Director • Creator • Writer • Producer • Consulting

ABOUT Chad Van De Keere

I have been in the film industry since 1993 shifting focus towards the animation industry in 1995.

With over 28 years of experience in the animation industry, I am now a highly accomplished Supervising Director, known for my ability to lead large teams and deliver top-quality animated shows and films. My portfolio of well-known projects includes the award-winning "Madagascar: A Little Wild," the beloved feature film "Beauty and the Beast, the Enchanted Christmas," and the acclaimed animated series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." I continue to work as a Showrunner, Writer, and Director for top film and network productions, collaborating with leading companies such as Rovio, DreamWorks SKG, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Mattel, and Walt Disney.

I started my animation journey as a Layout artist at Delaney and Friends, where I was entrusted with scenes that featured highly complex effects. This experience helped me to hone my skills, and I soon joined Walt Disney, where I specialized in hand-drawn special effects. During my time at Disney, I gained invaluable experience in timing and creative storytelling across various areas of development, including character animation, design, background painting, and storyboarding. I worked on a variety of projects, including "Winnie the Pooh, a Valentine Special."

My leadership abilities led to my role as the head of a 70-artist team in the Special Effects department at Bardel Entertainment for DreamWorks studios, where I worked on "The Story of Joseph," managing the crew's workload while I was creating the key visual shots for the animators to follow that were integral to the show's style.

In between projects, I always sought to expand my knowledge of styles, timing, humor, and storytelling nuances. I worked on high-profile shows such as “Ed, Ed n’ Eddy!” and “Ren and Stimpy ‘Adult Party Cartoon’,” continuously learning and honing my craft taking me to Studio B Productions.

Throughout my tenure at Studio B Productions, I had the opportunity to explore various creative avenues, including design, animation, and editing. As a member of the team, I had the privilege of working on several award-winning shows, including "The Amazing Adrenalinis," "The Legend of Frosty the Snowman," and "Being Ian."

During the early years of animatic editing, when Avid machines were still hardware-based and cost up to one million dollars per machine, I had the privilege of revolutionizing the animation industry's editing process. By spearheading the development of a highly efficient pipeline, I played a pivotal role in creating a new standard that most Vancouver studios continue to use today. This pipeline enabled us to deliver exceptional quality work within tight deadlines, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

Leveraging my intuitive grasp of clients' requirements and leveraging my strong storytelling skills, I pitched a winning concept to YTV for the final season of "Being Ian" and an Earth Day movie special called "An IanConvienient Truth." This marked a turning point in my career, as I transitioned to a role in Directing. The "Being Ian'' special I directed for Earth Day featured a noteworthy appearance by David Suzuki, making it a highly memorable and successful production.

My management skills were further refined when I played a pivotal role in establishing an animation studio, which boasted the largest Harmony team in North America at the time. One of my major accomplishments was developing "1001 Nights" from initial concept to final delivery, incorporating a new animation tracking system adapted from "Battlestar Galactica." By sharing my training techniques on this project, I have helped countless artists elevate their skills and achieve success in the industry, with some even advancing to become directors on hits such as "Teen Titans Go!" and "Rick and Morty."

Continuing on my path of success, I went on to develop and direct "Mack and Moxy." “Mack and Moxy” was a wonderful children’s show promoting charities, a project that recognized my contributions as a key creator on the series.

As both a developer and a showrunner, I oversaw a multitude of creative tasks while bringing to life the series "Being Ian: Season 5," "1001 Nights," and "Mack and Moxy," as well as the films “Being Ian: An Ian-Convenient Truth,” “Dear Dracula,” and “Abominable Christmas.” From the conceptual stages to the final delivery, I dedicated significant effort and attention to each project, ensuring their success in securing international distribution and achieving successful airings worldwide.

My comprehensive understanding of the creative process, from concept to completion, I have trained junior crews to achieve senior results while tailoring my approach to different age groups and genres, from comedy to action. With my extensive knowledge and experience in the animation industry, I am a valuable asset to any production team.