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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

      • A.J. Briones

        Sequence Supervisor

        Quezon City, Philippines

      • Aashrita Kamath

        Art Director

        Kolkata, India

      • Amaya Gutierrez

        Assistant Art Director

        Mexico City, Mexico

      • Andrew Moffett

        Sequence Supervisor

        Annapolis, Maryland

      • Angelina Ramsey

        Lead Save Operator

        Los Angeles, California

      • Angelu Cayanan

        2nd Assistant Camera

        Philippines

      • Anneka Fris

        Animation Sequence Supervisor at Weta Digital

        New Zealand

      • Anthony Hernandez

        Lead Environment Artist

        Los Angeles, California

      • Ashna Shah

        Junior Lab Developer

        Los Angeles, California

      • Ben Milsom

        Live Action Art Director

        Lower Hutt, New Zealand

      • Bex Leybourne

        Lead Facial Animator at Wētā

        Sunderland, United Kingdom

      • Billy Barnhart

        Senior Data Manager

        Long Island, New York

      • 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, New York

      • Casey Schatz

        Simulcam and Techvis Integration

        Boston, Massachusetts

      • Chaerin Yoon

        Motion Editor

        Seoul, South Korea

      • Chika Hoffman

        I/O Data Manager

        Nishinomiya, Japan

      • Chris White

        Visual Effects Supervisor

        Dale City, Virginia

      • Christina Hall

        Environment Lead

        Granada Hills, California

      • Colbert Fennelly

        Technical Environment Lead

        Kilkenny, Ireland

      • Connor Gartland

        Virtual Production Stage Operator

        Columbus, Ohio

      • Cynthia Rivera

        Sequence Artist

        Arecibo, Puerto Rico

      • Dan Fowler

        Stage Operator Supervisor

        Klamath Falls, Oregon

      • Daphne Yap

        Concept Artist

        The Bay Area, California

      • Dean Lewandowski

        Environment Supervisor

        Orlando, Florida

      • Don De Castro

        Motion Edit Supervisor

        Manila, Philippines

      • Donald Dey

        Render Supervisor

        New Orleans, Louisiana

      • Edu Black

        Production Supervisor

        Long Beach, California

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