Michael Buffington Jr. is a veteran concept artist, educator, and art director with over two decades of experience in the video game, animation, and film industries. Known for his ability to bridge high-level creative vision with hands-on production expertise, Michael has contributed to several notable projects, including serving as a Designer at Lucasfilm Animation on Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Season 3) and as In-House Designer and Props Supervisor on the animated feature film Alpha & Omega.

Over the past decade, Michael has made an equally profound impact in education. As the Department Head of Concept Art in the School of Game Development at the Academy of Art University, he built both the BFA and MFA programs from the ground up, developing more than 20 courses based on his unique philosophy of “Skill Building & Application.” His leadership helped establish the Academy’s Concept Art program as a global leader, earning the distinction of #1 in the United States for Concept Art by The Rookies, and ranking #3 in the world in 2019 and #5 in 2020.

Michael has also worked in the blockchain gaming space, serving as Lead Concept Artist for the upcoming game SkateX, where he fused his passion for cryptocurrency and game development to help shape a visually compelling, Web3-driven experience. Most recently, he is the Art Director at Gambit Games, collaborating on a high-profile IP in partnership with Mattel.

Beyond production and academia, Michael is the founder of Drawaholics Anonymous, an online drawing community dedicated to building confidence, discipline, and artistic growth through daily practice and mentorship. Since its inception in 2017, the community has inspired hundreds of artists around the world, fostering connection, accountability, and personal transformation.

Passionate about storytelling, mentorship, and visual design, Michael is dedicated to helping artists reach their potential—whether in the classroom, in the studio, or through community engagement. His career is defined not only by the quality of his work, but by his unwavering commitment to inspiring, empowering, and elevating the next generation of creators.