Dane Zalsos
animator, storyboard/concept artist
OBJECT & LIFE STUDIES
mannequin study ; charcoal
figure study ; charcoal
protest study ; charcoal
lighting study ; graphite pencil
skull studies ; charcoal
pattern + fabric study ; graphite pencil
cross-hatching ; pen & ink
botanical study ; gouache & colored pencil
fabric study ; ink wash
hand + foot study ; graphite pencil
ribcage study ; charcoal
color study ; acrylic
ILLUSTRATIONS
MOVEMENT
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATIONS
moments caught in time
watch (2022)
bullseye (2022)
COERTHAN TORMENT - (2024)
DRAGONSINGER (2024)
MAIN SCENARIO
PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
moments caught from time
MAZE - paper cutouts w/ gouache & ink, 2023
THEATRE OF THE MIND - gouache, 2024
greenhousing - gouache & ink, 2024
MOOD - graphite, 2025 (inspired by "Mood" - DPR IAN)
"QUIET DOWN" - gouache, 2025
OUTTA MY HEAD - gouache & ink framed by wood, 2024 (inspired by "The Wolf" - SIAMES)
OUTTA MY HEAD - left view
OUTTA MY HEAD - right view
SUMAYAW, SUMUNOD ("dance, follow") - gouache & ink bound by satin tape, 2025
binasuan panel (left)
tinikling panel (middle)
sayaw sa banko panel (right)
baybayin title & spanish colonial-era framework (front cover)
RUNNING 20K LEAGUES - gouache & ink bound with textured paper, 2025
RUNNING 20K LEAGUES - left view
RUNNING 20K LEAGUES - right view
RUNNING 20K LEAGUES - korean lyric from Hope World: "20k leagues under the sea" (back panel)
ANIMATIONS, ANIMATICS, & STORYBOARDS
HOPE WORLD
Animatic
Hope World is paired with a physical art piece.
It can be found in the Illustrations Gallery.
HIGHLIGHTS
Intro
Storyboards Ver. 1, pt. 1
Storyboards Ver 1., pt. 2
Story Revisions
Roughs, pt. 1
Roughs, pt. 2
Finished Animatic w/ Camera Testing
"Running 20k leagues under the sea"
Storyboards, pt. 1
Storyboards, pt. 2
Roughs, pt. 1
Roughs, pt. 2
Final Animation
HONOR & VALOR
Concept Video & Character Exploration
More about the Main 3 Characters here.
HIGHLIGHTS
Rotoscoped Strut Scene
Storyboards
Skeleton Test
Roughs, pt. 1
Roughs, pt. 2
Final Animation
"Dragoon Lookout"
Storyboards
Pose Reference
Rough Sketch (Still)
Roughs, pt. 2
Final Animation
ONLY ON YOUR TERMS
Animatic & Animation
(Content Warning: Blood, Violence, & Adult Language)
See more about the Main Character here.
"Can I make rent?
'Sure, and NOT MUCH ELSE!'"
"Argument" Thumbnails
"Truth" Thumbnails
Base Animation
Base Animation + Camera Test
Final Animation
Final Animation
"I'LL NEVER BE ENOUGH UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE'"
"Beatdown" Thumbnails, pt. 1
"Beatdown" Thumbnails, pt. 2
Roughs w/ Camera, pt. 1
Roughs w/ Camera, pt. 2
Final Animation
Final Animation
CHARACTER DESIGN
Iris Valor, the Oldest Brother
"Iris" - Draft 1
"Iris" - Draft 02
Iris - "No Cloak"
Lavender Valor, the Middle Child
"Lavender" - Draft 1
"Lavender" - Draft 02
Lavender - "Dressed Down"
Violet Valor, the Little Sister
"Violet" - Draft 1
"Violet" - Sketches
Violet - "Alternatives"
Full Trio/Duo
Valor Family Height Comparison
"Sibling Trio"
"Little Siblings"
Animation Tests
(content warnining for slight adult language)
"Renn (Kind Of)"
Concept 1
Concept 1.2
Concept 2
Concept 2.2
Concept 3
Concept 4
Extra Expression Doodle
Animation Test
Sass
Bust Turnaround
Early Sketches (1)
Early Sketches (2)
Final Drafts (1)
Final Drafts (2)
SKETCHBOOK
Miscellaneous Work that never had the chance to be fully rendered.
thumbnails
"arsonist" concept
"arsonist" design
animation test #1
animation test #2
ANIMATION REEL
See the work in detail Below:
ABOUT THE ARTIST
MEET THE ARTIST!
Dane Zalsos is an animator, storyboard artist, and writer based in the city of Glendale, California. Enamored by culture, and appreciative of history, she fell in love with both animated and live-action films of all eras.Commonly going by the nickname Renn, both as an online moniker and an artist name, Dane strives to tell the world how she sees it in her eyes. It is her mission to bring a heartfelt touch of her own to the screen, and she does this best by pushing the limits of movement.Renn's specialties lie with the Japanese term sakuga, a word which translates to "animation," but has garnered attention in the Western animation scene as anime became popularized. It is most often used to refer to high-action, well-produced animated scenes that are directed with exact precision. With this in mind, some of her best work involve 2D effects, storyboard and animatic work, and rough animation.Renn's mind is always working even when her hands aren't. In her free time, she can be found seeking inspiration through her favorite video games or analyzing her most beloved animated movies, anime shows, and TV series. If not studying digital media, Dane enjoys her downtime by rereading old favorite books, discovering new stories within the genre of fantasy/sci-fi, or exercising her own creative writing skills.
