John Costello
Artist's Biography
I grew up in the capital of Ireland – Dublin City, where I was exposed to the extraordinary wealth of art and culture of our famous island. Having been acknowledged and greatly encouraged for my talent in art throughout my childhood years both at home and in school, I went on to study art for a further four years in a renowned Dublin College where I graduated with a diploma in “Art in Industry and Commerce”. Through my studies I learned the techniques of illustration, design, graphics and printing, which has been instrumental to my career over the years. Enthusiastic to learn more I completed a Diploma course in Animation incorporating storyboarding, layout, track reading, animation, background painting, camera operation and editing, which opened the door to my very successful career in the Animation Industry.
Working as a background artist with Emerald City Productions in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. I produced background paintings and establishing shots for a variety of tv films like “A Tale of Two Cities”, “Ghost Stories”, “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables”. It was on the film “Ben Hur” that I was given the opportunity to supervise and produce the backgrounds, the effects animation and optical effects for the famous sea battle sequence. I then became effects supervisor creating animation and optical effects for productions like “Around the World in Eighty Days”, “Canterville Ghost” and “Call of the Wild”.
On joining Murakami Wolf Studio in Dublin I produced effects for some of the most famous and successful franchises of all time “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “James Bond Junior”.
Having been recruited by the world renowned Don Bluth Studios credited with reviving the status and quality of feature film animation. I enjoyed great success producing effects animation for such hits as “Troll in Central Park”, “Thumbelina” and “Pebble and the Penguin”.
Twentieth Century Fox persuaded me to join their animation studio in Phoenix, Arizona. It was here that I worked on the academy award nominated feature “Anastasia” and the critically acclaimed “Titan A. E.”. It was at this time that I made the transition to computer effects and digital background painting.
Having returned to my roots after many years I now live and work in Ennis, County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. Famous for its natural beauty such as the Burren region with its limestone formations and the Cliffs of Moher part of the rugged coastline shaped by the Atlantic Ocean. The area is also renowned for its ancient monuments. I still occasionally freelance as an animator for feature films but I mainly concentrate on my painting and my commissions which I receive from around the world.
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About my art