Arut Tantasirin
Creator / Artist / Animation Director
Born in 1981, Arut Tantasirin is an acclaimed creator, artist, award-winning animation director and Emmy Award-nominated animator based in Los Angeles and Bangkok. He is the visionary behind Warbie Yama, an original character IP developed from his award-winning animated short film, “Cheez...z”. Arut's passion for art and animation has been a lifelong journey. His first animated short, "Rocket Boy," inspired by his childhood activities, received an award and was published in Bangkok in 2005. After working on several recognized projects in Thailand, he moved to San Francisco to pursue a Master's degree in Animation. In 2008, Arut conceived the idea for a new short film and created the characters "Warbie," a cheeky bird, and "Yama," a smiley grandpa. The resulting film, "Cheez...z," received numerous awards and was screened at many film and animation festivals across the United States and overseas. Critics and audiences praised "Cheez...z" for delivering positive messages to children through its charming characters. The short was also honored as the opening film at Cody Theatre in Wyoming in 2017 and was featured in the "From the Lands of Asia" exhibition at Kimbell Art Museum, Texas, in 2018.
In November 2022, Arut held his first grand-scale exhibition, "It's me Warbie!: The Inside World of Warbie Yama," at River City Bangkok, Thailand. The exhibition featured nine zones that transported visitors into the world of the beloved character Warbie, showcasing Arut's original art, stories, theme park, music, animation, and special collaborative pieces. In October 2023, Arut won the Crystal Pine Award for Best Music Video "Shy" at the International Sound and Film Music Festival in Croatia.
As an Animation Director at Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California, Arut has worked on popular shows such as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years," "Santiago of the Seas," "Wallykazam," "Monsters vs Aliens," "Robot & Monster," and "Avatar: The Legend of Korra." His work on "Wallykazam" earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
Outside the studio, Arut collaborated with Facebook, Inc. in 2016 to create a special digital sticker set for Thai users, featuring two adorable and playful characters named "Salapao & Numnim." In 2018, he painted “Jammam,” a chubby boxing boy mural on Hollywood Boulevard, which became a landmark in Thai Town, Los Angeles, bringing joy to visitors and the community. Today, Arut continues to create art and stories with a passion for delivering positive messages and happiness to people around the world.
Exhibitions & Events
2024
"Shy" short film screening on Vladem Contemporary Digital Window at New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Warbie Yama Theatre - Short films screening at Happening 101 Art Festival
Bangkok, Thailand
Animation Experimental guest speaker, short films screening and live-painting
Laguna Art + Design Collage, California, USA
"Art for Ocean" Balloon art installation / fundraising for marine life preservation project in Phuket, Thailand
Warbie Yama x Hyatt Regency - Warbie's Garden Afternoon Tea (May - July)
Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
2023
Warbie represents “5月はThai Month” campaign - Royal Thai Embassy Japan
ARUT x MITSUME Live painting and charity art for children - 8th Japan Expo Thailand and Thai Festival in Tokyo, Japan
"Art for Art" Balloon art installation / fundraising for old temple restoration project, Thailand
Artist Reviewer Bangkok Illustration Fair 2023
2022
"It's me Warbie!: The Inside World of Warbie Yama" Grand Exhibition
River City Bangkok, Thailand
"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?" Art Exhibition
River City Bangkok, Thailand
Reviewer / Speaker
Bangkok Illustration Fair 2022
2021
"Tell Your Story" Animation Panel - Bangkok Design Week 2021
Online Art Exhibition - Featured Artist / Speaker / Reviewer
Bangkok Illustration Fair 2021
2020
Warbie Yama's Grand Opening -Exhibition and fashion show
Wanda Plaza, Ningbo, China
"Digital Creator" Speaker - Digital Your Life, Bangkok
Animation and Character panel - M.O.V.E Online Seminar, Thailand
Character and Animation workshops in Thailand:
- Patravadee International school
- Panyaprateep school
- Bangkok University
Warbie Yama tour / meet the creator events (2017 - 2020)
USA, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong
2019
Character and Animation seminar / workshop
Chiangmai University, Thailand
