Ted Sandifer

Michelles vs the Machines was my first layout role, and I never looked back. The work was so fun and fulfilling that I endeavored to make it my new career path. Since then, I have gone from Final layout to VFX Layout and now Previs Artist. I love working in previs/ layout and the fresh challenges it brings with every shot. 

My career goal is to consistently deliver the highest value to a production while advancing my skill set to the benefit of my team. In this effort, each year is dedicated to focusing on and expanding my skills in one area of the industry. 

For example, in 2023, Unreal Engine as a whole was my area of focus. At the beginning of the year, I took “Intro to Unreal 5 A by Emiel Sleegers” at CGMA and then spent the remainder practicing the skills taught there. The results of the work can be seen on my artwork page. 

The following year’s focus, 2024, was Previsualization. That time was kicked off by taking a Previs Workshop taught by the renowned James Bennett at iAnimate. This was an amazing learning experience that expanded my knowledge in countless ways. I loved it so much that I continued to work on my final project until they finally ripped away my Maya license. My final is titled “A Fist Full of Yarn” and can be found on my demo reel page. 

Finally, in 2025, I decided to learn Python. The year started with going through a book called “Python Crash Course” and completing all the projects within. Super great book that I highly recommend. While I did learn a lot about the language, translating that to VFX was incredibly hard. I tried to use YouTube and online forums to fill in the gap from raw Python to VFX DCCs (Maya, Nuke, Houdini, etc.), but there just wasn’t a clear direction to build foundational knowledge and achieve the results I was looking for. 

So, I went searching for a class that would bridge that gap and found TD Academy by Alexander Richter. This was a total game-changer. The class was amazing, and I found a mentor in Alexander. Starting off, I took “Python for Maya” and loved it so much I went on to take “Advanced Python” to great results. Please see my GitHub for examples of my work.

This year, 2026, animation has been my primary focus. Working on the latest TMNT animated movie for Paramount really pushed my animation skills. The experience made me want to really hone my animation skills and push them further. 

I grew up spending my Saturday Mornings (after cartoons, that is) at Borders Bookstore, sippin’ coffee, reading video game magazines, graphic novels, all manner of fiction, and whatever piqued my interest. To this day, I am an avid reader, and if asked about my favorite author, you would no doubt get a list. Having said that, Kurt Vonnegut is whose work I’ve read the most.

As a hobbyist, I enjoy running tabletop role-playing games as a “Dungeon Master”. World-building and lore creation took hold of me at a very young age, and I believe it is the basis of all nerd culture. This is where my love for comics, movies, shows, video games, and books collide with my artistry. Here, I get to test my skills in a variety of ways, be it creating battle maps, unique items, characters with rich backstories, culture, races, nations, and city-states that culminate into an entire world. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and get to know me better. It would be my honor to get to know you and connect on LinkedIn or email. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, and I look forward to the opportunity.