Introducing Roxanne Ducharme

A Journey Through Animation, AI, and the Future of Digital Storytelling

Some people fall into animation. Others, like Roxanne Ducharme, follow a passion that takes them around the world, across industries, and into the future of storytelling. After 40 years in animation, working on everything from feature films to video games, Roxanne has seen firsthand how the industry has evolved—and now, she’s joining Avatars Global as our Media Art Director and as an Advisor to help shape the next chapter of AI-driven animation.

From Hand-Drawn Frames to AI-Driven Avatars

Roxanne’s journey started at Concordia University in Montreal, where she studied cinema before jumping headfirst into the animation world. Her early career took her from TV series in Montreal to lip-sync animation in Japan, then on to London’s bustling SoHo studios, where she worked on American Tail and high-end commercials.

She later moved to France, where she worked on Asterix and the Big Fight, then returned to Canada, working across documentaries, video games, short-form TV, and feature animation. One of her proudest achievements? Animating on The Village, a short film that went on to earn an Academy Award nomination.

But even with a career spanning traditional animation, directing, and concept art, Roxanne has never been one to stand still. Two years ago, she pivoted to AI. With the film industry shifting, she saw an opportunity to explore how AI could enhance creativity rather than replace it.

Why Avatars Global?

After meeting the team at Avatars Global, Roxanne knew she had found a place where her experience, curiosity, and love for pushing artistic boundaries could come together. She had always wanted to learn 3D modeling, and Avatars Global offered a chance to not only explore that but to help lead the charge in AI-powered animation.

“I love experimenting with AI,” she says. “Sometimes I have an idea, and I like to use AI as a collaborator—to help brainstorm, to storyboard, to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

That mindset is exactly why she’s the perfect fit for Avatars Global. Her expertise in art direction, character animation, and visual storytelling will help us elevate our content layer and ensure that our avatars aren’t just interactive—they’re expressive, immersive, and deeply engaging.

The Future of AI in Animation

Roxanne has seen trends come and go, but she’s particularly excited about how AI is evolving in 3D animation. The way camera controls are improving, the sophistication of AI-generated cinematography, and the potential for AI-driven filmmaking all point to an industry that is shifting faster than ever before.

While she believes AI isn’t quite ready to handle full cartoon animation, she sees its potential in other areas—like real-time rendering, avatar-driven storytelling, and intelligent camera work.

And it’s not just theoretical—Roxanne is already making waves in AI filmmaking. She recently competed in the Escape.ai Film Awards, placing third in two separate categories, beating out some of the best AI filmmakers in the space.

What’s Next?

With Roxanne on board, Avatars Global is more ready than ever to push the limits of AI-driven animation and digital avatars. Her experience, combined with her willingness to experiment with new tools, will help ensure our content isn’t just cutting-edge—it’s compelling, beautifully designed, and built to connect with audiences in a whole new way.