why motiongnome?
why motiongnome?
alicia@modularstudio.tv
Alicia Gnomie Allen is an animator, creative director, and studio founder with a soft spot for playful, illustrative, and beautifully crafted things.
I've spent nearly two decades making animation, building creative teams, directing work, running studios, and occasionally getting my own hands dirty in After Effects. Today I'm a co-founder and Head of Operations at Modular, co-founder of Foreign Fauna, and adjunct faculty at MCAD.
My personal work tends to lean illustrative, playful, and unapologetically pretty. Through the studios I've helped build, my work is much broader- from brand campaigns and commercial animation to explainers, educational content, and complex visual storytelling.
Is my middle name really Gnomie? Maybe, maybe not. That’s just one more thing you’ll discover when we work together.
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MODULAR STUDIO
Co-Owner | Head of Operations
Apr 2025 - presentForeign Fauna
Co-Owner | Producer
Apr 2022 - presentMotion504
Operations
Oct 2021 - May 2022
Creative Director
Jan 2019 - Oct 2021Nice Moves MN
President
Jan 2019 - Dec 2021
Board Member
Jan 2016 - Jan 2019NEIGHBOR
Creative Director
Jun 2012 - April 2017Pixel Farm
Designer | Animator
Jan 2010 - May 2012Fischer Edit
After Effects | 3D Artist
Aug 2007 - Dec 2009 -
I first had the honor of being invited by Justin Cone to serve as a judge for Motionographer’s Motion Award in 2016, and I've been a part of it every year since. It’s been both a pleasure and a privilege to return annually and witness the incredible work produced by my exceptionally talented peers from across the globe.
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minnesotaelectronictheater.org
Scott Gaff took over the leadership of the Minnesota Electronic Theater (MET), originally established by the Twin Cities chapter of Siggraph, sometime in the 90s. I've been enthralled by his in-depth lectures on the history of computer graphics in the Twin Cities for nearly two decades. And so it was a privilege to join him alongside Emory Allen in 2019, working together to organize and contribute to MET's ongoing showcase of local talent.
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A Minneapolis-based animation and design studio built around collaboration, curiosity, and making really good work with really good people. I lead operations, production strategy, and increasingly, new business—while still jumping into the creative work when it calls for me.
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In 2017, Emory Allen and I co-founded Foreign Fauna, a creative endeavor brought to life even more with the addition of the talented Grace R. Within the first two years, our studio not only grew in revenue but also provided a platform to support and collaborate with other wildly talented artists in the Twin Cities, including Michael Van Swearingen and Natalia Poteryakhin.
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In 2012, I co-founded NEIGHBOR Animation with Rich Haesemeyer, Joe Russo, and Chad Retrum. The initial years were a whirlwind—crazy and stressful—but they taught me invaluable lessons about running a business, growing a team, and building long-term relationships with clients. I'm immensely proud of the work we created and the wonderful experience it provided. Ultimately, it also taught me an important lesson about moving on when the fit is no longer right, rounding out a deeply educational chapter in my professional life.
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When I graduated in 2007, while many of my peers headed to the coasts where opportunities abounded, I chose to stay put, convinced that great work could flourish in the Midwest as well. My belief in this potential was put into action in 2016 when I co-founded Nice Moves. Alongside Mike Nelson, Andy Lefton, Emory Allen, and Mike Zugschwert, I invested my time and resources into creating a platform that would elevate and showcase the creative talent in our region.