Animator
Collin Atlee
animator
Collin Atlee is a 27-year-old Autistic adult who lives in Sacramento, California. At age 13, Collin started taking classes at Exceptional Minds in 2011, while attending summer camps and virtual animation classes. Since then, he has created his own YouTube channel which showcases the animation projects he’s completed throughout the years. With the help of Exceptional Minds, Collin has been able to share his passion in art through YouTube, gaining 37,000+ subscribers and 19+ million views organically. Collin’s goal is to have a career in the animation industry in some capacity where he can continue growing and improving his talents in art and animation to bring more creativity and positivity to the world.
Please enjoy Collin’s work on his Youtube channel at “Collin Atlee”
Alexander Schaefer
animator
My name is Alexander Schaefer and I’m versatile creative professional with extensive skills in 3D modeling, animation, storyboarding, and concept art. With experience at Stargate Studios and on productions as a production Assistant on movies and shows like “Your Honor”, “Megan”, and “Insidious 2”. I also had the opportunity to storyboard and do concept art on the show “Z-Nation,”. I am currently enrolled in mentorship programs such as the Concept Art Association. I aim to pursue a career as an Art Director, Production Designer, or Concept Artist.
Jaelen Cole
animator
My name is Jaelen Cole. I have previously attended West LA College under the Computer Science Major. Currently, I am attending Cal State East Bay studying under the Art Major with a focus on Interaction and Game Design with some Animation and Music learning on the side. I aspire to be a video game designer and/or animator. I am extremely passionate for video games and animation and I always wanted to make my own form of these types of media. I’ve gained some experience working with various software and under different programs, but I have yet to find work in a major studio. It will be no doubt difficult, but I have the ambition and determination to see it through and fully realize my goals
Brian Urquhart
animator
I am a storyboard artist/character designer/animation artist currently in search of a job. I graduated from Exceptional Minds in 2022 with a certificate in storyboarding. I also graduated from Otis college of Art and design in 2018 with a B.A in Animation. I was a Nicktern in 2017 as a production assistant for Spongebob. I was a participant in the animation project, Myth-Logic, which won the Marvel of Media award in 2020 sponsored by the museum of the moving image. I participated in the 2022 Anijam project at exceptional minds. I like drawing, animation, movies, going to museums, going to amusement parks, etc.
Website:
Chris Meija
animator
I am an American-Peruvian individual on the Autism spectrum born in 1990 and raised in the suburban San Gabriel Valley area of Southern California. I enjoyed spending many hours of American animation on the TV set, ranging from Disney animated movies to TV cartoons from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. In addition Nintendo video games in the 1990s and 2000s also filled my imagination and inspired me to tell stories through drawings. From drawing on a chalkboard to self made comic books and a high school animation class these hobbies have all inspired me to eventually get into the world of animation, storytelling, and film-making. I enjoy telling stories about myself and my observation of the world, 90s-2000s nostalgia, and Latino culture (mostly Peruvian stuff)
Andrew Turney
animator
Andrew Turney is an animator who graduated from Exceptional Minds in 2018. Andrew has worked on countless animation projects such as The Secret of the Huntress (2024) and Woodstock or Bust (2019). Andrew has extensive experience with both Adobe photoshop, Adobe animation, After Effects, Maya, and ToonBoom Harmony.