A native of Berkeley, Tom Bertino graduated from the California College
of Arts & Crafts (now California College of the Arts) in 1981.
Bertino began his professional animation career with independent
producer/director Sally Cruikshank in 1978, and has worked for such
studios as Nepenthe, DIC, Hanna-Barbera and Colossal pictures in a
number of capacities including character design, storyboards, layout,
voices and sound effects.
In 1986, Bertino joined Industrial Light & Magic as supervisor of the
rotoscope department. In 1993,he was asked to bring his traditional
animation skills to the digital realm, leading to a successful career
in computer animation for feature films and commercials.
In 1995, Bertino was nominated for an Academy Award for Best
Achievement in Visual Effects for the grounbreaking CG imagery he
craeted for The Mask. He received a BAFTA nomination in the same
category.
Bertino's directorial debut was the short film _Work in Progress (2000/I)_, released in
2000.