Mari Inukai was born in Nagoya, Japan. In 1995, Mari came to the US to pursue her studies in art. She first attended Santa Monica Community College (Mentor program), then Associates in Art, Sherman Oaks, CA and finally California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA, where she recieved her BFA in Character Animation in 2004.

Her professional works include Nickelodeon, New York, Nylon Motion Inc., LA, Oishii Productions, LA, and NGTV, LA. Her short animated film, Blue and Orange, has been an official selection at numerous national and international film festivalss including the Sundance Film Festival 2003, and was the Japanese Grand Prix winner at the Short Shorts Film Festival EXPO 2005.Besides her animation works, Mari regularly exhibits her paintings and drawings, designs clothes, ceramic toy figurines, and other fun products. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Sena.

For more information about Mari visit www.mariinukai.com.