London-based design and animation production company Strange Beast has signed Parallel Teeth, aka Rob Wallace, to its roster of talent.

Based in his native New Zealand, Rob is a multi-disciplinary director and animator, whose versatility – from 2D line drawings and stop motion, to 3D CG graphics and puppetry. His work includes the 2013 video for Kiwi artist Ladi6's Shine On (above), which involved creating three distinct worlds inhabited by puppets. 

Rob's Ladi6 video caught the attention of Strange Beast executive Producer Sam O’Keefe. “That video hypnotises you and demands repeat viewings,” says Sam. “Rob’s aesthetic is something I haven’t seen before and his attention to mood and surrealism - as well as his intelligent approach to briefs - brings us creativity and smarts. What else could you want from a director?” 

His work has been screened at international film and animation festivals including Pictoplasma and File Anima+ and has been exhibited in group shows in the USA, Australia and Japan. In 2013 he was named a Young Gun by the Art Directors Club.

“I’m very inspired by the European avant-garde movements of the early 20th century, particularly the individuals who worked across various mediums. They weren’t about technical excellence, but a solid concept,” explains Rob.

On joining Strange Beast he says: “I’m looking forward to being part of group that has an eye for execution while still encouraging experimentation. I’m hoping for larger and more complex jobs that sit outside of my comfort zone.” 

• Watch Parallel Teeth showreel at Strange Beast