Visual effects boutique a52 is very proud to announce the addition of award-winning visual effects (VFX) supervisor and artist Andy McKenna to its full-time staff. McKenna’s 2008 reel can be viewed online by clicking here.
At a52, which is well known for its artful contributions to major commercial, music video and television projects, McKenna joins a team that includes the talents of Flame artist/VFX supervisor Patrick Murphy, 3D/VFX supervisor Andrew Hall, and many others.
Since beginning his career in 1994, McKenna has established himself as one of the world’s premier VFX artists working in commercials, music videos and feature films. During a stint with Sydney-based GMD, Asia Pacific’s most highly awarded design and visual effects company, McKenna contributed his artistry to major feature film projects, among them, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Later, for Radium, he worked with acclaimed director Dave Meyers and many others on music videos for Ludacris, Janet Jackson, Liz Phair, and Missy Elliott (for Elliott’s "Pass the Dutch," he received the 2004 Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Music Video), and he also contributed to "Spiderman 2," which earned the 2005 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, as well as numerous top Visual Effects Society honors. Later, as a staff artist for Sydney’s Animal Logic, McKenna’s work with leading creatives and commercial directors reached new heights, and included contributions to Carlton’s "Big Ad" (winner of ten major international advertising awards, including a 2006 Gold Cannes Lion), among many others. Andy landed at Santa Monica’s Moving Pixels in 2006, where his technical mastery of VFX compositing and his creativity shone through in high-profile commercial work for brands including Coors Light, Nissan, Buick, and Mercury, to name but a few.
“For as long as I can remember, a52 has been one of the most prestigious VFX companies in the United States,” McKenna began. "There is a certain sense of style and sophistication to the finish of all work that a52 produces. It’s pretty obvious why the top directors all do work here. Over the years, I have always kept a keen eye on a52, and when the opportunity came up to join them, especially after meeting with Angus Wall, Linda Carlson and the rest of the team, it became clear that it was going to be a great fit. They have also been doing some really fantastic 3D work which really impresses me, too.”
“After seeing Andy’s work, it became clear that his aesthetic sensibility is an excellent fit with a52,” said a52‘s executive producer Ron Cosentino. “Also, the design background he has earned working with GMD, Animal Logic and other companies impressed us a lot.”
Andy McKenna’s full bio and offline copies of his latest reel are available upon request.
About a52
Established in 1997 as a home for the very latest high-end photo-real visual effects technologies and the industry’s most innovative and talented graphic design artists, visual effects company a52 creates award-winning imagery for the world’s most visually ambitious commercial and television projects. Having relocated to Santa Monica in 2007, the company’s work has earned AICP Show recognition for 11 consecutive years along with recent “Outstanding Commercial” Emmy, Andy, BDA, Belding, Clio, British Design and Art Direction, International Monitor, International Automotive Advertising, London International Advertising, One Show and PROMAX awards. For more information, please call 1.310.586.0650 or visit www.a52.com.
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