Daniel Dison’s passion for art began at an early age. As a child, they eagerly purchased drawing books from school book fairs and spent hours recreating characters from popular television shows like Rugrats and SpongeBob SquarePants. This early fascination with animation laid the foundation for their artistic journey. A pivotal moment came when Daniel met Heather Martinez, a talented artist who worked with Nickelodeon on SpongeBob and later directed Disney’s animated series The Replacements.

Daniel began their college career studying under esteemed instructors from CalArts, a world-renowned institution for the arts. However, the high cost of living prompted a move to Northern Idaho, where Daniel broadened their creative horizons by exploring murals, graphic design, and canvas painting. Another relocation brought them to Connecticut, where they faced the bittersweet closure of Blue Sky Animation Studios. Undeterred, Daniel enrolled in the 3D Animation program at Full Sail University, determined to refine their skills and expand their knowledge.

When news broke that Disney planned to relocate animation jobs to Orlando, Daniel seized the opportunity and joined the Disney College Program. This prestigious program not only allowed them to work at Disney Parks but also provided invaluable networking opportunities. Unfortunately, Disney later announced the cancellation of its animation relocation project to Orlando, creating another hurdle in Daniel’s journey.

Despite these challenges, Daniel has remained resilient. Currently, they work with Disney while pursuing freelance and commission-based projects. Their ultimate dream is to join the Disney Fine Art team and one day secure a booth at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, showcasing their work to a global audience.

Daniel has been able to inspire the next generation of artists to go after their dreams as well! One such artist is Katielyn Aliyah, “Watching the progression from character sketches to short animated videos of Daniel’s work has amazed me as I grew up with them. Each piece they creates adds hidden details and personality to their work with no requirement of words, which helps me find new ways of showing instead of telling outright. Behind each pen stroke or new frame of animation, there is passion. This passion has shown in all of their artwork, with improvement and the willingness to try new things. Which inspires me even more to continue with my own passions in the arts.”

Daniel’s story is one of perseverance and passion, proving that setbacks can be stepping stones toward achieving one’s dreams. To explore more of Daniel’s artwork and follow their journey, visit their Instagram page: @danielmdison.