Diane Aarts
© Diane Aarts

Diane Aarts

Diane Aarts is a director of the animated series HOP as well as Luna Chip & Inkie- Adventure Rangers Go. Working as an Animation Supervisor, Animator, Background Painter and Designer, her other shows include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Nature Cat, Napkin Man, and Community.



— Epic Story Media

HOP- Season 1


— ROLE

Assistant Director


— DATE

Oct 2023 – June 2024


RESUME

⦁Reviewing boards and animation for episodes. Adding notes and drawovers for clarity, continuity, humor, posing, timing and story.

⦁Keeping a strong focus on inclusion and authenticity.

⦁Creating materials for marketing, including clips, posters, and promotion images.



— Epic Story Media

Luna Chip & Inkie- Season 1+2


— ROLE

Director


— DATE

Jan 2022 – Oct 2024


⦁Working with multiple teams to create notes on storyboards, designs, layouts, animation, and scripts.

⦁Working to strengthen stories, improve quality, and keep episodes consistent. 

⦁Punching up the fun and drama in a show inspired by music and nature.


—Epic Story Media

Luna Chip & Inkie Season 1


— ROLE

Assistant Director


— DATE

March 2021- Jan 2022

⦁ Working with multiple teams to create notes on storyboards, designs, layouts, animation, and scripts.

⦁ Making adjustments to designs. 

⦁ Creating Background brief for master backgrounds.


— Brown Bag Films

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood- Season 5


— ROLE

Animation Supervisor


— DATE

Nov 2019- March 2021

⦁ Worked with Adobe Animate and Shotgun supervising a team of animators on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood- Season 5.

⦁ Took part in the DEI committee to launch new initiatives within the company to increase diversity and inclusion.

— Brown Bag Films

Wild Kratts – Season 6


— ROLE

Animation Supervisor


— DATE

May 2019- Nov 2019

⦁Using ToonBoom Harmony and Shotgun to guide animators and create lively, energetic characters with realistic creatures.

— Brown Bag Films

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood- Season 4


— ROLE

Animation Supervisor


— DATE

Jan 2018- May 2019

⦁ Worked with Adobe Flash supervising a team of animators on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood- Season 5.

— Brown Bag Films

Nature Cat – Season 2


— ROLE

Animator


— DATE

May 2017- Jan 2018

⦁Creating character animation for PBS's animated series "Nature Cat" (season 2) using Toon Boom Harmony, and working with director and leads on revisions.

—Little Tugboat Productions

The Adventures of Napkin Man


— ROLE

Designer


— DATE

March 2017 – May 2017

⦁Designing and breaking characters, props, FX and backgrounds, compiled 2d props into Diorama shots for scene planner.

⦁Animated FX and cycles for animation.


— 9 Story Media

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood- Season 3


— ROLE

Animation Supervisor


— DATE

Feb 2016 – Feb 2017

⦁Completed 9story's Management training program.


— 9 Story Media

Nature Cat – Season 1


— ROLE

Animator


— DATE

May 2015 – Feb 2016

⦁Creating character animation for PBS's animated series "Nature Cat" (season 2) using Toon Boom Harmony, and working with director and leads on revisions.

— 9 Story Media

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood- Season 2


— ROLE

Animator – Stunt


— DATE

Mar 2014- May 2015

⦁ As Stunt animator, took on more challenging and complicated scenes and assisted with revisions.


— Big Jump Productions

Community


— ROLE

Animator / Character Builder


— DATE

Feb 2014- Mar 2014

⦁Created traditional style animation for NBC’s Community, episode “G.I. Jeff” using ToonBoom Harmony

⦁Drew character turnarounds of original G.I. Joe characters for rigging in ToonBoom. 

⦁Drew and coloured props and set pieces.



— 9 Story Media

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood- Season 1


— ROLE

Character Animator / Stunt Animator


— DATE

Oct 2011 – Oct 2013



— Big Soul Productions

By the Rapids


— ROLE

Background Painting Assistant


— DATE

May 2011 – Oct 2011

Painting digital backgrounds for TV series “by the rapids” using Adobe Photoshop CS5.

— Fisher Price

Internship


— ROLE

Content Artist


— DATE

May 2010- Aug 2010

⦁Created edited and composited Flash, pixel and photoshop animations for iphone apps and games.

⦁Designed over 50 characters for the Fisher Price Character Database

⦁Built interactive virtual simulations of toys and games using Flash prior to final coding.

⦁3D anaglyphing for Smart-cycle 3-D games.