Cris Mertens

Cris Mertens has basically carved out a spot for himself in the animation world of LA, and he’s been at it for a while—think a solid decade-plus, not just dabbling, but actually shaping projects for big shots like Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Paramount, HBO, and Lionsgate. The guy’s got credits rolling deeper than most people’s Netflix queues. What’s wild is, he grew up as an American kid in Japan, which, yeah, is a whole vibe on its own. That’s where he got hooked on the whole Shokunin philosophy. Not just “do your best,” but that laser-focused obsession with perfecting your craft. It’s kind of his thing—he doesn’t just show up and check boxes. He’s the person who politely calls out a crooked frame or a weird audio blip, because why settle for less when you could make something actually awesome? But don’t get it twisted, he’s not some lone-wolf perfectionist. Cris lives for the messy, noisy, caffeine-fueled group grind of animation. He’s all about bouncing ideas, syncing with artists, and pulling off those “aha!” moments that make a story pop. And if you ever want to nerd out about workflow hacks or super-satisfying sound design, he’ll meet you there—maybe with photos of his wiener dogs, just because he can. Bottom line: Cris brings heart, grit, and a healthy dose of geekery to every frame. When he’s in the mix, you know you’re getting something that’s sharp, tight, and maybe just a little bit unexpected.