Mike Kunkel
Mike Kunkel is first and foremost a cartoonist! Writing and drawing cartoons is something he’s wanted to do since he was a kid and now, with over 20 years of experience in the animation industry, Mike has done just that! He’s worked on numerous TV and film projects as a director, story and development artist, character designer, screenwriter, and animator. Mike has worked for studios such as Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Sony Pictures Animation, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
As a published writer and artist, Mike has been nominated three times for the prestigious Eisner Award and four times for the Ignatz award; he’s the creator of the two-time Eisner Award-winning comic book series Herobear and the Kid. As a designer for TV, he won the Annie Award for Best Character Design in an Animated Television Production. He developed and teaches the Storyboarding Workshops at Animation Mentor.
MIke’s Credits
Herobear and the Kid
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Tarzan
Hercules
Films
- Wonder Park
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- Smurfs: The Lost Village
- Americano
- Free Birds
- Tarzan
- Hercules
- Cats Don’t Dance
- The Pagemaster
- Once Upon a Forest
Short Films
- How to Haunt a House
- The Little Match Girl
Television / Video
- Madagascar: A Little Wild
- Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
- The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helper
- Sofia the First
- Special Agent Oso
- Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
- Quest for Zhu
- My Gym Partner’s a Monkey
- Emperor
- The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
- Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows
- My Life as a Teenage Robot
- One by One
- A Dairy Tale
- The Proud Family
What Mike’s Students are Saying
An Incredible Teacher
Mike was an incredible teacher, the feedback he has given over the course has been invaluable. The course has taught me so much about clear storyboarding and visual storytelling, as well as helping me develop my drawing skills.
A Very Encouraging Experience
Mike was positive and informative with his critiques of my work. It always felt like a collaborative effort where he built on the direction I was going. Even if he suggested new directions it was always in addition to trying to see where I was going with my work. It was a very encouraging experience that helped build my confidence
His Critiques are Always Helpful
Mike is an amazing teacher and his critiques are always helpful. I love how he shares his storyboards so we can get a better sense of the craft of storytelling and of the industry.
A Knowledgeable, Supportive and Approachable Mentor
Mike was an amazing mentor. I really feel like I learned a ton about storyboarding and I’m happy I decided to use AM to do so. Mike’s draw-overs of my storyboards were so illustrative and informative and I was so glad that I could watch the critiques of my classmates as well. Mike is such a knowledgeable, supportive and approachable mentor. I really felt like he was excited to share this information with us and I feel like I learned better as a result of his enthusiasm.
An Exceptional Experience
Mike the mentor was really great. His material, assignments, and feedback really made this an exceptional experience. I was really pleased that this was NOT a software how-to course. The concepts explored in the course could have easily been realized with pen and paper which was very refreshing. The focus was where it should be… storytelling and visual communication. The ability to watch the video critiques of other student’s work was also extremely helpful. Well done Mike and AM.
His Feedback was Second to None
Mike was a terrific teacher, and his feedback was second to none. He has a terrific gift for meeting people where they are and cultivating their strengths while addressing where they need to grow.
All Around Very Supportive
The mentor is what really made this course great! His introduction of new and different ideas and applying critical thinking really helped expand even basic concepts. The many insights to the mentors day to day work was industry painted a broader picture of the industry. And all around very supportive of me and other students in the class.
I Definitely Feel Like I Learned a Lot!
Mike’s lessons were well thought out, and even for information I had heard before it was still presented in a really insightful way. Nice mix of theory and examples. I definitely feel like I learned a lot! The assignments were fun, and video critiques were clear and getting drawovers on the submissions was very helpful.
An Incredible Teacher
Mike was an incredible teacher, the feedback he has given over the course has been invaluable. The course has taught me so much about clear storyboarding and visual storytelling, as well as helping me develop my drawing skills.
A Very Encouraging Experience
Mike was positive and informative with his critiques of my work. It always felt like a collaborative effort where he built on the direction I was going. Even if he suggested new directions it was always in addition to trying to see where I was going with my work. It was a very encouraging experience that helped build my confidence
His Critiques are Always Helpful
Mike is an amazing teacher and his critiques are always helpful. I love how he shares his storyboards so we can get a better sense of the craft of storytelling and of the industry.
A Knowledgeable, Supportive and Approachable Mentor
Mike was an amazing mentor. I really feel like I learned a ton about storyboarding and I’m happy I decided to use AM to do so. Mike’s draw-overs of my storyboards were so illustrative and informative and I was so glad that I could watch the critiques of my classmates as well. Mike is such a knowledgeable, supportive and approachable mentor. I really felt like he was excited to share this information with us and I feel like I learned better as a result of his enthusiasm.
An Exceptional Experience
Mike the mentor was really great. His material, assignments, and feedback really made this an exceptional experience. I was really pleased that this was NOT a software how-to course. The concepts explored in the course could have easily been realized with pen and paper which was very refreshing. The focus was where it should be… storytelling and visual communication. The ability to watch the video critiques of other student’s work was also extremely helpful. Well done Mike and AM.
His Feedback was Second to None
Mike was a terrific teacher, and his feedback was second to none. He has a terrific gift for meeting people where they are and cultivating their strengths while addressing where they need to grow.
All Around Very Supportive
The mentor is what really made this course great! His introduction of new and different ideas and applying critical thinking really helped expand even basic concepts. The many insights to the mentors day to day work was industry painted a broader picture of the industry. And all around very supportive of me and other students in the class.
I Definitely Feel Like I Learned a Lot!
Mike’s lessons were well thought out, and even for information I had heard before it was still presented in a really insightful way. Nice mix of theory and examples. I definitely feel like I learned a lot! The assignments were fun, and video critiques were clear and getting drawovers on the submissions was very helpful.
Courses Taught By Mike
Courses may vary from term to term.
Story I: Storyboarding
Fundamentals
6-Week Workshop
Learn basic storyboarding techniques and skills.
Story II: Intermediate Storyboarding
6-Week Workshop
Build a story from scratch, including pitch, script, and animatic.