Daniel Langhjelm is a seasoned CG Artist and Educator with a passion for bringing imagined worlds to life. With over five years working in Unreal Engine for film, he specializes in worldbuilding, environment creation, and realtime virtual production pipelines.
A core instructor at CG Pro for the past three years, Daniel has also taught at Vancouver Film School’s Connector Program and served as a Technical Director for Epic Games’ Worldbuilding Fellowships — shaping the next generation of storytellers through accessible, realtime filmmaking education.
What truly sets Daniel apart is his passion for teaching. At the heart of his educational philosophy is the belief that creative technology should be accessible to all, no matter their background or where they live. During the CG Pro x Windward Community College Unreal for Filmmakers program, Daniel led with a confidence-first, culturally mindful teaching approach.
“The spark of realization that ‘I can do this’ was the driving force behind the program’s design,” Daniel explains. “From an educator’s perspective, my goal is to make creative technology education accessible to people from all walks of life. It’s not just about what we teach — it’s about evolving how we teach so that this knowledge is attainable and usable.”
Daniel’s career as a CG artist and Unreal Engine specialist has spanned an eclectic mix of creative projects, from feature films and animated shorts to music videos, fan projects, and virtual production education initiatives.
He has contributed to:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27714946/mediaviewer/rm3942344961/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
🎶 Music Videos & Commercial Work
Creative Tools:
Unreal Engine | Blender | ZBrush | DaVinci Resolve | Photoshop | Adobe Substance Suite
At the heart of the CGPro Unreal Engine for Filmmakers program was Daniel Langhjelm, a seasoned CG artist and educator with nearly two decades of experience in world building, environment creation, and realtime filmmaking. Beyond his technical expertise, what truly defines Daniel is his deep passion for teaching and empowering the next generation of storytellers.
Daniel shared in the program’s case study. His approach is grounded in demystifying complex creative technologies and fostering confidence through achievable, hands-on learning. From his time teaching at Vancouver Film School to leading CG Pro’s virtual courses, Daniel believes that creative education should be accessible, inclusive, and transformative.
He emphasizes the value of culturally rooted mentorship and making sure no student feels lost in the process. “I wanted students to leave every session feeling like, ‘I made something cool today.’ That momentum is what keeps them coming back and believing this could be their future.”
Reflecting on the purpose behind cloud-based programs like this, Daniel noted:
“Removing access barriers unlocks potential. Many students started the course unsure if this path was even possible. Now they’re confidently launching careers.”
While Daniel’s own workflow typically involves powerful local rigs, he’s become a passionate advocate for cloud-based education and virtual studio platforms. In the SIGGRAPH 2025 BOF case study, Daniel witnessed how CenterGrid’s realtime VFX datacenter in Ohio streamed high-performance Unreal Engine workstations over 4,400 miles to students in Hawaiʻi — delivering seamless, professional-grade performance on personal laptops.
👉 Read the case study here: Island Creatives, Global Careers: An Education Case Study in Remote Realtime Filmmaking
“Cloud classrooms are the great equalizer,” Daniel shares. “Students don’t need the latest gaming PC or live near a tech campus. All they need is a laptop and internet.”
For his students, cloud workstations removed longstanding barriers and gave them a path into professional creative careers from their own communities — a mission Daniel is deeply committed to expanding.
“A huge opportunity here is being able to give students access to software and hardware-intensive programs without requiring schools to buy expensive computers. Cloud technology made this possible, and CenterGrid’s system was smooth and easy for students to onboard. It’s a model I think other regions should absolutely be looking at.”
What Daniel loves most about his creative work is the process itself — the meditative rhythm of moving from concept to final render. “Painting with light, texturing, look development — those moments of immersion feel like meditation,” he says.
His advice to fellow artists:
“The creative journey is a marathon. You may walk while others sprint, but if you stay consistent, you’ll reach your goal. Find value in failure and stop comparing yourself to others — it’s your path, your pace.”
Daniel will be joining us in multiple spots this year at SIGGRAPH:
✨ Cloud Classrooms Without Borders BOF Panel — where he’ll discuss democratizing realtime filmmaking education and the impact of cloud-powered creative tools.
🎨 CenterGrid Booth #511 — come by to meet Daniel in person, see realtime demos, and chat about Unreal workflows, virtual production education, and worldbuilding.
🌺 Education Open Cloud Networking Event — Daniel will also connect with fellow educators, students, and cloud innovators to share ideas about building more accessible, inclusive creative pipelines.
Follow his journey: Daniel Langhjelm on LinkedIn
