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Kathy Altieri

About Kathy Altieri
Kathy Altieri has spent over twenty five years in the animation industry working as a Production Designer, Art Director and Painter. She recently served as Production Designer on the DreamWorks Animation Academy Award®-nominated film How to Train Your Dragon. Prior to How to Train Your Dragon, Altieri was Production Designer on Over the Hedge and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. She also worked as an Art Director on the critically acclaimed film The Prince of Egypt. In fact, Kathy was the very first artist to be hired at the then, newly formed DreamWorks Animation back in 1996. Before joining DreamWorks Animation, Altieri worked as a Background Painter and Supervisor on the Disney Feature Animation films The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Kathy has taught or been a guest lecturer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, USC, Art Center College of Design, the School of Visual Arts (NY), Ringling College of Art and Design, Sheridan College, Rhode Island School of Design, San Jose State, De Anza College, AGIDEAS conference in Australia, Creative Talent Network Expo, and ICON (Illustration Conference). She also is part of various studio initiatives (internal Artistic Enrichment programs and external Outreach Programs) that draw on her solid instruction, teaching and presentation abilities..

Little Know Tidbit: Kathy is a fifth degree black belt and certified instructor in Aikido.

Mentor Preferences
Kathy is looking to give her mentee general career and industry advice.  She’s hoping to mostly help her mentee pick or decide on a direction/path to pursue for their career.  Kathy is most comfortable guiding in general areas as opposed to giving individual crits on pieces – unless it’s on color.

Maximum Number of Mentees: 1

Maximum Distance: International

Language(s): English only

Preferred Meeting Times: During her lunch break at DreamWorks Animation or early mornings (before 8:30a)

To apply to become Kathy’s mentee, click here.