/Resumé
Nikki Rice Malki
/biography
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Nikki moved to California to attend college; receiving a BFA in Film Production in 2002. Right out of school, she landed a job at a movie-marketing agency, Craig Murray Productions (later, mOcean),consecutively as receptionist, machine room operator and finally, post production coordinator. During this time, Nikki also earned her Masters in Secondary Education working early mornings at high school, long days at the office and late nights doing homework. Growing weary of the office atmosphere, Nikki decided to shift and begin her career in Special Effects Make-Up. From there the effects world segued into the stop motion world and she soon found herself a spot as a stop motion puppet fabricator in the television and film industries. A decade later she works consistantly heading up puppet departments and leading digital sculpts for projects of all sizes.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) September 2021 - October 2021
"Happy Honda Days - Honda Commercial" - Network TV - Stop Motion
Puppet Supervisor/Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
- stage support
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) - March 2021 - May 2021
"Ted Lasso Christmas Special - Opening Credits" - Stop Motion
Head of Puppet Department/Lead 3D Modeler
- digital character design
- 3D print
- detail painting
Ancient Order of the Wooden Skull (Los Angeles, CA) - November 2020
"Fall of the House of Usher - Boston Lyric Opera"
-digital character design
Acho Studios (Los Angeles, CA) - November 2020
"Big Mouth - Christmas Special"
- digital modeler
Hot Wheels City Season 4 (Burbank, CA) - January 2020 - August 2020
Lead Puppet Fabricator/ 3D Modeler
- armature
- character foam build up
- detail painting
- xBrush sculpt and 3D print
Apartment D (Burbank, CA) - October 2019-November 2019
"American Girl Doll" - product commercial
Puppet Supervisor/Fabricator
- armature design
- fabrication
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) September 2019 - October 2019
"Honda Commercial" - Network TV - Stop Motion
Puppet Supervisor/Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
- stage support
Chiodo Bros. (San Fernando, CA) - May 2019 - September 2019
"Alien Xmas"
Lead zBrush Modeler/Lead Puppet Fabricator
- 3D modeled main and background characters
- set up and ran RP department
- technical design of puppets
- foam build up
- detail painting
Hot Wheels City Season 3 (Burbank, CA) - March 2019
Puppet Fabricator
- armature
- character foam build up
- detail painting
JibJab Bros. Studios (Los Angeles, CA) - May - June 2018
"Ask The StoryBots" Season 3 - "Recycle" Episode
Puppet Fabricator
- character buildup - foam, fur
- molding and casting - Dragon Skin Silicone
- sculpting - clay, Magic Sculpt
Extra Credit Studios (Culver City, CA) - March-April 2018
"Dolor" - short film
Character Designer/Puppet Fabricator/zBrush Modeler
- character design/concept
- zBrush sculpt
- foam buildup
- paint and finishing
Mattel (El Segundo, CA) - March 2018
"WWE Entrance Spots"
Puppet Fabricator
- toy modifications
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2017
"Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Puppet Supervisor
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2017
"Robot Chicken: Season 9" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Puppet Supervisor - pre production, stage supervisor
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2016 - 2017
"Supermansion: Season 2" - Sony Crackle
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator/zBrush Modeler
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2016
"Buddy Thunderstruck" - Netflix
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- character concept/design
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2015
"Robot Chicken: Season 8" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator/zBrush Modeler
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2015
"Robot Chicken: DC Special 3: Magical Friendship" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) - 2015
"Supermansion: Season 1" - Sony Crackle
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator/zBrush Modeler
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) October 2014
"Honda Commercial" - Network TV - Stop Motion
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- hair design and application
- armature build
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) Aug 2014-Sept 2014
"Denny's: Slammies Promos"
Stop Motion Puppet Fabrication
- molding and casting
- puppet fabrication
Screen Novelties (Echo Park, CA) April 2014 - June 2014
"Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas" - NBC
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- molding and casting
- puppet fabrication
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) July 2013 - April 2014
"Robot Chicken: Season 7" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator/zBrush Modeler
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
- replacement robot wing design and sculpt
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) July 2013 - April 2014
"Robot Chicken: DC Special 2: VIP" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Lead Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- teaching and training
- armature design
Starburns (Burbank, CA) March 2013 - June 2013
"Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa" - Feature Film - Stop Motion
zBrush Modeler and 3D Print Tech
- character sculpts
- mouth shapes
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) October 2012
"Honda Commercial" - Network TV - Stop Motion
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- hair design and application
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) Feb 2012 - Sept 2012
"Robot Chicken: Season 6" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Senior Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- armature design
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Burbank, CA) Feb 2012 - Sept 2012
"Robot Chicken: DC Special" - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Senior Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
- armature design
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) April 2011 – Present
“Hell and Back” – Feature Film - Stop Motion
zBrush Modeler
- character sculpts
- mouth shapes
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, seaming, painting, fabrication
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) March 2010 - December 2010
“Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode 3” - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- sculpting, painting, costuming
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) March 2010 – December 2010
“Robot Chicken: Season 5” - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- sculpting, painting, costuming
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) June 2009 – Nov. 2009
“Mary Shelly’s Frankenhole” – Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator - Hair stylist
- wig sizing and construction
- paper hat designing and construction
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) Jan. 2009 – June 2009
“Titan Maximum: Season 1” - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- mold making, matrix, silicone, stone
- armature building
- sculpting, casting, painting
Shadow Animation (Los Angeles, CA) Oct. 2008 – Jan. 2009
“Robot Chicken: Season 4” - Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
- sculpting, painting, costuming
SKILLS
Computer: zBrush - Photoshop - Magics - Maya - Rhino
Puppet Fabrication: molding - casting - painting - build up - design - armature design and construction
Special Effects: Creature design - Sculpture - Life casting - Molding and casting - Painting and fabrication - Hair punching and tying
Character Make-Up: Prosthetic ap. - Aging techniques - Bald cap ap. - Hair laying - Injury
Beauty Make-Up: Corrective - Natural - Fashion/Fantasy - Make-up design
Hair Styling: Temp Color - Blow dry - Curls and wave - Shampoo and set - Up styles - Period Style
Graduated
Make-Up Designory; October 2007
Master Make-Up Artistry; A 760-hr program in all aspects of Make-up Artistry
University of Phoenix, November 2005
Masters Degree: Secondary Education
GPA: 3.7
Chapman University; May 2002
B.F.A., Major Film/TV Production; Minor in Public Relations
GPA: 3.65
SPECIAL SKILLS / INTERESTS
photography - acting - improvisation - directing and producing - arts - crafts - baking - science - astronomy - sports both watching and playing - classic Hollywood - classic cars - crocheting - knitting - camping - horse back riding - juggling - bike riding - hiking