BIOGRAPHY

Jacob Lenard is a 27-year-old animator and director from Buffalo, NY, who has captivated audiences with humorous, off-beat, and surreal short films. His creations, often animated and scored by himself (with contributions from close colleagues and industry professionals), have earned him a dedicated following of over 46K on YouTube.

Aesthetically, Jacob draws inspiration primarily from turn of the millennium-era digital art and 20th-century Eastern European animation. In creating, he embraces the humorous imperfections of his draftsmanship and, to an extent, himself as a person. As Jacob puts it, “I draw funny.”

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WORK EXPERIENCE

Exceptional Minds, Sherman Oaks, CA (August 2018 - Present)

• Cartoon Network: Cartoon Cartoons (2024)

  • Colorist on “Courtesy Clerk” and “Success”, sound design on all four shorts

• Grief is a Spectrum, Too (2022)

  • Co-Director, Brainstormer

    • Screened at Museum of Moving Image’s Marvels of Media 2023 exhibition

• Sesame Street: Backyard Camping (2021)

  • Co-Director, Animator, Editor

    • Autism Society Award winner

• Storyboard Pro Demo Pack “Your Space to Create” (2020)

  • Co-Director, Designer, Voice Actor​

• Mitsubishi Electric Promo (2020)

  • Animator, Brainstormer

  • Starred and animated in my own segment

• Sesame Street: Super Fluffster (2019)    

  • Co-Director, Animator, Character Designer, Editor             

• BJ Leiderman “Maizey’s Song” Music Video (2017)       

  • Co-Director, Character Designer, Rough Animator  

• Sherman Oaks Film Festival Policy Trailer (2019)

  • Co-Director, Character Designer, Animator, Editor

  • Played at the beginning of every screening

The Best Ever Entertainment, Sherman Oaks, CA  (February 2021 - March 2021)

• On the Spectrum (2021)

  • Voice of Amit in English dub for HBO Max

 

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Ability to brainstorm and conceptualize strong and funny ideas

• Created dozens of original characters with distinct personalities and designs

• Multitask and juggle several tasks and projects at once

• Director of animation, voice talent and other artists

• Resolve problems with creative solutions as they arise

• Certified in Adobe Suite (Animate, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects)

 

EDUCATION

Exceptional Minds Studio (September 2015 - June 2018)

• Graduate of the 3 year vocational training in animation and VFX

Self Determination Program

• Mentorship in animation and music (creation and production)

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Created, directed and produced over 200 animated shorts, both independently and collaboratively.

• Over 46,000 subscribers on HorseFolder YouTube channel.

• Numerous shorts of mine have been selected for screening at film festivals, including the Irvine Film Festival, Sherman Oaks Film Festival, LAAF, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Art All Night Trenton.

• Helped lead projects that won awards from the Autism Society and the Museum of Moving Image’s Marvels of Media.