JIM MORTENSEN

Hi! I’m an Emmy-nominated Producer/Director and creative leader for animation. II’m extremely passionate about leading teams to do the best work of their lives while having a blast doing it.

SUPERVISING PRODUCER, BIG NATE

As Supervising Producer, I was tasked early on to help build the show both creatively and production-wise. My first day was the first day of the pandemic, which meant taking a show that was built for in-person and turning it fully remote. We had to restructure how everything was done – from hiring to writers’ room story breaks to storyboard pitches to final mixes. It was a lot!

On top of that, I helped craft the tone, humor, and filmmaking style of the show by storyboarding on and directing the Emmy-nominated pilot & main title.

Despite the production challenges, we managed to deliver a widely loved and wildly creative mixed-media show while staying on-schedule and on-budget. And had a blast doing it. Ask any Big Nate-er how they liked working on the show and you’ll get a lit up smile. “Best show ever.” I take that as a testament to the show culture we built.

Big Nate Cold Open & Main TItle - Storyboards & Direction by Jim Mortensen

Big Nate “CATastrophe” - Storyboards by Jim Mortensen & Brandon Warren, Directed by Jim Mortensen

Big Nate Alternate Main Title - “Time Disruptors”
Storyboards & Direction by Jim Mortensen

DIRECTOR

As a director, my style is upbeat, energetic, and fun. And that applies to both the working and the work. My three goals are to deliver a show that:

  1. Makes audiences laugh and cry, while being...

  2. …a blast to work on, and…

  3. …makes a buttload of money for whatever parent corporation. :)

SUPERVISING DIRECTOR - TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON

I was brought in early in the production of Trolls: The Beat Goes On – before the feature film was even finished boarding! – to help turn the show towards comedy. I worked to infuse an upbeat sense of humor into every episode, plussing the wonderful scripts with visual humor at any chance. I got to direct a wide swath of episodes from the pilot  “A New Bergen-ing” to the cinematic “Pillow War” to the heartfelt “Cloudy with a Chance of Hugs”. EP Matt Beans, SP Frank Molieri and I delivered a show rich with charm that made the fans and future-fans happy.

TRL126 "Pillow Fight" - Animatic
Directed by Jim Mortensen.
Storyboards by Fabien Tong, Pat Pakula, and Jim Mortensen
Edited by Mark Emerson.

SUPERVISING DIRECTOR - TROLLSTOPIA

And then for TrollsTopia, we did it again! This time, I led the push to switch to a Harmony pipeline with multiple benefits (tighter control over timing, built-in comp & beautification pass, tighter model control, etc). I’m incredibly proud of all our work on TrollsTopia.

TrollsTopia Moonboy & Main Title.
Storyboards & Direction by Jim Mortensen

NTR328 “My Dinner with Dante”
Storyboards by Jim Mortensen, Andrew Bendik, Michelle Thompkins-Lima
Directed by Jim Mortensen

CREATOR

I’ve also sold multiple projects to various studios and continue to build a stable of original projects like the mockmentary family comedy The Unfortunates. Or the high-stakes No Recipe. Or the buddy comedy ToromTellum! I love making something from nothing and I’d love to pitch you something new.

STORYBOARDS

This a sampling of my storyboard work, and all drawings are mine.

ABOUT & CONTACT

On top of my professional career, I founded & run the Story for All Mentorship Program, which offers free 1:1 storyboard mentorships to BIPOC artists and includes 70+ mentees and 50+ volunteer mentors.

I live in Los Angeles with my beautiful wife Lily and the world’s friendliest dog, Matcha.

REP: Sandy Weinberg
SUMMIT TALENT & LITERARY AGENCY
310-205-9730