The Directors
Eric Kreidler worked at the Minneapolis design studio Kuester Partners before going independent with eg design in 1999, and his love for animation goes back to childhood experiments with pencil and paper, clay figures, and a Super 8 film camera. Along with a diverse portfolio of client-based motion design and animation work, including work for Sesame Street, Eric is also the director of the critically acclaimed music videos for a variety of “kindie” artists including The Bazillions, Danny Weinkauf, and many others. Eric earned a BFA from the University of Notre Dame in 1993.
Mike Owens
Born in the Appalachian mountains, schooled in Chicago, trained in the ancient arts of pencil and paper animation, Emmy winning animator MIKE OWENS has manifested a Hollywood career while maintaining a Midwest lifestyle.
As a Director, Character Designer, Storyboard Artist, Animator and Storyteller, Mike has spent more than 23 years creating character driven entertainment for screens of all sizes and for audiences of all ages.
Mike is the Executive Producer and Co-Creator of the Amazon Original animated series DANGER & EGGS for which he and his Directing crew each won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program. Mike was also part of the animation team for HAIR LOVE the Oscar winning Animated short film.
While completing his degree in Film & Animation at Columbia College Chicago, Mike began his career as a lead animator on Animaniacs and continued mastering his craft bringing life to commercial cartoon icons including Lucky The Leprechaun and the Trix Rabbit. Mike’s unique midwestern animation career continued in Minneapolis MN as the Animation Director at Puny Entertainment, an independent media design studio creating character driven animated content for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney and helped design, direct and animate on original content with influential creatives including Big Boi, Al Madrigal, Katie Crown and James Gunn.
Mike shares his skills locally and globally as a teacher and mentor, maintaining relationships with his students who are now successful animators, storytellers, studio owners and Academy Award winners.
Currently, Mike and his partner Wendie own and operate WOMO STUDIO, developing and producing original content and providing animation production services.
