Michael Patterson
Encyclopedia
Michael Patterson is an experimental film artist, teacher, and a commercial film director specializing in TV spots and music videos. He currently teaches animation at the Division of Animation and Digital Arts
at the USC School of Cinematic Arts
. His best known character is MC Skat Kat
.
After graduate studies with Jules Engel
at CalArts, Mike was brought to the attention of record executives with his Student Academy Award winning animated short 'Commuter'. Employing his unmistakable drawing style, he began his career in music videos in 1985. He and his wife Candace Reckinger were driving forces behind the early days of MTV
. Winners of an MTV
award for the animation in a-ha
's groundbreaking video for "Take on Me
" and "Train of thought", they went on to animate and direct Paula Abdul
's "Opposites Attract". "Opposites" was nominated for 6 MTV awards and won the Grammy for best music video of the year. The couple also directed videos for Sting ('Be Still My Beating Heart'), Suzanne Vega
('Luka'), Roy Orbison, Wilson-Phillips, Ian Hunter
, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, and Go West
among others.
After nearly a decade in music, Mike shifted his focus to commercials, combining his animation expertise with live action storytelling. From 1993-2002 he directed at Rhythm and Hues Studios working extensively with 2D compositing and 3D animation. As part of a hands-on style, he works as his own storyboard artist, designer, and on-set effects supervisor. He's directed award-winning spots for Nestle, NBC, FOX, General Mills, and Yoplait, as well as receiving Clios for Intel and Reebok.
In the fall of 2006, Patterson's film 'Commuter' was added into MoMA's permanent collection along with a number of Patterson/Reckinger music videos. He earned his M.F.A. from the program in Experimental Animation at the California Institute of the Arts
(1981–84), and received his BFA from University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana in 1980. These days, he remains active as a commercial director and is currently working on an animated short film.
Patterson was also a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists
Division of Animation and Digital Arts
The John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, United States, is an "international and multi-cultural program focusing on animation in all its forms." The program offers an undergraduate minor and major in animation, MFA, and Ph.D in...
at the USC School of Cinematic Arts
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
. His best known character is MC Skat Kat
MC Skat Kat
MC Skat Kat is an animated cat who appeared with Paula Abdul in the video for her song "Opposites Attract" in 1989.-History:The idea of Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly movie Anchors Aweigh, in which Kelly's character dances with Jerry, the mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series...
.
After graduate studies with Jules Engel
Jules Engel
Jules Engel was a Jewish-Hungarian American filmmaker, painter, sculptor, graphic artist, set designer, animator, film director, and teacher...
at CalArts, Mike was brought to the attention of record executives with his Student Academy Award winning animated short 'Commuter'. Employing his unmistakable drawing style, he began his career in music videos in 1985. He and his wife Candace Reckinger were driving forces behind the early days of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Winners of an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
award for the animation in a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
's groundbreaking video for "Take on Me
Take on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
" and "Train of thought", they went on to animate and direct Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
's "Opposites Attract". "Opposites" was nominated for 6 MTV awards and won the Grammy for best music video of the year. The couple also directed videos for Sting ('Be Still My Beating Heart'), Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
('Luka'), Roy Orbison, Wilson-Phillips, Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (singer)
Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, and Go West
Go West (band)
Go West is an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist and drummer Peter Cox ; and guitarist and vocalist Richard Drummie...
among others.
After nearly a decade in music, Mike shifted his focus to commercials, combining his animation expertise with live action storytelling. From 1993-2002 he directed at Rhythm and Hues Studios working extensively with 2D compositing and 3D animation. As part of a hands-on style, he works as his own storyboard artist, designer, and on-set effects supervisor. He's directed award-winning spots for Nestle, NBC, FOX, General Mills, and Yoplait, as well as receiving Clios for Intel and Reebok.
In the fall of 2006, Patterson's film 'Commuter' was added into MoMA's permanent collection along with a number of Patterson/Reckinger music videos. He earned his M.F.A. from the program in Experimental Animation at the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
(1981–84), and received his BFA from University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana in 1980. These days, he remains active as a commercial director and is currently working on an animated short film.
Patterson was also a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists