Professor Gómez is a Colombian native. He worked in his native country as a graphic designer and received the National Graphic Design Award from the Culture Ministry, an award given by the Colombian President in 1994. Rodrigo holds a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the National University of Colombia and a master's degree in Computer Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

Prof. Gómez worked for over 14 years for Mattel/Fisher-Price, Inc. as a producer and director of animated cartoons for children, corporate videos, and commercials. Rodrigo became a US citizen in 2018.

He is passionate about the creative process of animation and the search for new stories to create innovative visuals. He enjoys working with students to explore their most creative ideas while striving for the highest quality. He is the author of the children's book Milly and Roots, The Headscarf. He is the producer of a mini web series on autism titled "Percy Talks." He co-directed the Virtual Reality short film "What Took You So Long," which received the US Broadcast Educators Association - Best of Festival Interactive Media Award 2021. Prof. Gomez is the current manager of the MT IMAGINE Animation Studio.

Rodrigo Gómez Claros is married with two teenage children. He enjoys art and sports, especially soccer.

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Animated filmography:

• What Took You So Long - VR animated short. What Took You So Long  2021

• Milly & Roots - The Headscarf - children's book and animated pilot. Milly & Roots 2020

• Producer of "Percy Talks" animated interviews of autistic children. Percytalks.com 2016 - 2023

• Laugh and Learn – animated web series 2012 - 2014

• Imaginext Ed Venture - web series. 2013

• Little People - Direct to DVD – web episodes. 2010.

• Precious Places - Direct to DVD – web series. 2008.

• Heroes of Imaginext - Direct to DVD series – web series. 2008 -2010.

• Planet Heroes - Direct to DVD series. 2006 -2007

• Three Stories Toward Creation - Animated short film. February, 2002.

• The Prey - Animated short film. February, 2001.

• Senseless - Animated short film May, 2000.

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• Broadcast Educators Association - Best of Festival Interactive Media Award 2021 USA
  • What Took You So Long
• Global Shorts Winner - 2019
  • Percy Talks
• IndieFest Film Awards - Winner 2019
  • Percy Talks
• Best Director IndoGlobal International Film Fest 2019
  • Percy Talks
• Top Shorts Film Festival - Winner 2019
• Story Monsters Award - 2019 -  Cultural Diversity Category
  • Milly and Roots, The Headscarf
• Mom Choice Awards - 2020
  • Milly and Roots, The Headscarf
• Second place at the KidScreen Summit Awards 2012 USA
  Best Pre-school show category - Imaginext Serpent ship- episode - Fisher-Price, Inc.
• Fisher-Price Inc. Internal Eddie Award. 2006
  Planet Heroes animation
• Silver Telly Award, 2004 - "PopOnz" animation
• Honors Show, Rochester Institute of Technology 2002
  Best animated short – MFA Rochester - New York . USA
• Bronze award at the Kalamazoo Animation Festival 2002
  Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. “Three Stories Toward Creation” short
• Third place at the SMPTE and RAVA Rochester animation Competition
  Animated production: La Presa (The Prey) 2001. Rochester –New York . USA
• Fundación para el Futuro de Colombia “COLFUTURO”
  Sponsored sholarship Awarded in Bogotá, Colombia. 1999
• Winner of the Colombian Graphic Design Award 1994
  “Shield for the Amazon State”. Colcultura - Department of Culture of Colombia. 1994
  Award given by the President of the Republic of Colombia
• First place public speaking contest - Humorous Speech
  Toastmasters International, District 65. 2007.

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