David Tart
Animation Director
Make Animation
David Tart has been a professional animator since 1995 and is currently the owner of RMAL (Rocky Mountain Animation Labs), an animation school for all ages in Durango, Colorado. David started his career at Pixar Animation Studios working on their first film, Toy Story. He previously worked at Blue Sky Studios and was the Animation Director for the Warner Bros. film, The Ant Bully. Fun fact – David lived part-time on a boat docked at the Berkeley Marina while working on Finding Nemo for Pixar. He teaches many courses at Animation Mentor including, Body Mechanics, Advanced Body Mechanics, and Introduction to Acting.
David’s Credits
Finding Nemo
Monsters, Inc.
Toy Story 2
Toy Story
Films
- The Ant Bully
- Robots
- Finding Nemo
- Monsters, Inc.
- Toy Story 2
- A Bug’s Life
- Toy Story
Short Films
- The Story of Animation – Director, Writer
- Parrots Away
- Tsunami
- For the Birds
- The Great Harlot and the Beast
- Roommate Wanted
Television / Video
- Brothers
- Tinkerbell
- Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
- Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare
- Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs & a Baby
- Bump in the Night
What David’s Students are Saying
Best Mentor So Far
Best mentor so far. He is very precise in his e-critiques. I try to follow all his directions and they always work very good. He also talks a lot about additional things like how to take directions and don’t get angry and how to keep concentration. He is easy going and has a great sense of humor.
Truly Knows His Stuff
David truly knows his stuff. He’s been in the industry since it all started, working on Toy Story. So he knows the backstory behind pretty much every little thing. It’s amazing hearing the history and how things have grown in the industry. He is full of amazing lectures, and what I love most about him is all of the examples he gives. He really likes to focus on good polish, which is where a lot of student animations are lacking. He’s supportive of all ideas, and is really unlike any mentor before.
Clear Q&As and Critiques
Dave’s experience allows him to be very clear during the Q&A and E-critiques. He cares about our ideas for the shots and helps us to make it better instead of suggesting we change the shot completely. The Q&A are clear and interesting, we talk about a lot of arguments, from the demos to the industry. Moreover, David keeps us engaged asking us questions. Impossible to get bored!
Industry Experience
David has a huge experience in the industry and you can feel it in the way he teaches to the class! He is very honest on your work, giving real feedback (bad or good) that makes you grow through the term! Cannot ask a better mentor for this class!!!
David is Inspiring
David has been very inspiring! He was recommended to me by a friend who took his class before. He is very good at making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. I really feel like I have started to hit a real spot of growth in my animation style and I am excited for the rest of the class.
Happy to Be in His Class
I really appreciate David’s Q&As and his style of mentoring – concise and to the point. His Q&As are full of information and every session is a learning experience. Very glad to be in his class this semester.
Solid Direction on What I Need To Improve On
His lectures were very informative and highlighted a lot of common mistakes animators make. His critiques also helped give me a solid direction for what I need to improve on.
Best Mentor So Far
Best mentor so far. He is very precise in his e-critiques. I try to follow all his directions and they always work very good. He also talks a lot about additional things like how to take directions and don’t get angry and how to keep concentration. He is easy going and has a great sense of humor.
Truly Knows His Stuff
David truly knows his stuff. He’s been in the industry since it all started, working on Toy Story. So he knows the backstory behind pretty much every little thing. It’s amazing hearing the history and how things have grown in the industry. He is full of amazing lectures, and what I love most about him is all of the examples he gives. He really likes to focus on good polish, which is where a lot of student animations are lacking. He’s supportive of all ideas, and is really unlike any mentor before.
Clear Q&As and Critiques
Dave’s experience allows him to be very clear during the Q&A and E-critiques. He cares about our ideas for the shots and helps us to make it better instead of suggesting we change the shot completely. The Q&A are clear and interesting, we talk about a lot of arguments, from the demos to the industry. Moreover, David keeps us engaged asking us questions. Impossible to get bored!
Industry Experience
David has a huge experience in the industry and you can feel it in the way he teaches to the class! He is very honest on your work, giving real feedback (bad or good) that makes you grow through the term! Cannot ask a better mentor for this class!!!
David is Inspiring
David has been very inspiring! He was recommended to me by a friend who took his class before. He is very good at making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. I really feel like I have started to hit a real spot of growth in my animation style and I am excited for the rest of the class.
Happy to Be in His Class
I really appreciate David’s Q&As and his style of mentoring – concise and to the point. His Q&As are full of information and every session is a learning experience. Very glad to be in his class this semester.
Solid Direction on What I Need To Improve On
His lectures were very informative and highlighted a lot of common mistakes animators make. His critiques also helped give me a solid direction for what I need to improve on.
Courses Taught By David
Courses may vary from term to term.