Jean-Denis Haas
Animation Director
Paramount/Nickelodeon
Jean-Denis Haas has been a professional animator since 2004 and is currently an Animation Director at Paramount/Nickelodeon. Jean-Denis was a long-time ILM animator who worked on many blockbusters, including films from the Star Wars and Marvel franchises. He loves teaching the next generation of aspiring animators and has been a mentor since 2010. A fun fact about Jean-Denis is that he was an extra in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He currently teaches Feature Animation: Acting & Polish and the Creature Animation Workshops.
Jean-Denis’ Credits
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Avengers: Infinity War
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The Mandalorian
Recent Films
- Space Jam: A New Legacy
- Star Wars: Episode XI – The Rise of Skywalker
- Aladdin
- Bumblebee
- Aquaman
- Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Avengers: Infinity War
- A Quiet Place
- Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of Shadows
- Captain America: Civil War
- Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens
- Tomorrowland
- Transformers: Age of Extinction
- Noah
- Star Trek: Into Darkness
- Cloud Atlas
Other Films
- Battleship
- Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
- I Am Number 4
- Rango
- Super 8
- Iron Man 2
- Avatar
- Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
- Star Trek
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Transformers
- Eragon
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- The Island
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Games
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Television
- Wings of Fire
- Start Trek: Prodigy
- The Mandalorian
What Jean-Denis’ Students are Saying
Seriously The Best Mentor
JD is seriously the best mentor I’ve had at AM. His Q&As are extremely interesting and very “real”. He talks about the industry and gives a lot of advice, especially for students looking for their first animation job. He always takes the time to properly answer all questions, even if we go over the class time limit. I would 10000% recommend him as a mentor.
A Big Inspiration to Help You Grow
JD has a lovely personality, which makes him great to work with and has such a way of bringing humor into everything he teaches. At the same time, he’s great at getting straight to the point
and making important points clear. I appreciate that he’s very kind and quick to accommodate students when they’re in need of help. Also, he nitpicks a lot in his critiques giving tough and good constructive criticism, which always pushes me to do my best work. JD is a big inspiration to help you grow!
and making important points clear. I appreciate that he’s very kind and quick to accommodate students when they’re in need of help. Also, he nitpicks a lot in his critiques giving tough and good constructive criticism, which always pushes me to do my best work. JD is a big inspiration to help you grow!
Gives Great Advice
JD is the funniest mentor I’ve had. His lessons are always so much fun and he gives great advice. His critiques are very helpful and his insight to the industry is really informative. I learned a lot (and still learning) from him.
Enthusiasm is Inspiring
After every Q&A I feel even more inspired and motivated to keep on working hard to be able to work in the animation movie industry because Jean-Denis’ enthusiasm is inspiring. He gives us a lot of great points on how to construct better shots and lots of great tips about acting and animation. His Q&A’s are a lot more about the industry as a whole, how to behave for better communication in the industry, good movie shot references and great tips on how to mix together various elements in a shot.
Brings Good Energy
JD is great. He brings good energy to each QA and is generous with his time. He’s given me very appropriate notes for each stage of my shots, careful not to overwhelm me with details that don’t yet matter. He has been a good balance to my eye and the finished product is going to be much better than it otherwise would have. I am really enjoying myself!
Seriously The Best Mentor
JD is seriously the best mentor I’ve had at AM. His Q&As are extremely interesting and very “real”. He talks about the industry and gives a lot of advice, especially for students looking for their first animation job. He always takes the time to properly answer all questions, even if we go over the class time limit. I would 10000% recommend him as a mentor.
A Big Inspiration to Help You Grow
JD has a lovely personality, which makes him great to work with and has such a way of bringing humor into everything he teaches. At the same time, he’s great at getting straight to the point
and making important points clear. I appreciate that he’s very kind and quick to accommodate students when they’re in need of help. Also, he nitpicks a lot in his critiques giving tough and good constructive criticism, which always pushes me to do my best work. JD is a big inspiration to help you grow!
and making important points clear. I appreciate that he’s very kind and quick to accommodate students when they’re in need of help. Also, he nitpicks a lot in his critiques giving tough and good constructive criticism, which always pushes me to do my best work. JD is a big inspiration to help you grow!
Gives Great Advice
JD is the funniest mentor I’ve had. His lessons are always so much fun and he gives great advice. His critiques are very helpful and his insight to the industry is really informative. I learned a lot (and still learning) from him.
Enthusiasm is Inspiring
After every Q&A I feel even more inspired and motivated to keep on working hard to be able to work in the animation movie industry because Jean-Denis’ enthusiasm is inspiring. He gives us a lot of great points on how to construct better shots and lots of great tips about acting and animation. His Q&A’s are a lot more about the industry as a whole, how to behave for better communication in the industry, good movie shot references and great tips on how to mix together various elements in a shot.
Brings Good Energy
JD is great. He brings good energy to each QA and is generous with his time. He’s given me very appropriate notes for each stage of my shots, careful not to overwhelm me with details that don’t yet matter. He has been a good balance to my eye and the finished product is going to be much better than it otherwise would have. I am really enjoying myself!
Courses Taught By Jean-Denis
Courses may vary from term to term.
Feature Animation
Acting & Polish
12-Week Course
Animate a shot the pros would be proud of and finish your demo reel.
Creature Animation:
Fight or Flight
12-Week Workshop
Create dynamic flight scenes and fight sequences with creatures.