JIM MORTENSEN
Jim Mortensen is an Emmy-nominated, Annecy-selected 20-year vet and Creative Leader in the animation industry. He's done it all, and is 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, Jim was tasked early on to help craft the tone, humor, and filmmaking style of the show. Along with the EP/Show Creator and the original Creator, Jim helped build the show from the ground up, including boarding on and directing the pilot.
His first day on the show was the first day of the pandemic, which meant restructuring out how everything was done – from writers’ room story breaks to storyboard pitches to final mixes. Despite the challenges, the team 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, which is a testament to the show culture Jim helped build.
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
Jim's style of directing is upbeat, energetic, and silly. And that applies to both the working and the work. His three goals as a Director are to deliver a show that;
Makes audiences laugh and cry, while being...
…a blast to work on, and…
…makes a buttload of money for whatever parent corporation. :)
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR - TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON
Jim 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. He infused his trademark upbeat, energetic, silly sense of humor into every episode. He personally directed a wide swath of episodes rom the pilot “A New Bergen-ing” to the cinematic episode “Pillow War” to the heartfelt “Cloudy with a Chance of Hugs”. Jim & EP Matt Beans & SP Frank Molieri delivered a show rich with charm.
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, they did it again! This time, Jim led the push to switch to a Harmony pipeline, which had multiple benefits (tighter control over timing, a built-in comp & beautification pass, tighter model control, etc!).
TrollsTopia Moonboy & Main Title.
Storyboards & Direction by Jim Mortensen
NTR328 “My Dinner with Dante”
Storyboards by Jim Mortensen, Andrew Benrik, Michelle Thompkins-Lima
Directed by Jim Mortensen
CREATOR
Jim has sold multiple projects to various studios and continues to build a stable of wildly creative original projects. From the mockmentary family comedy The Unfortunates to the high-stakes No Recipe to the silly buddy comedy ToromTellum, he loves making something from nothing. He’d love to pitch you something new.
STORYBOARDS
All storyboards by Jim Mortensen.
ABOUT & CONTACT
On top of his professional career, Jim founded & runs the Story for All Mentorship Program, which offers free 1:1 storyboard mentorships to BIPOC artists and includes 70+ mentees and 50+ volunteer mentors.
He currently lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife Lily and the world’s friendliest dog, Matcha.
REP: Sandy Weinberg
SUMMIT TALENT & LITERARY AGENCY
310-205-9730