A combined love of drawing and acting led Tommy on the path to filmmaking and animation. Inspired at an early age by the Fleischer Studios' Popeye Cartoons, Tommy strives to make his work strong to the finish.
Tommy Simms is an interdisciplinary artist and award-winning filmmaker, specializing in stop-motion animation. Earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his senior animation was showcased at the Festival de Cannes. For years, he taught classes online and at art camps across the United States, inspiring younger generations with puppetry and stop-motion. Ranging from cartoons to live-action, Tommy's work has been featured in film festivals around the world, on PBS, in theatre productions, and at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. His animated adventures continue through the production of independent films and music videos.
Great-Nephew of Aye Jaye
(Carny Sideshow Magician / Clown / Ronald McDonald / Actor / Comic / Author of "The Golden Rule of Schmoozing")
Learned to draw at an early age by watching "Mark Kistler's Imagination Station" and "The Secret City" on PBS. Years later, Tommy taught classes alongside Mark at numerous art camps across the United States.
Studied animation and puppetry at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the guidance of animator, Tim Decker (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / The Simpsons / Disney Interactive)
Quotes
"Dream it! Draw it! Do it!"
- Mark Kistler (The Imagination Station)
"See you back on the lot!"
- Aye Jaye
"Stay Animated!"
- Tommy Simms
A combined love of drawing and acting led Tommy on the path to filmmaking and animation. Inspired at an early age by the Fleischer Studios' Popeye Cartoons, Tommy strives to make his work strong to the finish.