Making images move: Albuquerque-based animator Dusty Deen at helm of projects for Steve Aoki, Hulu, New York Times

Dusty Deen is no stranger to the film industry.

The Albuquerque-based animator/filmmaker has chipped away at making a name for himself within the New Mexico film scene for more than a decade.

Working in TV, he wanted to do more animation and made a giant leap.

“I tailored my business work towards animation, which I love,” Deen says. “About six years ago, I created a new animation on Instagram every day. I’ve been growing that ever since.”

Deen’s focus was to get his work seen by as many people as possible.

He’s accomplished one piece of that so far.

Deen created an animated piece for the New York Times called “I’m Going to Spoil Your Favorite TV Show.”

He also created a spot for Hulu called “SoPretty.”

Making images move: Albuquerque-based animator Dusty Deen at helm of projects for Steve Aoki, Hulu, New York Times

If that wasn’t big enough, Deen was at the drawing table for the video for Steve Aoki’s “Diferente” featuring CNCO.

And did the animation for Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda’s solo single, “Already Over.” His work can be found at dustydeen.com.

“Aoki’s video has been seen almost 5 million times,” Deen says. “It blows my mind that I’ve had the opportunities to do these projects.”

Deen went to Eastern New Mexico University, where he studied graphic design, as well as animation.

Living in Roswell before moving to Albuquerque over a year ago, he did local TV commercials and worked for PBS for a bit.

When it comes to inspiration, it’s simple – his children.

“My kids are inspiring and they are in some of my work,” he says. “I do music videos, and music is a huge inspiration in what I do. I’m inspired by sound. It’s really about getting my work in front of the right people’s eyes.”

While Deen has worked on some amazing projects lately, he says the door opened when he was working on a Richard Linkletter project.

It was there he met an abundance of animators.

“It opened up the world,” he says. “Animation is a lot of work. I wanted to find people that I could trust and hire. Having this opportunity, I was able to sign with a manager less than two years ago and it’s helped me get noticed.”

While the projects keep coming, Deen says he tries to maintain a 40-hour workweek.

“Some weeks it’s busier than others,” he says. “When I’m not working on paid projects, I’m always going back to my storyboards and doing my own work.”

With more attention on his work, Deen is taking it project by project.

He’s had musicians reach out to collaborate on music videos for them.

“My ultimate goal is to keep doing what I do for a living,” he says. “I also don’t want to make the same project twice, so I challenge myself with every piece I do. Inspiration is everywhere and collaboration is becoming easier.”

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