Jenna Zona

Animation professor

Professor, animation, Spring 2016-present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
Taught introductory and upper level animation courses. Wrote assignments and lectures. Worked with students on time management, improvement of assignments, professionalism, and starting their portfolios ahead of their major’s curriculum. Brought in outside professionals to come and guest critique on assignments.

Animation director, lead animator, lead 2D special effects animator, illustrator, Nov. 2017-March 2020, Floyd County Productions, Atlanta, GA
Served as animation director and lead animator for an unannounced series. Worked as lead 2D special effect animator for Legion Season 2 “Chapter 20” and animator/illustrator for two seasons of Archer.

Animator, Nov. 2017, Turner, Atlanta, GA
Animator for “Inside the NBA” episode and sketch comedy/YouTube series episode.

Animator, Sept.-Oct. 2017, Bento Box, Atlanta, GA
Animator for Saturday Night Live’s “David S. Pumpkins.”

Animation director, Feb. 2016-Sept. 2017, Tiny Monster Studios, Atlanta, GA
Oversaw projects, team process, and visual quality. Responsible for animating character, prop and visual effects assets for mobile and web-based games. Illustrated and concepted characters, backgrounds, props, and user interface menus. Storyboarded game openers, assembled and illustrated assets for game openers. Design and taught team game animation pipeline.

Animator/2D Toonboom Harmony animator and illustrator for FX Network animated show Archer seasons six and seven
Responsible for creation of character rigs, props, character animation, and visual effects animation.

2D Flash animator for FX Network’s Chozen season one, 2013-2016, Floyd County Productions, Atlanta, GA
Responsibilities include the creation of character rigs, layout of scenes, lip synch, key animation, tween animation, clean up animation, and visual effects animation.

Animator internship, 2013, Primal Screen, Atlanta, GA
Worked on the 2013 reface of PBS Kids and animation for Sesame Street mobile game. Skills used included: key animation, tween animation, clean up animation, lip synch, storyboarding, illustration, and design.

Graduate teaching internship, 2014, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
Assistant to professor Claire Almon for “Animation Layout and Character Design” class. Assisted students with the development of their projects including character design, environment layouts, maquette sculpting, and painting.

Animation tutor, 2012-2013, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
Assisted students with Flash, Toonboom, and Maya (modeling, texturing, lighting) as well as project development and time management.

Assistant animator, 2012, Crystal Fish, Atlanta, GA
Responsible for character animation within cinematics and character cycles for mobile game.

Professional Certification in Toonboom Harmony, 2020
Gold Telly winner, non-broadcast: government relations, Georgia FMDE Film Works, contributing animator, 2019
Bronze Telly winner, non-broadcast: use of animation, Georgia FMDE Film Works, contributing animator, 2019
Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Animated Program, Archer Season Seven, character and VFX animator, 2016
Animex International Festival of Animation and Computer Games, Halycyon-17 selected for “Student Shorts” category, 2015

Presentations

“Innovation in Animation.” Panel guest at Fast Film Festival. Museum of Papermaking, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 2020.
“Careers in the Creative Arts.” Panel guest at Performing and Visual Arts College Fair, Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta, GA, 2019.
Interview for article discussing animation for SWAAY Online Magazine, 2017.
“Animation: The New Model.” Panel guest at SCAD AnimationFest, 2017.