He moved to Los Angeles in 1987. He became creative director at MetroLight Studios, working on visual effects, animated TV series, and video games.
He attended Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1981 and a master's in 1989. In 1983 he joined Cranston/Csuri Productions (later ACCAD), where he designed computer animation for ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO, and ESPN.
He and Karen Disher were set to direct the Blue Sky animated movie musical Foster, but it was canceled because of the Disney/Fox acquisition.