Sara Stockdale
About Sara Stockdale
Sara Stockdale is a Senior Puppet Coordinator at LAIKA Studios, where she has worked since 2022. With a background in animation and illustration, she has held various roles in puppet production and project management across several companies, including BACTES Imaging Solutions and GuideSpark.
Current Role at LAIKA Studios
Sara Stockdale serves as a Senior Puppet Coordinator at LAIKA Studios, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she is responsible for managing various aspects of puppet production, including ensuring the timely delivery of stage-ready puppets. She collaborates closely with Character Project Managers and works independently to support puppet builds. Her responsibilities also include providing backup assistance to the Puppet Production Supervisor in organizing and executing theater reviews and coordinating Director reviews.
Previous Experience in Puppet Production
Before her current role, Sara Stockdale worked at LAIKA Studios as a Puppet Coordinator from 2021 to 2022 and as a Puppet Production Assistant from 2019 to 2021. Throughout her time at LAIKA, she has developed skills in managing server file structures, organizing departmental communications, and assisting in the creation of overscale puppet parts. Her experience in puppet production has been instrumental in her career progression within the studio.
Career Background in Media and Production
Sara Stockdale has a diverse background in media and production. She worked as an Associate Producer at GuideSpark for three months in 2018 and completed a six-month internship as a Game Production Intern at GSN (TV & Games) from 2014 to 2015. Additionally, she served as an ROI Specialist at BACTES Imaging Solutions from 2015 to 2017. These roles contributed to her understanding of production processes and project management.
Education and Qualifications
Sara Stockdale earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Animation/Illustration from San Jose State University, where she studied from 2008 to 2015. This educational background provided her with foundational skills in animation and illustration, which have been essential in her roles within the puppet production industry.
Early Career at San Jose State University
Before entering the media and production field, Sara Stockdale worked at San Jose State University (Spartan Shops, Inc.) in various capacities. She served as Lead I Supervisor from 2008 to 2013 and Lead III from 2013 to 2014. In these roles, she managed server file structures and ensured efficient departmental communications, which helped her develop organizational skills applicable in her later positions.