Michael Patterson

Who is Michael Patterson?

Michael Patterson is an American experimental film artist, teacher, and a commercial film director specializing in TV spots and music videos. He currently teaches animation at the Division of Animation and Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His best known character is MC Skat Kat.

After graduate studies with Jules Engel at CalArts, Mike was brought to the attention of record executives with his Student Academy Award winning animated short 'Commuter'. Employing his unmistakable drawing style, he began his career in music videos in 1985. He and his wife Candace Reckinger were driving forces behind the early days of MTV. Winners of an MTV award for the animation in a-ha's groundbreaking video for "Take On Me" and "Train of Thought", they went on to animate and direct Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". "Opposites" was nominated for 6 MTV awards and won the Grammy for best music video of the year. The couple also directed videos for Sting, Suzanne Vega, Roy Orbison, Wilson-Phillips, Ian Hunter, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, and Go West among others.