ABOUT

I’m Arno Shahbandarian, also known as Arno Onra. I’m a 2D and 3D artist focused on animation, illustration, and visual storytelling, with a strong foundation in graphic design. With over 10 years of freelance experience in graphic design and illustration, I’ve built a solid visual base in composition, color, and design thinking. This background strongly influences my approach to animation, where I’m now continuing my studies and expanding my skills in character-driven storytelling and motion. My work spans different stages of the animation process, from concept development and storyboarding to modeling, sculpting, and animation. I work with tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance 3D, Toon Boom Harmony, Storyboard Pro, and the Adobe Creative Suite, using each tool thoughtfully to support the story and the production pipeline. What excites me most about animation is collaboration. I enjoy working closely with creative teams, sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and solving visual problems together. I value clear communication, and strong teamwork is essential to creating meaningful and memorable animated work. I’m particularly inspired by studios like Disney/Pixar and Nickelodeon, where storytelling, character, and emotion are at the heart of every project. My goal is to continue growing as an animator while contributing my design background, creativity, and strong work ethic to a collaborative studio environment. Thank you for taking the time to view my work. My portfolio reflects my passion for animation, my attention to detail, and my commitment to visual storytelling. 

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During my animation studies, I had the opportunity to learn from experienced instructors and industry professionals including Judy Kriger, Eric Daniels, Jeremy Mowery, Walter Santucci, Leslie Park, Kelvin Nguyen, Butch Hartman, and Andrew Arcilla.