Working Instructors

I'm Stefano Dubay, a Rome-born character artist, concept designer, and digital sculptor with over two decades of experience across the world's top animation and visual effects studios. My journey has taken me from the cobblestone streets of Rome all the way to the Hollywood Hills and back across the Atlantic — and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. It all started with a Mathematics degree in Rome, which might seem like an odd jumping-off point for a career in animation — but hey, there's a lot of geometry in a good character model! Hungry for more and with a dream bigger than the Colosseum, I packed my bags and moved to sunny Los Angeles to train at the legendary Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood. That decision changed everything. From there, my career took off faster than I could have imagined. I had the incredible privilege of working at some of the most respected studios in the industry — Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rhythm and Hues, and Psyop — sharpening my craft and learning from some of the best artists in the business. But the crown jewel of my time in LA was without a doubt my years at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where I had the joy of contributing to some of the most beloved animated films of the last decade, including Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, and Big Hero 6. Yes, I helped make Elsa's hair flow, and I am very proud of that. After nearly a decade in the City of Angels, I felt the pull of Europe calling me back. I returned to the continent and took on the role of Modeling Supervisor at Brown Bag Films, one of Europe's largest and most celebrated animation studios, where I led teams and helped shape the visual identity of multiple productions. From there, I crossed the channel to London, joining the powerhouse visual effects studio DNEG (Double Negative) as Lead Modeler and Concept Artist, working across large-scale productions and continuing to push my creative boundaries. These days, I work as a freelance concept artist and character developer, which means I get to wake up every morning and design weird, wonderful, and wildly fun characters for a living. Most recently, I had the absolute thrill of developing Miss Friday and Mr. 13 for the latest season of Netflix's live-action One Piece series — a project that reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this art form in the first place. The adventure is far from over, and I can't wait to see where the next character takes me.

Spain