Bob MacNeil - ABOUT

From Print to Pop Culture

I’m a traditionally trained illustrator who embraced the digital space in 1991, starting with Photoshop 1.5. In those days, I honed my skills as a production artist, graphic designer, and digital illustrator on a range of B2B projects before transitioning to working on high-profile brands like Popsicle. Working with Popsicle, I created the now-iconic Spider-Man ice pop that's been parodied in pop culture more than I care to acknowledge. However, seeing it make an appearance in the film "Into the Spider-Verse", in all of its melted glory, was something I did not expect.

Breaking Into Games & Animation

In 2002, I transitioned into gaming and animation, creating background and concept art for The Venture Brothers (Cartoon Network) and The Ambiguously Gay Duo (SNL’s TV Funhouse with J.J. Sedelmaier). I also produced pitch art for BioShock, which went on to win multiple awards and was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 greatest video games of all time.

Earning Global Attention

In 2011, I had the honor of seeing select works from my portfolio added to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) permanent database as part of a United Nations case study on artist copyright.

Redefining Slot Game Art

By 2012, I expanded my entertainment work into the casino industry, serving as lead artist and art director on more than 50 slot machine titles for IGT. Games such as Cats, Secrets of the Forest, and Golden Goddess became top performers, setting new creative benchmarks for the industry.

Riding the Startup Wave

While pursuing an opportunity at Pixar Studios, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and became involved in the startup gaming scene. As Creative Director at Playstudios, I developed content for the rapidly growing Facebook and mobile gaming market, with my work becoming a core part of the myVEGAS portfolio.

Expanding into Hollywood IP

In 2018, I relocated to Austin, TX, to continue working with Playstudios, where I led a partnership with NBC Universal that I helped secure. As Creative Director, I either directed or personally produced game content that was based on a variety of film and TV properties from Universal's historic catalog. Some titles included Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live', the classic show "The Munsters", and Telemundo's episodic series "El Sénor de los Cielos'. The series’ director liked the game so much that he featured it in an episode.

Marvel, Bollywood & Web3

After leaving Playstudios in 2019, I began creating consumer style guide imagery for Marvel Studios’ film and television properties, while also serving as Creative Director for the Bollywood-based casual game Bollywood Boss. In late 2021, I took on the creative direction for an unannounced Web3 platform game, collaborating with a team of veteran game developers.

Aristocrat Interactive

In 2023, I joined Aristocrat Interactive as an Art Director, leading a remote team in adapting top-performing Aristocrat slot titles into the digital real-money gaming space.

What I Bring to Every Project

Decades of cross-industry experience.
Proven creative leadership.
Hands-on artistry and execution.

Whether leading a team or working independently, I deliver vision, versatility, and measurable results.