Karim Hamdy

Karim Hamdy

CG Technical Director


Personal Profile

Passionate about the magic in sparking emotions through moving colors, and the tech and math that power it.

Spend over four years as a CG Technical Director, with various experience spans from crafting show-based scripts for one-time solutions to developing robust, long-term pipeline tools.

Solo-TD production oriented with team scale agility and communication with two year art study.


Work Experience

Technical Director - Assets

Netflix Animation Studios (formerly Animal Logic)

February 2023 - Present

  • Build and maintain OpenUSD asset-pipeline workflows and tools focused on performance and cross-DCC use (Maya, Houdini, Blender).
  • Delivered tools for asset packaging, shading, and review to standardise cross-department collaboration and cut manual steps.
  • Implemented a card-draw mode automation using Hydra/USD draw modes for lightweight previews and faster viewport feedback.
  • Improved USDShade tools in Houdini Solaris to make setting up shading graphs simpler and more robust.
  • Prototyped stylized rendering and proposed an AI previs enhancement workflow as part of internal R&D initiatives.
  • Provided day-to-day artist support.
  • Share knowledge through Pipeline, OpenUSD, and Python training.


    • Pipeline Developer (Freelancer)

    3Doubles

    September 2022 - December 2022

  • Developed a tool for importing and updating vendor assets in the pipeline, enhancing integration efficiency.
  • Provided support for vendor export and transfer tools, facilitating smooth data transfer processes.
  • Enhanced internal tools based on requests from show CG Supervisors, improving overall tool performance and usability.
  • Built and maintained compatible versions of internal tools to meet specific show requirements, ensuring seamless functionality.
  • Collaborated with vendor TDs to resolve show-related issues, ensuring timely follow-ups and effective problem-solving.


    • Pipeline & Tools TD (Freelancer)

    Black Swan Effect

    June 2022 - September 2022

  • Architected the rigging tool UI to follow the MVC pattern.
  • Improved the UI of existing tools.



    • CG Technical Director

    Mercury Visual Solutions

    October 2020 - February 2022


  • Developed Prism Pipeline to synchronize assets across multiple project locations, improving data consistency.
  • Created a shot editorial publish system integrated with the studio’s shot tracking tool CGWire Kitsu and the Prism Pipeline, streamlining editorial workflows.
  • Built a custom Nuke integration plugin for Prism Pipeline and designed a studio-specific write node to extend the functionality of the original plugin.
  • Engineered and designed a USD asset workflow tailored to studio requirements, featuring a custom USD asset exporter built on the Maya-USD implementation and the USD Python API.
  • Developed tools and scripts for transferring USD scene data (layout, light, material) between pipeline DCCs (Maya, Houdini, Clarisse), facilitating smoother data exchanges.
  • Created Deadline plugins and scripts to automate studio and departmental processes, enhancing operational efficiency.


    • 3D Animator and Rigger (Freelancer)

    September 2018 - September 2020

    • Participated in short films and educational games by rigging stylized characters, creatures, and props, as well as animating game cycles, medical simulations, and basic body mechanics.

    Skills

    Technical: Python, C++ PySide/PyQt Git/GitHub Bash/Shell Scripting Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Test-Driven Development (TDD) Automated Testing (unit tests) Code Reviews
    Soft: Problem-Solving Communication Team Collaboration Time Management
    Technologies: OpenUSD Maya Houdini Blender Nuke Unreal Engine Deadline MaterialX
    Artist: Drawing Painting Modelling Sculpting Texturing Rigging Animating Grooming

    Education