Rick Thiele

Rick Thiele is an award-winning director known for character-driven work that combines strong emotional storytelling with bold visual ideas.

He began his career in animation as a CG artist, progressing through roles as CG Supervisor and Art Director before moving into directing. He later co-founded the independent animation studio Red Knuckles, built around a deep respect for the craft of animation and the artists behind it.

Working across 2D, 2.5D, 3D and stop motion, Rick and Red Knuckles have created work spanning commercials, music, film, television and live entertainment. Their projects have received numerous international accolades, including the Cannes Lions Grand Prix and Gold Lion, ADC Gold, Kinsale Sharks awards, as well as festival recognition for original short films including Dark Noir and Strange Beasts.

Rick directed Apple TV+’s The Velveteen Rabbit, which went on to win two Emmy Awards and a BAFTA. He also directed all animated sequences for Universal Pictures’ Iron Maiden documentary Burning Ambition, alongside more than two hours of original screen content created for Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary world tour.

More recently, Rick has been developing and directing longer-form work across television and feature projects, while continuing to bring the same cinematic, character-led approach to commercials and branded films.

Awards

2025
The Velveteen Rabbit
BAFTA Award for Children’s Craft Team

2023
MIRAL - Make it Memorable
Bronze Kinsale Shark for Film Craft - Character Design
Silver Kinsale Shark for Film Craft - Character Animation

The Velveteen Rabbit
Children’s & Family Emmy Awards - Best Fiction Special

2021
Pennington’s Obecity
Silver Kinsale Shark for Film Craft - Character Animation

2017
The Girl and The Cloud - Co-Directors
Bronze Kinsale Shark for Film Craft

2016
Project Literacy - Directors
Gold Lion Health & Wellness at Cannes Lions
Grand Prix Health & Wellness at Cannes Lions
Wood Pencil / D&AD Awards

2015
Absolut Dark Noir - Creative Directors
GOLD at ADC Awards
Official Selection at Annecy
Vimeo Staff Picks

Publications

2026
Iron Maiden Burning Ambition
https://www.davidreviews.com/News/Iron_Maiden_Burning_Ambition/

Iron Maiden 50th Anniversary Tour Visuals:
https://shots.net/news/view/how-partizan-helped-bring-iron-maiden-and-eddie-to-life-on-stage
https://blabbermouth.net/news/partizan-studio-powers-iron-maidens-50th-anniversary-across-stage-and-screen
https://www.adobomagazine.com/campaign-spotlight/iron-maiden-celebrates-50-years-with-immersive-visuals-by-partizan-studio/
https://chaoszine.net/partizan-studio-partners-with-iron-maiden-for-run-for-your-lives-tour-and-documentary/
https://wdhafm.com/2026/05/12/iron-maiden-documentary-opens-with-animation-from-partizan-studio-for-50th-anniversary/

2019
Pilgrim’s Choice
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/pilgrims-choice-dishes-dreams-above-beyond/1592952
https://adsofbrands.net/en/news/above-beyond-and-yonder-create-more-cheesy-dreams-for-pilgrims-choice/1009
https://marcommnews.com/abovebeyond-and-yonder-create-more-cheesy-dreams-for-pilgrims-choice/
https://www.adsoftheworld.com/media/film/pilgrims_choice_dishes_of_your_dreams
https://fabnews.live/abovebeyond-and-yonder-create-more-cheesy-dreams-for-pilgrims-choice/

2018
Peperami
https://lbbonline.com/news/rick-mario-direct-peperamis-the-animal-is-back-campaign-for-atomic/
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/peperami-brothers-mother-atomic/1498580
https://www.thedrum.com/creative-works/project/atomic-peperami-brother-another-mother
https://lbbonline.com/news/from-animal-to-gym-bro-peperamis-back-and-meatier-than-ever/
https://lbbonline.com/news/the-peperami-animal-returns-with-friends-in-tongue-in-cheek-sports-ad/
https://www.shots.net/news/view/peperami-meats-the-movies

VOXI
https://lbbonline.com/news/this-voxi-ad-from-partizans-rick-mario-is-simply-thumb-believable/
http://www.davidreviews.tv/Work/Voxi_Thumbs/
https://shots.net/news/view/rick-mario-direct-animated-thumbs-commercial-for-voxi

2016
Girl and the Cloud
http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2016/three-perfect-surprise/
Project Literacy
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/pearson-project-literacy-fcb-inferno/1384933
https://lbbonline.com/news/fcb-inferno-launches-alphabet-of-illiteracy-for-project-literacy/
https://adage.com/creativity/work/alphabet-illiteracy/45613
https://www.adsoftheworld.com/media/digital/project_literacy_the_alphabet_of_illiteracy
http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2016/alphabet-of-illiteracy/

2015
LocoDice
https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2015/10/28/loco-dice-sending-one-out-rick-thiele-mario-ucci/37575