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Joe Pepe

Lead Character Designer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I create concepts for initial character designs. This includes faces, bodies, color and bioluminescence patterns for the Sullys and other main characters.The greatest challenge in this is translating an actor's likeness into a Na'vi, which then allows James Cameron to mould and develop into a relatable character.

Q&A

Most exciting thing about working on the sequels?

Continuing the journey I started as a character designer on A1 in a more involved and direct capacity.

Favorite memory from the first Avatar?

Some of my first Na'vi character designs were reviewed by James Cameron on my birthday in 2005 and published in The Art of Avatar book in 2009.

What's a fun fact about yourself?

The Terminator is one of my favorite films and I keep the original VHS tape on my studio shelf.

Learn More About Our Team

      • Aashrita Kamath

        Art Director

        Kolkata, India

      • Amaya Gutierrez

        Assistant Art Director

        Mexico City, Mexico

      • Angelu Cayanan

        2nd Assistant Camera

        Philippines

      • Ben Milsom

        Live Action Art Director

        Lower Hutt, New Zealand

      • Billy Barnhart

        Senior Data Manager

        Long Island, NY

      • Boryana Dimitranova

        RQC Team Member

        Bulgaria

      • Brenden Holster

        1st Assistant "A" Camera

        Perth, Australia

      • Buffy Bailey

        Stage Operator

        Newport Beach, California

      • Carla Meyer

        Dialect Coach

        New York, NY

      • Casey Schatz

        Simulcam and Techvis Integration

        Boston, MA

      • Chris White

        Visual Effects Supervisor

        Dale City, Virginia

      • Cynthia Rivera

        Sequence Artist

        Arecibo, Puerto Rico

      • Daphne Yap

        Concept Artist

        The Bay Area, CA

      • Dean Lewandowski

        Environment Supervisor

        Orlando, Florida

      • Don De Castro

        Motion Edit Supervisor

        Manila, Philippines

      • Edu Black

        Production Supervisor

        Long Beach, CA

      • Frances Hawker

        Textile Artist/Prop Maker

        Lower Hutt, New Zealand

      • Gwen Whittle

        Sound Supervisor

        Brooklyn, NY

      • Imo Umoren

        Technical Director

        Calabar, Nigeria

      • Jonathan Bach

        Concept Artist

        Austin, Texas

      • Joy Nguyen

        Virtual Camera Coordinator for the Lab

        Dallas, Texas

      • Kacie Borrowman

        Troupe Performer

        Fairfield, Illinois

      • Katie Klosterman

        Free Dive Safety

        San Luis Obispo, California

      • Katie McGinley

        Production Supervisor

        Los Angeles, CA

      • Lisa Doherty

        Textiles Artist

        Te Awanga, New Zealand

      • Motoki Nishii

        Environment Supervisor

        San Diego, California

      • Nate Hopkins

        Post Visualization Supervisor

        Busan, South Korea

      • Nicky Muir

        Visual Effects Producer

        Taranaki, New Zealand

      • Paolo J. Ziemba

        Sequence Supervisor

        Oak Park, Illinois

      • Pavani Rao Boddapati

        Visual Effects Sequence Supervisor at Weta Digital

        New Delhi, India

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