Open to opportunities

Lucas Walker

@lucaswalker

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Creative leader with 17 years in Animation and Game Design.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role that fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation, where I can lead impactful projects and inspire teams.

I am a creative leader with 17 years of expertise in Animation, Art Direction, Game Design, and Motion Graphics. My hands-on approach to leadership allows me to visualize projects holistically and drive them forward with clear communication and rapid prototyping. I thrive in bringing ideas to life and navigating the entire product development lifecycle, whether leading large international teams or small groups of dedicated creators.

At Ubisoft, I shaped the creative vision for Rocksmith+, spearheading initiatives from concept to post-launch. My collaborative efforts with cross-functional teams have improved player guidance and retention, while my leadership of an international team fostered creativity and confidence. I am passionate about inspiring innovation and success, combining strategic vision with a love for the creative process.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Lead Designer - New Features

Ubisoft

Feb 2021 - Sep 2024 (3 years 7 months)

Shaped the creative vision and mobilization strategies, working closely with directors and key stakeholders, by leveraging live data insights. Spearheaded the piano expansion initiative from concept, prototype, first playable, alpha, beta, release, and post launch.

Piano Expansion Prototyping Product Development Lifecycle Presentation Skills Executive Communication Leadership

Art Director

Ubisoft

Jan 2018 - Feb 2021 (3 years 1 month)

Successfully created pitches needed to pass the Ubisoft stage gate approval process for the green lighting of Rocksmith+ development to begin. Collaborated with the Game Director and UX Director to establish the overall look and feel of Rocksmtih+.

Art Direction Game Development UX Design Team Leadership 2D Art VFX Brand Identity

Lead Animator

Ubisoft

Nov 2014 - Dec 2017 (3 years 1 month)

Developed and maintained animation pipelines for all in game animations and cinematics. Directed an international team of approximately 30-40 animators to create cohesive and original content adhering to strict stylistic guidelines.

Animation Pipeline Cinematic Animation Quality Assurance Performance Optimization Game Design Collaboration Character Animation Mentorship South Park Stylistic Guidelines

Technical Artist/ Animator

South Park Studios

May 2008 - Nov 2014 (6 years 6 months)

Remastered all content for seasons 1-11 (165 total episodes), recreating episodes to 16:9 aspect ratios which entailed remaking animations, background art and VFX. Animated characters for various episodes from seasons 12 - 18 and delivered final animations for live sporting events and Super Bowl ads.

Animation Content Remastering VFX Background Art Character Animation Adobe Creative Suite Maya South Park Universe Knowledge Problem Solving

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

California Institute of the Arts

Bachelor of Arts, Experimental Animation

Studied Experimental Animation, focusing on innovative techniques and creative expression within the animation field. Developed a strong foundation in various animation principles and practices.