Chuck Grieb, MFA

Director, BA in Animation and Visual Effects, and Professor, Department of Cinematic Arts

Phone: (626) 815-3856
Photo of Chuck Grieb, MFA

Biography

Watching Ray Harryhausen’s Jason and the Argonauts with his father, 4-year-old Chuck Grieb asked how the skeletons “came alive.” His father’s answer—“They got skinny actors”—led the boy to a quest for the truth and a lifelong love for the fantastic.

As an animation artist, Grieb has filled various rolls, including animator, storyboard artist, character designer, and more. Working for studios including Disney and Nickelodeon, he’s enjoyed bringing to life characters such as the Genie, Timon and Pumbaa, Buzz Lightyear, XJ9, Larry Boy, Winnie the Pooh, and others.

Adept with traditional and digital animation tools, Grieb has authored how-to materials for Autodesk Maya, and the short films he animated (Roland’s Trouble, Exact Change Only, and Oliver’s Treasure) have won awards and been screened in more than 90 festivals internationally.

Grieb is a member of The Animation Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and his art has been published in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, Infected By Art, ImagineFX, and Exposé Art Magazine.

Education

  • MFA, Film Production, University of Southern California, 1993
  • BFA, Applied Media Arts/Cinema, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1989

Credentials/Certifications

  • Member, The Animation Guild
  • Member, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Academic Area

  • School of Visual and Performing Arts (College of the Arts)
    • Department of Cinematic Arts

Expertise

  • Animation
  • Filmmaking
  • Graphic Novels
  • Illustration
  • Story Art
  • Storyboarding

Courses Taught

  • ANIM 190 – Introduction to Animation Principles and Techniques
  • ANIM 192 – 2D Character Animation I
  • ANIM 207 – Action Analysis for Animation
  • ANIM 392 – 2D Character Animation II
  • ANIM 395 – Animation Film Workshop
  • ANIM 445 – Portfolio Review and Career Preparation
  • ANIM 495 – Special Topics in Animation and Visual Effects