教授・教員紹介
担当科目
特別講義
肩書・現職
クリエイティブ・ディレクター／アーティスト
学位
Bachelors of Fine Arts specializing in Photography and Sculpture. Executive Education in Management Anderson School of Business, UCLA
プロフィール
Iʼm a creative leader, VFX supervisor, photographer, motion designer, and educator with a career spanning early computer animation, motion capture, 2D animation, design, post-production/finishing, commercial photography, cinematography, and global brand storytelling. I graduated from Washington State University with a B.A. in Fine Arts specializing in photography and sculpture, and continued into graduate-level computer science where I explored early computer animation using Wavefront software. That opportunity led directly to my first industry role at Wavefront in Santa Barbara, supporting artists through education and technical support.
From there, I joined Accolade Video Games in Cupertino, where I established and led a new division focused on 3D computer graphics and motion capture for games. I then moved to Biovision in San Francisco, managing daily operations and specializing in custom rigging and skinning for complex and highly specific motion-capture projects.
Around the same time, I became involved in the establishment of Digital Hollywood Institute of Media Arts (DHIMA), helping prepare its foundation in Tokyo while also working in production with Visual Science Laboratories. When DHIMA opened in Santa Monica in 1997, I served as Director of Academics and a core instructor, and later took on broader executive responsibilities while continuing to teach.
While building programs and mentoring students, I remained deeply active in production—spending late nights and weekends working with Pixel Envy / Light Matters on film, television, and commercial projects. Staying engaged in real-world work has always been central to my teaching philosophy: I believe itʼs important to do what we ask students to do, and to bring current pipelines, expectations, and creative standards directly into the classroom.
That ongoing industry work, combined with the network it created, enabled me to co-found my own post-production and finishing company, Moneyshots. Our studio became known for its visual effects and beauty work in the music videos industry, supporting directors who would go on to become some of todayʼs most influential filmmakers. We received multiple awards, including an MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects for OutKastʼs “Hey Ya!” To strengthen my leadership and management skills, I also completed an executive education in business management, at UCLA Anderson School of Business.
As the music video industry shifted, I expanded into motion design, title sequences, commercials, experiential media, and short-form storytelling, collaborating with leading studios such as Stardust, Prologue, Imaginary Forces, and Psyop. In parallel, I continued working as a photographer and cinematographer, with projects featured in publications, galleries, exhibitions, television, and film.
In 2012, I joined the founding team of Framestoreʼs Los Angeles office, where I spent nearly a decade helping establish the studio on the West Coast. My roles spanned VFX supervision, on-set supervision, creative direction, directing, and cinematography. I collaborated with global brands and directors, traveled internationally to bring ambitious visions to life, advanced the use of virtual production, and contributed to major events—including development and production work connected to the Winter Olympics handover ceremony in Beijing for the Korean Winter Olympics.
Following Framestore, I served as Executive Creative Director at ArtClass Content, leading high-profile projects for brands such as Netflix, Paramount, GoFundMe, Toyota, and Amazon, including some of the earliest AI-driven commercials in 2022. More recently, I returned to freelance work—supervising and creative directing projects while staying active on set and behind the camera for companies such as Framestore, ArtClass, and Overture Studios—continuing to integrate emerging technologies, including AI and virtual production, with traditional filmmaking craft.
Throughout my career, I have maintained a dual path of professional practice and education. For over three decades, I have taught while working in production, and I currently serve as a Full Professor at Otis College of Art and Design and as an Industry Professional Faculty at ArtCenter College of Design. I have lectured and taught internationally, along with creating customized training for companies and institutions such as Dreamworks, and Blizzard Entertainment. The companies and teams I collaborate with have consistently supported this balance because they share the belief that cultivating the next generation of artists strengthens the entire industry. Iʼm also proud that many of my graduates now hold leading roles across the technology and entertainment industries.
This blend of academic leadership, professional experience, and global perspective aligns closely with DHUʼs mission and 2030 vision. My longstanding relationship with Digital Hollywood, my ties to Japan, and my commitment to innovation across technology and the arts make me eager to contribute to DHUʼs continued growth as a globally recognized creative university.
関連URL
https://www.iilumn.com/
Instagram @hans_eckardt
