THIS Thomasian alumnus has quietly worked his way to Walt Disney Pictures and has bagged himself an Emmy.
Joseph “Joe” Mateo, a Fine Arts graduate, received an Outstanding Achievement in Animation award during the 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards last August 21 for his work as storyboard artist in Prep & Landing, a computer-animated television Christmas special produced by Walt Disney Pictures.
He shares this juried award with colleagues William George III, who worked as background key designer, and Andy Harkness, the special’s art director.
Mateo migrated to the United States after his graduation in 1992. He landed a job in Disney two year later, starting his career as a clean-up artist and moving up to the ranks as an animator and story artist. He has worked behind animated blockbusters like Pocahontas, Hercules, Tarzan, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Emperor’s New Groove, Bolt, and Meet the Robinsons.
Prior to his Emmy success, he received a couple of nominations from the Annie awards, the highest honor in animation, for Prep & Landing and Bolt.
His artistic drive remains untarnished as the years passed, for every working day entails living his dream in the “most magical” entertainment enterprise in the world. For him, winning an Emmy is only a bonus to being able to work in a field that he loves.
“I feel very fortunate and honored to have been given an Emmy,” he told the Varsitarian via e-mail. “Being able to provide for my family [while] doing something I love and be recognized on top of that is a huge blessing.”
Mateo also launched his own comic book, Awesome Man, which was sold out in its first few weeks of release.
The animation artist’s interest in drawing sprung up at the age of five, when his fascination for comic books began. In an interview with The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America, he recalled that he only needed pieces of paper and a pencil for pastime as a child.
From there, he sharpened his artistic skills and garnered numerous awards as a student. Mateo pursued this passion further and enrolled in the UST Fine Arts program.
“[Being a Thomasian] gave me all the fundamentals that I need to be confident in whatever task I am faced with,” he said.
