Resume
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Walter Gatus
Work Experience - IMDB
Professional Summary
Veteran of the toy and animation industries with 25 years of experience delivering innovative toy designs, animated series, and visual development for iconic brands. Proven leader with a passion for mentoring designers, building high-functioning teams, and executing creative visions from concept to production.
Key Skills
- Art Direction & Visual Development
- Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Toy Design & Development
- Licensing & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Character & Product Design
- IP Creation & Brand Strategy
- Project Management & Production Oversight
- Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
Professional Experience
Spin Master – Culver City, CA
Acting Design Manager / Design Lead | Aug 2024 – Present
Hasbro – Pawtucket, RI
Toy Designer | 2010 – 2021
Other Experience
WTG Enterprises – Beverly Hills, CA
Art Director, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers | Mar 2023 – Aug 2023
Art Director, Duncanville | Jul 2021 – Sep 2022
Warner Bros. Animation – Burbank, CA
Character Designer, Mortal Kombat Legends 3 & 4 | May 2021 – Dec 2021
Gaumont Animation – West Hollywood, CA
Character Designer, Stillwater | Aug 2019 – Sep 2020
Splash Entertainment – Woodland Hills, CA
Character Designer, The Soccer Football Movie | Mar 2020 – Sep 2020
Hasbro Studios – Burbank, CA
Art Director, Transformers: Nezha | Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Acting Design Manager / Design Lead | Aug 2024 – Present
- Lead designer and acting manager for the DC Comics toy line, ensuring timely delivery and high product standards.
- Expanded leadership across Sony and Skydance (licensed IP) and Bakugan (internal IP). Mentor junior designers and head of Designer Enrichment Program. Active contributor to internship program.
- Spearheaded original IP development for toy lines and animated content.
- Designed Teen Titans Go collectible toy line.
- Created action figures for DC theatrical franchises.
- Delivered plush toy designs for Sony’s video game characters.
Hasbro – Pawtucket, RI
Toy Designer | 2010 – 2021
- Designed toys for flagship brands including Star Wars, Marvel, Transformers, and GI Joe.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products.
- Played a key role in conceptualizing and prototyping designs.
Other Experience
WTG Enterprises – Beverly Hills, CA
Art Director, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers | Mar 2023 – Aug 2023
- Defined visual style for Season 2. Managed a team of multidisciplinary artists.
Art Director, Duncanville | Jul 2021 – Sep 2022
- Partnered with show creators to establish visual direction.
- Led all design teams.
Warner Bros. Animation – Burbank, CA
Character Designer, Mortal Kombat Legends 3 & 4 | May 2021 – Dec 2021
Gaumont Animation – West Hollywood, CA
Character Designer, Stillwater | Aug 2019 – Sep 2020
Splash Entertainment – Woodland Hills, CA
Character Designer, The Soccer Football Movie | Mar 2020 – Sep 2020
Hasbro Studios – Burbank, CA
Art Director, Transformers: Nezha | Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
- Directed visual development for Transformers: Nezha animated series.
- Led both design teams in Los Angeles as China.
Education
The Animation Academy - Burbank, CA 01/00 - 05/03
American Animation Institute - North Hollywood, CA 03/01 - 12/01
Associates in Art - Sherman Oaks, CA 03/99 - 03/00
Art Institute of Los Angeles - Santa Monica, CA 08/98 - 07/00
American Animation Institute - North Hollywood, CA 03/01 - 12/01
Associates in Art - Sherman Oaks, CA 03/99 - 03/00
Art Institute of Los Angeles - Santa Monica, CA 08/98 - 07/00
- Associates Degree in Computer Animation