Award-Winning Animation Director Cameron Chittock Joins MDS

Students studying 3D Animation & VFX at MDS are learning from people actively connected to the industries they want to work in - and Cameron Chittock’s career is a clear example of that.

From designing characters for Peter Jackson’s cult feature Meet the Feebles through to recent VFX production work on Ash and Spartacus: House of Ashur, Cameron has spent decades working across animation, storytelling, production and visual effects at the highest level.

Now, he’s bringing that experience into the classroom as the new Programme Director for the Bachelor of Art & Design (3D Animation & VFX) at Media Design School at Strayer (MDS).

A career built across the screen industry

Cameron’s path into the industry has never been conventional. He began as a graphic designer at Christchurch City Council before moving into puppet making and performance for touring theatre productions. That creative hands-on foundation would eventually lead him into New Zealand film and television during a pivotal era for the local industry.

Early in his career, Cameron worked with Peter Jackson on Bad Taste and Meet the Feebles, contributing character and puppet design work during the formative years of WingNut Films.

From there, his career expanded rapidly across directing, producing, writing and studio leadership. He created and directed internationally screened animated series including Oscar & Friends and Bottle Top Bill, worked across children’s television and commercial production, and later held senior leadership roles including Head of Productions at Pukeko Pictures.

More recently, Cameron worked as a VFX Producer at PRPVFX Studios in Auckland, contributing to productions including the sci-fi horror film A.S.H and Spartacus: House of Ashur.

What this means for students

For students considering a future in animation or VFX, Cameron’s appointment reflects one of the core strengths of the MDS approach: learning from industry professionals who understand both the creative and production realities of the screen sector.

The Bachelor of Art & Design (3D Animation & VFX) combines artistic development with production-focused learning, giving students experience across modelling, animation, visual effects, storytelling and collaborative studio workflows. Students work in environments designed to mirror professional pipelines, developing both technical capability and the communication skills needed in modern studios.

Cameron says one of the things that excites him most about joining MDS is helping students understand how broad the industry can be.

Creative careers rarely follow a straight line,” he says. “The industry rewards people who are curious, adaptable and willing to collaborate. That’s something students need to experience while they study, not just after they graduate.”

With experience spanning stop-motion, television, feature films, digital media and VFX production, Cameron brings a perspective shaped by decades of industry evolution - and a strong understanding of where the screen industry is heading next.

For aspiring artists, animators and VFX specialists, that means learning from someone who has not only seen the industry change, but helped shape parts of it along the way.