Paul Harrod
Paul Harrod is an American animation director of commercials and episodic television currently working with the animation studio Bent Image Lab, Portland, Oregon.
Works
Paul Harrod attended the California Institute of The Arts, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1986 and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in 1988. He was Chairman of Student Council Film Series and he curated and presented numerous programs of experimental, documentary and narrative cinema. Harrod was also scholarship recipient and teaching assistant for Art School Video Production and the Institute Sculpture Program.
After graduation, Harrod designed and produced the opening title sequence for Pee Wee's Playhouse (CBS Television) which won an Emmy Award in 1989. In 1990, he designed and art directed the "All I Want" music video for The Lightning Seeds (MCA Records) which was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1992 he worked with Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner on an animated television special, "Edith Ann: Life in the Little Lane" (Omnipotent Productions) and in 1993, Harrod designed the Clio Award winning commercial, Chips Ahoy, "In The Bag" (Will Vinton Productions). Other clients from this era include Cool Mint Listerine (Canada), Fanta, "Fanta Si Boy" "Refrigerator Ride" (Latin America), Levis For Women (USA), Kellogs Pop-Tarts, "Blade Runner" (USA), California Raisins, "What's For Breakfast?" (USA), all for Will Vinton Productions.
Harrod's emphasis has been in stop-motion animation and between 1999 and 2001, he directed five episodes of the television series, "The PJs,"[1] for which he was nominated for an Annie award in 2000.[2] Harrod also designed "The PJs" and oversaw the production of all the sets and puppets the first year of the series.
Harrod went on to direct the first episode of UPN's quirky animated series "Gary and Mike"[3] and he designed and directed the pilot for WB's "Slacker Cats,"[4] both while employed at Will Vinton Studios. Since 2004, Harrod has been directing animated commercials at Bent Image Lab and his clients have include Alltel Wireless, Kelloggs' Twistables, Cartoon Network, and Aflac. He directed, "Koi Pond," for Tractor Supply Company, which was voted one of the 50 best spots of 2006 by Adweek. [5]
Paul Harrod lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, filmmaker Joanna Priestley and two cats. He frequently travels to film festivals all over the world, where he occasionally presents programs of his commercials and television shows. Harrod also curates and presents a monthly film screening and lecture at Mother's Velvet Lounge in Portland, Oregon. Past themes for the series include "Italian Westerns", "Film Noir" and “Dreams, The Subconscious and the Surreal”.