Thomas Esmeralda

Thomas Esmeralda is an Adjunct Professor in the Entertainment Design Department at Art Center College of Design. With over 16 years of professional experience in motion pictures, video games, and interactive visuals, he has contributed as an art director and painter to major studios including Dreamworks SKG, Industrial Light+Magic, and Blizzard Entertainment. Previously, he taught concept design and animation for 7 years at San José State University (SJSU) and California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), returning to academia after a 4-year hiatus.

He specializes in matte painting, traditional background art, and digital compositing, with notable work on films like The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, I Am Legend, and video games like Diablo III and Starcraft II. A long-time member of The Visual Effects Society since 2006, he has judged VES Awards and participated in industry panels. His portfolio showcases collaborative work across live-action and animated features, emphasizing problem-solving through visual artistry.

His teaching focuses on bridging industry practice with academic training, preparing students for careers in entertainment design. Notable projects include matte paintings for Big Miracle and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, where he extended sets and blended elements seamlessly. His work often combines traditional techniques with digital innovation, reflecting his early training in acrylic painting at Dreamworks.