Thomas Stellmach – Biography

Born in 1965 in Straubing, I developed an early interest in arts and crafts, creating paintings and models as a child. I received multiple federal prizes in national painting competitions.

My passion for filmmaking was sparked in the 1980s by the Star Wars movies, which fascinated me with their visual effects, storytelling, and imaginative worlds. Inspired by these science fiction classics, I began exploring how to bring my own ideas to life through animation.

In 1982, I discovered animation filmmaking as my creative medium. Before starting my animation studies under Professor Paul Driessen at the Kassel College of Art in 1988, I had already created nine Super-8 films and one 16mm film. These early animated shorts earned numerous awards at international film festivals for non-professional filmmakers.

During my studies, I produced six more animated films. In 1996, I produced the stop-motion film Quest with Tyron Montgomery. The film won the OSCAR® for Best Animated Short Film in 1997, bringing international recognition to our work.

In addition to the Academy Award®, I received the Goethe Plaque of the State of Hesse for outstanding cultural contributions and the Honorary Award from the Federal Association of Film and AV Producers as one of Germany’s most promising young animation filmmakers.

After completing my artistic degree in 1999, I co-founded the animation studio “Lichthof, Film & Animation” in Kassel. There, I produced animated films for advertising agencies, television broadcasters, and music labels.

Since 2009, I have been focusing on creating my own artistic animated short films, combining different techniques and storytelling formats.

I have also been actively teaching animation workshops for young people and adults since 1996. In my Animated Film Show, in German called Trickfilm-Show, I present and discuss my short films. I also initiate Spinning Animation Shows using historical devices like Zoetropes and organize exhibitions related to my film work.

My experience spans a wide range of animation techniques, including traditional cartoon animation, stop-motion, pixilation, experimental ink animation, and 3D computer animation.

I live and work in Kassel, Germany.

Discover my interviews, full filmography, and a gallery of photos and production insights.