Hi. I’m Michele
I'm a Rigger and a Developer

Empowering creativity and productivity with innovative tools that unlock artistic freedom and elevate your quality of life.

About Me

I’m Michele Trabona, a rigger and tools developer passionate about improving workflows and empowering artists to focus on creativity. I’ve contributed to numerous high-profile projects for some of the most known companies. I have been developing rigging systems, facial deformation tools, and custom auto-rigs. For “house of the dragon” I developed the facial rigging system which contributed to obtain the BAFTA award for VFX. Recently I have developed my own pipeline asset pipeline trying my best to integrate all the departments for a better experience. My expertise spans rigging, modeling, texturing and animation with a focus on Python and Maya. My mission is to streamline the technical aspects of VFX, enabling more artistic freedom. I’m always excited to share ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions to elevate the industry. Let’s connect and build something extraordinary!

Rigging TD

I have a rich background in rigging, focusing on developing facial rigging systems, deformation rigs, and procedural rigging solutions. My experience includes creating advanced rigging setups for both realistic and fantastical creatures, as well as optimizing rigging pipelines for efficiency. I’ve worked on everything from complex facial expressions to creature mechanics and dynamic hair and trunk rigs. With a strong foundation in Python and Maya, I specialize in creating custom auto-rigs and tools that streamline production processes, enhancing both the technical and creative aspects of animation and VFX.

Development TD

I have been exploring with amusement some other department trying to understand the needs of departments related to the asset point of view and from that experience I made my first asset pipeline which follows the asset build with flexibility, having the possibility to iterate on different aspects of the asset creation. I have found it useful to integrate a “pipe insight agent” which would reply with precision to most time consuming queries. I built tools to speed up the iterative process in some departments and I built a nodal system for the rigging department which would help riggers increase their productivity through a visual process. To obtain maximum flexibility sometimes it is important to make our own plug-ins so I made a couple of plug-ins to meet the needs of some rigs. I love to explore and I would definitely love to know your ideas.

Trusted by Leading Companies

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Testimonials

Bram Van Rompuy Freelance Rigging Developer

Michele is exceptionally proficient in developing user interfaces, particularly with QT, and has extensive knowledge of Maya and rigging which he seamlessly integrates into our workflows. His ability to understand and implement complex software solutions has made a significant impact on production efficiency. Throughout his tenure, Michele displayed a remarkable capacity for balancing urgent production needs with long-term project goals. He is adept at troubleshooting and addressing software issues swiftly, ensuring that project timelines are met without compromising quality. Above all, Michele is a pleasure to work with—reliable, easygoing, and genuinely invested in the team's success. His contributions are always of high value, and I would enthusiastically recommend him for any advanced software development role, especially in the VFX industry. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Michele again in the future.

Pedro Bellini Rigging Development Supervisor

I had the pleasure of working with Michele Trabona at ScanlineVFX on the Rigging Development team. He possesses a remarkable blend of technical expertise, a collaborative spirit, and effective communication skills. Michele is very knowledgeable and still eager to learn. He embraces challenging tasks, actively seeking feedback in order to further his professional development. I'm confident that Michele will continue to excel and make substantial contributions wherever he chooses to apply his talents.

Gianluca Fratellini Animation Supervisor

I worked with Michele for Antepost and it was great to work directly with him. He is a very friendly and smart guy and I was able to work directly with him before animating on a shot or even during production to ask for quick fix or solution on the rigs which he quickly provided me with genuine ideas and smart problem solving with his experience in the field I totally recommend !

Dimitar Bakalov Animation Supervisor

During his stay at Lipsync Michele managed to complete all the tasks he was assigned with ease. Whether rigging, fixing/improving rigs from vendors or creating tools and plug-ins for the rigging and animation pipeline. He quickly became an integral part of the team and was pleasure to work with. I would recommend Michele without hesitation.

Khalil Khalilian Lead Rigging TD

It was a real pleasure to work with michele on Shazam. He is a very talented rigger as well as an excellent colleague. A warm personality blended with a lively sense of communication. I look forward to having the opportunity to work again with him in the future!