Ennio Torresan
PT Faculty, Entertainment Design
Entertainment Design
enniotorresan.com
Biography
Ennio Torresan is an animation director, storyboard artist, and writer with extensive experience in feature animation, television, and independent filmmaking. He has contributed to more than 25 animated features, including Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind, Turbo, The Boss Baby and Abominable, and co-directed Spirit Untamed (2021) for DreamWorks Animation. His television work includes writing and story direction for SpongeBob SquarePants, and he received a Daytime Emmy Award for Disney’s Teacher’s Pet. Torresan has also directed independent animated features and award-winning short films. His teaching focuses on helping students develop the storytelling, acting, cinematography, and visual problem-solving skills needed to bring animated stories to life.
Classes
- EANI-209-01: Storyboarding for Anim Feature
Work Includes
- Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Animation — Co-Director, Spirit Untamed, 2021
- Netflix Animation — Director / Development, 2021–2024; development deal for three original animated projects.
- Otto Desenhos Animados — Director / Co-Writer — Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart, 2013
- DreamWorks Animation — Story Artist / Head of Story / Director, 2002–2021; 2022–2026
- Nickelodeon — Storyboard Director / Writer — SpongeBob Squarepants, 1998—1999
- HBO Animation — Story Artist / Designer / Director, Spicy City, 1997—1998
Clients
- Amblimation
- Turner Feature Animation
- HBO Animation
- Nickelodeon
- Disney Television Animation
- Film Roman
- DreamWorks Animation
- Netflix Animation
- Universal Pictures
- Maria Farinha Filmes
- Selva Filmes
- Otto Desenhos Animados
- Embrafilme
- Os Paralamas do Sucesso
- Herbert Vianna
- Belli Studio
Publications
- Comic strips and illustrations — Brazilian publications — Early career work in Brazil, including comic strips and illustration for various Brazilian publications.
- MAD Brasil — Contributor/illustrator. Your work appeared in the Brazilian edition of MAD during your early career.
Memberships
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — Member, Animation Branch
Awards
- 1995 — Special Distinction for Rhythm and Animation, El Macho, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, France.
- 1994 — Two Kikito Awards, El Macho, Gramado Film Festival, Brazil.
- 2013 — Audience Award, Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart, Gramado Film Festival, Brazil. Torresan co-directed the film with Otto Guerra.
- 2003 — Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, Teacher’s Pet, Disney.
- 2013 — Audience Award, Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart, São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil.
- 2016 — Best Animated Feature, Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart, Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro, Brazil. Torresan co-directed the film.
- 1995 — Special Distinction for Rhythm and Animation Annecy International Animation Film Festival — Annecy, France Awarded to El Macho for Special Distinction for Rhythm and Animation. The official Annecy archive identifies Ennio Torresan as the director and El Macho as the recipient.
- 1993 — Coral Prize for Animation Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema — Havana, Cuba Awarded for El Macho (1993).
Exhibitions
- Painting Exhibitions — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1980s–1990s,
- El Macho — Festival de Cinema de Gramado, Brazil, 1994,
- El Macho — Venice International Film Festival, Italy, 1994,
- El Macho — Annecy International Animation Film Festival, France, 1995,
- Painting Exhibition — Anisen Gallery, Glendale, California, 2004,
- 20-Year Career Retrospective — Anima Mundi International Animation Festival, Brazil, 2013,
- Brazilian Animation Tribute — Annecy International Animation Film Festival, France, 2017,
Grants & Fellowships
- RioFilme — Development Funding, Copacabana 1920, 2016
- Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual / ANCINE — R$310,000, Until Sbornia Takes Us Apart, 2012
Presentations
- Anima Mundi International Animation Festival — Papo Animado, São Paulo, Brazil — 2013. Presented his career, El Macho, and professional storyboard work at DreamWorks. He also participated in Anima Forum.
- Anima Mundi International Animation Festival — Anima Forum / Master Class, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2013. Invited industry speaker discussing feature animation and storyboarding.
- Estúdio Escola de Animação / Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2019. Presented a two-and-a-half-hour lecture to animation students on professional storyboarding and his career at DreamWorks.
- DreamWorks Animation Exhibition — Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2019. Featured artist and presenter associated with the exhibition, discussing the storyboarding and filmmaking process with visitors.
- VFXRIO Live — “Creativity and Storytelling in Animation,” Brazil — 2021. Keynote presentation and fireside chat with Lucia Modesto, covering 30 years of animation technology and storytelling and the production of Spirit Untamed.
- VIEW Conference — “Spirit Untamed” Panel, Turin, Italy / online — 2021. Panelist discussing Spirit Untamed with director Elaine Bogan, producer Karen Foster and Paul Duncan.
See full list