In the mid-80s, Sims moved to Los Angeles to begin his career as a special effects makeup artist. His work quickly attracted the attention of legendary Academy Award® winner Rick Baker, with whom Sims collaborated for the next twelve years. During that time, Sims served as a leading special effects artist on some of the most popular, defining movies of the 1990s: Gremlins 2, Batman Forever, Mighty Joe Young, Nutty Professor, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Men in Black.

Sims embraced the new computer technology with enthusiasm in the mid 90’s and began to combine Softimage 3D animation software, Photoshop’s painting capabilities and his knowledge and experience as a sculptor and artist.

In the late 1990s, Sims started working for Academy Award® winner, Stan Winston, who encouraged Sims’ pioneering methods. With advanced computers and cutting-edge software, Sims altered the industry’s process of design and development. In 2000 Sims introduced his design process to Steven Spielberg and became the lead character designer for Artificial Intelligence: A.I. Sims created unprecedented designs for all of Spielberg’s robot characters and, in doing so, validated his groundbreaking approach to character creation.

Having raised the bar in the concept design industry, Sims co-created Stan Winston Digital and led the studio, as art director and head concept artist, on such films as Constantine, Fantastic Four, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Eight Below, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, and Tim Burton’s Big Fish.

Sims’ creative approach to concept design using digital technology has had significant affects on the film industry. Softimage development teams have advanced aspects of their software from Sims creative use of their product. Sims has also inspired many of the current techniques used by top artists and designers in the entertainment industries. The demand for training in his methods has led to an ongoing partnership with Alex Alvarez and the Gnomon School of Visual Effects on a series of instructional DVDs.

With the same adventurous spirit that fueled his willingness to embrace digital technology, Sims founded The Aaron Sims Company to work on 30 Days of Night, The Golden Compass, I Am Legend, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy:
Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Clash of the Titans and Sucker Punch.

For more info check out:
www.aaron-sims.com