Lead Facial Animator
WetaFX & Director of Tikipunk Studios
lava2productions@gmail.com
NZ
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-luamanuvae-su-a-866145165/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2147140/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_1_q_Jacob%2520Luamanuvae
Jacob Luamanuvae-Su'a
Having already led a successful career in Advertising, Jacob followed his dreams and started his film career as a Lead Motion Editor in Wellington’s WetaFX bringing Gollum to life in Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Saga "The Two Towers".
Jacob worked with Sydney's Animal Logic as Motion Edit Supervisor who was instrumental in designing the Motion Edit tools and pipeline for the Academy Award-winning animated film "Happy Feet" directed by George Miller.
Jacob returned to Wellington, New Zealand in 2006 he tutored an Animation Degree at Natcoll Institute and directed an Award-Winning 3D animated short film in the process.
Jacob returned to WetaFX to work on James Cameron’s fantasy epic Avatar as a Sequence Lead Motion Editor and Facial Motion Editor where he has continued his career to this day.
During the Pandemic, Jacob founded TIKIPUNK Studios where he Directed several personal Pasifika projects inspired by his Polynesian (Samoan) heritage: an Animated film and an Animated Series.
Jacob, as well as a keyframe animator, is an avid supporter and pioneer of the FAC System, Facial Tracking, Motion, and Performance Capture technology and is inspired by its artistic applications in the revolutionary era of RealTime 3D Game Engine production.
Work Experience
Lead/Senior Facial Animator, Weta Digital, Wellington, NZ — 2001 - Present
Worked on various Film projects in many roles from Lead Motion Editor, 3d Facial Modeller, Lead Animator, and Lead Facial Animator.
Animation Tutor, National College of Design and Tech, Wellington, NZ — 2007
Animation tutor for the College’s first Animation Degree Curriculum, Maya Course, Figure Drawing, and Digital Concept Design.
Motion Edit Supervisor, Animal Logic, Sydney, Australia — 2004-2006
Moved to Sydney to Head and build the Motion Edit Dept for the Academy Award-winning Animation Film “Happy Feet”. Supervised the Motion Edit Department and collaborated one-on-one with Director George Miller.
Lead Creative, Clemengers BBDO, Wellington, NZ — 1999-2000
Lead Advertising Creative Supervising National Ad campaigns in TV and Radio Commercials, Magazine Design, and Print Advertising.
Graphic Designer/illustrator, Giant Squid - Auckland, NZ — 1997-1999
Freelance Graphic Designer, Pacific Award Winner 1999, Illustrated Children's Learning resources “NZ School Journal” Designed Movie Posters and CD covers
Film Credits
2023
Godzilla x Kong : The New Empire
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
The Last of Us - Series
2022
Black Panther - Wakanda Forever
The Marvels
Dr Strange: The Multiverse of Madness
2021
Thor: Love and Thunder
Black Adam
She-Hulk
Eternals
2020
Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey
Space Force
Avatar 2
2019
Gemini Man
Avengers : End Game
Jumanji : The Next Level
Jungle Cruise
2018
Rampage
Avengers : Infinity War
Alita : Battle Angel
2017
War of the Planet of the Apes
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
2016
The Jungle Book
The BFG
2015
The Hobbit : The Battle of the Five Armies
Furious 7
Maze Runner : The Scorch Trials
Deadpool
2014
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug
2013
The Wolverine
Ironman 3
2012
The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey
Avengers Assemble
Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter
2011
Adventures of Tintin
2009
Avatar
2008
The Day the Earth stood Still
District 9
2004-2006
Happy Feet
2003
LOTR - The Return of the King
2001-2002
LOTR - The Two Towers
Skills & Titles
Freelance Animation Director
Lead Facial Animator
Motion Edit Supervisor
Senior Animator
Awards
Jacob is a winner of the 47th Annie Award 2021 for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production for his work on the “Mad Titan” - Thanos as Lead Facial Animator for Avengers: Endgame, the same category he was nominated the year prior at the 46th Annie Awards 2020 for Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.