Mike Cachuela’s multi-cultural San Diego childhood meant gatherings around Grandpa’s Filipino Chicken Adobo, Aunt Gloria’s sublime tamales, or witnessing cabers tossed at Scottish games. His father’s Air Force career transplanted him from Vacaville, California to Montgomery, Alabama, Honolulu and Tokyo before landing at CalArts in 1988. At CalArts Mike studied story under Joe Ranft and animation with Chris Buck.
In 1991 Mike joined the story team on FernGully: The Last Rainforest. A newly-created Skellington Studios and Nightmare Before Christmas came next followed by a small nascent group called PIXAR in Point Richmond for Toy Story. James and Giant Peach, The Incredibles and Ratatouille followed. In 2004, Portland’s Vinton Studios brought him to Oregon where he became part of the founding creative team for LAIKA. He spent time there co-directing Coraline and developing his own projects.
Lectures and Workshops
2023 - Mentor - Visual Storytelling Camp at Hipbone Art Studio
2021 - Feature Story Lab Leader, Anomalia in The Czech Republic
2017 - Story Design Lecturer, Taiwan International Student Design Competition
2009 - Story Workshop, Anima Mundi - Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil
