about

Bio:

Mike Cushny is a 3-D animator with over 30 years of experience in animated feature films and broadcast design. An extensive background in media arts contributes to his unique understanding of the creative and technical aspects of the digital production process. While working as a digital cinematographer in feature film animation he has contributed to several projects including Spies in Disguise, Ferdinand, Peanuts, Rio, and the Ice Age franchise. His award winning broadcast designs include work for CBS, NBC, and HBO. Mr. Cushny’s course at NYU was a required class for the graduate program in digital imaging and design for more than ten years. Mike lives with his wife Betty in the Lakeland region of northern New Jersey where they can be found hiking and biking in the Ramapo Mountains.

Career:

A graduate of the Radio and TV department at Southern Illinois University, Mike returned to his home state of New York to complete his Master of Fine Arts degree in television production at Brooklyn College. Cushny began his career as a video producer at CUNY TV, channel 75 in New York City where he developed an interest in computer graphics. He moved to the Chicago market where he began utilizing desktop computers to create animations for a variety of forensic and scientific visualizations.

In the 1990’s Mike returned to New York City to work in the video post-production industry at National Video Center. It was there that he began his work as a 3D animator at Telezign, creating visual effects and animations for broadcast clients including CBS, NBC and HBO. His work as an animator and designer went on to receive various awards including several Gold and Silver broadcast design awards from the BDA.

During this time Mike began work as a professor of digital arts, teaching at a number of colleges and universities in the New York area including The Center for Media Arts, Hunter College, and the School of Visual Arts. While teaching at NYU’s graduate program in computer graphics, Cushny spearheaded the introduction of high definition digital production classes by designing, building and managing the first green screen studio at the midtown campus. Several of Mike’s students have gone on to win awards in animation festivals and are now working in the digital arts industry at companies such as Lucasfilm Animation, WETA Digital, The Mill, Digital Domain and Disney studios.

Cushny was an early adopter of desktop video production and quickly embraced the ability to apply his traditional media skills to the computer desktop by utilizing Photoshop, Maya and After Effects to create compelling content for his client’s projects. Mike has created digital animations for commercials produced by the ad agencies Grey Healthcare and Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as animated graphics for the documentary “Time for School 3” airing nationally as part of the Emmy award winning television series “Wide Angle” on PBS.

In his role as a final layout artist at Blue Sky Studios, Mike creates the final polished camera animation to be rendered for the theatrical film print. Working daily with the Cinematographer and the film’s Director, he collaborates with the animators to bring the Director’s vision to the screen. Mike’s creative aesthetic values and technical background have contributed to the unique and dynamic 3-D computer animation produced at the studio. His work can be seen in the animated feature films Spies in Disguise, Ferdinand, Peanuts, Rio, and the Ice Age franchise. 

Awards:

JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARD – BDA Latin America
HBO Latin America – Network Package

GOLD AWARD – Promax 2000
HBO Latin America – Network Package

GOLD AWARD – Promax 2000
Trio – Open

SILVER AWARD – Promax 2000
Encore – Network Package

BRONZE AWARD – BDA 1998
HBO – Network Relaunch

Project Nominations:

Ferdinand
2018 Academy Award – Best Animated Feature Film
2018 Golden Globe – Best Motion Picture – Animated

Time For School 3
2009 IDA Documentary Awards
Nominated for Limited Series Award

Press:

NYU in Post Magazine
MARKETABLE DIGITAL SKILLS AT NYU

Telezign on Creative Planet:
Star Trek Promo
KTVU Redesign
Infinito Network Redesign
Survivor: Africa

NY FCP Users Group
Panel Presentation with Brian Maffit & Trish and Chris Meyer:
NYFCPUG 8/26/2003

Computer Graphics World
NYU Adds Eyeon Fusion
http://www.cgw.com/Press-Center/News/2007/Educational-Institutions-Add-eyeon-Fusion-to-Cur.aspx

Certifications:

Certified Irix Operating System Administrator
Certified Qube! Renderfarm Administrator

Organizations & User Groups:

ASIFA Voting Member
NY Siggraph
NY Final Cut Pro Users Group
NY After Effects Users Group