Creator On-stage Interview - Japan Week Exhibition, Chiangmai, Korat, Thailand
2018
"Character Talk" Speaker - Bangkok International Digital Content Festival (BIDC)
Character Design Workshop - Asia Comic Con 2018, Thailand
Meet the Creator (Warbie Yama) - LINE Stickers Awards 2018, Thailand
2017
Art & Character Design Workshop - Contemporary Art and Culture
Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center, Bangkok
Warbie Yama Creator speaker - Curio Con, Pasadena, California
LINE Creator workshop speaker - LINE Corporation, Jakarta, Indonesia
Top Creator (Warbie Yama) - LINE Stickers Awards 2017, Thailand
2016
Story Panel - Samakkee Summit 2016, Los Angeles, USA
Animation Journey Panel - Seattle, USA
Animation Speaker - Bangkok International Digital Content Festival (BIDC)
2015
Fujiko Fujio Tribute Art Exhibition - QPOP Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Nickelodeon Art Show - Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Burbank, USA
Art Auction Benefitting the Healing Arts at Family Service Agency
Cartoon Network Studios, Burbank, USA
The Secret Art Show - Burbank Art For All Foundation, USA
RumikoTakahashi Tribute Art Exhibition - QPOP Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Hollywood Animation Inspiration Panel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
2014
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crew Art Show - Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra, USA
Art Show and auction for good cause - The Animation Guild, Burbank, USA
2013
Fast and Fantastic: A Future in Narrative Design - Animation Panel
University Art Museum/California State University, Long Beach
2011
Nickelodeon Art Show - Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Burbank, USA
Awards & Highlights
2023
Crystal Pine Award for Best Music Video - "Shy"
International Sound and Film Music Festival, Croatia
"Shy" - Animated short film awards and official selections
- Europe Music Video Awards - Honorable Mention
- Bon Dance International Film Festival (Japan)
- Prague International Sound Music Video Awards (Prague)
- Cannes Indie Shorts Awards (France)
- Los Angeles International Music Video Festival (USA)
- New York Indie Shorts Awards (USA)
- AniMate Australia Animation Film Festival (Australia)
- Kids First! Film and Video Festival (USA)
- New York Animation Film Awards (USA)
2021
Character Of The Year Award 2021 - "Warbie Yama"
Bangkok International Digital Content Festival, Thailand
"Jammam" mural art featured in Los Angeles Times articles
Los Angeles, USA
2019
Character Of The Year Award - "Warbie Yama"
Bangkok International Digital Content Festival, Thailand
2018
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Digital Content - Asia Comic Con
Ministry of Culture of Thailand
"Cheez...z" short film screening in museum's special exhibition
Kimbell Art Museum, Texas, USA
"Jammam" mural art debut as Thai Town LA landmark in Songkran Fest
Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, USA
2017
"Cheez...z" screening as an opening film of a featured movie
Cody Theatre, Wyoming, USA
Creator Interview - 168 Hours, TV program on Channel 3, Thailand
2016
"Way To Happy Award", An Individual Achievement
Nickelodeon Animation's 25th year celebration, Burbank, USA
2015
Daytime Emmy Awards nomination - Animation
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, USA
"Passion For Perfection" - article on The Nation, Thailand
Business Talk - Animation interview on NOW26 TV channel, Thailand
2014
"Lucky" - Best Animation, LoopDeLoop Animation Festival
Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Burbank, USA
2011
"Cheez...z" - Animated short film awards and official selections
- ION International Film Festival - Best Animation
- Kids First Film Festival - Best animation
- Burbank International Film Festival
- Angelus Student Film Festival - Finalist
- New Orleans Film Festival
- Northwest Animation Festival.
- Nashville Film Festival.
- Savannah International Animation Festival.
- Indie Spirit Film Festival.
- Ojai Film Festival
- Red Stick International Animation Festival
- WoodHole Film Festival
2010
Best Animation Short Film
Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA
2008
Director's choice Animation Student
Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA
2005
"Rocket Boy" - Short Animation Award
Thailand Animation and Multimedia
2002
"Bird" realistic art featured in the Faculty's 10th year calendar
Visual Communication Arts, Assumption University, Thailand