Presenter

Sam Koji Hale is an Asian-American art director, animator and filmmaker. He was art director on the Nickelodeon show “Big Nate” for two seasons. Before Nickelodeon, he was a film director and production designer for the indie feature film “Yamasong: March of the Hollows.” He also produced over 30 puppet short films for IBEX Puppetry with artists from around the country, with a focus on telling stories of different people of different backgrounds.

Sam has actively participated on panels, workshops and gallery exhibits at Nickelodeon celebrating the diversity of artists and shows at the studio. He has participated in both the Nick Intern and Artist Programs, reviewing candidates with a focus on artist diversity. He moderated a panel of all Asian American Art Directors for Nick University and was an artist in the studio AAPI gallery show in 2023.

Sam’s creative work has been featured at UCLA’s Center for Ethno-Communications, the Museum of Moving Images in New York City, the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, and the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC.