: The Art of Ooo (Abrams), 

    • The Art of Invader Zim (Abrams), 

    • BoJack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse (Abrams), 

    • Sasquatch’s Big Hairy Drawing Book (Chronicle Books), 

    • the Publishers Weekly bestseller Steven Universe: Art & Origins (Abrams),  

    • Steven Universe: End of an Era (Abrams), and 

    • Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi (Universe). 

  • He has also designed art books about Wonder Woman, the Joker, horror, sci-fi, zombies and animation director Bill Plympton, among other topics.

Website

Explore Chris McDonnell’s website.

MCDWorkshop

Follow McDonnell on Twitter.

 

Work

Awards & Accolades

  • Steven Universe: Art & Origins was a Publishers Weekly bestseller.

Contact
cmcdonnell@uarts.edu
215-687-7645