I’m an ​technical artist, storyteller and visiting lecturer​, passionate about creating characters (improv theatre, animation, procedural, AI), understanding different forms of behaviour and how they create empathy in audiences. I have five years experience of teaching at university level and have been the unit leader to modules like 3D Character Development, 3D Fundamentals, Modelling, Rigging, Innovation in VFX and Character Animation Techniques on the BSc Computer Animation and VFX course, at Manchester Metropolitan University. I have a PGCert Learning And Teaching In Higher Education and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Before my teaching role, I did an ​Engineering Doctorate (EngD) ​in​ Computer Animation at the University of Bath, UK, within the Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE). The EngD allowed me to collaborate with Fat Pebble, a games company from Brighton, to bring their plasticine characters from the 2D realm to 3D. Now I focus my efforts on creating books and tutorials about rigging and animating little creatures with personality, using Maya and Python scripting.

On the storytelling side, I have over 10 years experience in improvised theatre, mostly participating or running drop in classes in places like Bath and Manchester. I have also performed with various groups, trained with well established improvisers like the Maydays and ran workshops for students and staff at universities in Bath and Manchester. Please see my full experience in the Improv section of the site. I also enjoy writing poetry, short stories, travel blogs and taking photographs, as you can see in the Storytelling section. If you are interested in an improv workshop for your company or school, don’t hesitate to email me.

My main R&D interests​ are in different forms of character movement: procedural, behavioral (Laban motion analysis, emergence theory, AI, theatre etc) and physics based, movement and pattern analysis, expressing emotions, humour and other human behaviours through abstract movement (automata) and mathematical functions. I want to know what the essence of a character looks like, to better understand it and, by extension, better understand each other.

My other sites

Anamation: www.anamation.org

Ana Takes Photos: www.anatakesphotos.org

Video channels

Vimeo: vimeo.com/anaweston

Youtube (acting/directing): youtube.com/anamariaweston

Youtube (research & play): youtube.com/research&play

Stay in touch

Personal e-mail: westonanamaria@gmail.com

Social media: LinkedIn