Michael Hanan was born in Los Angeles to parents who were artists—one a painter and animator, the other a sculptor and art teacher. Michael was a nationally ranked gymnast at UCLA while completing majors in history and political theory. He began his vocation in animation and soon became absorbed in visual effects. In his early career, he considered himself fortunate to know and work with Bill Creeber, Harold Michelson, and Mentor Huebner. Richard Sylbert, a multi-Academy-Award-winning Production Designer, made him an Art Director. He soon became the production designer for the visually pioneering television series MIAMI VICE during its 1987-88 season.
In the 90’s, Michael and legendary film director John Frankenheimer collaborated on seven projects, Hanan with roles as designer and 2nd unit director. After many more movies, miniseries, and television shows, including RONIN, BLOW, GODS AND GENERALS, and SERAPHIM FALLS, Hanan designed the new 25-acre Disney back lot in Santa Clarita. He designed CSI: NY, CALIFORNICATION, MOB DOCTOR, JUSTIFIED, and numerous pilots. His most recent television work includes the permanent sets for the series SALEM(2013), and TUT(2014), which broke all viewing records for the Spike television network.
Michael won an Emmy for early visual effects work, an Emmy nomination and the Cable Ace award for his work on ANDERSONVILLE, and the ADG award and a Cable Ace nominationfor GEORGE WALLACE. In 2015, Hanan received an ADG nomination for his work on TUT. He’s garnered many awards and nominations for his work on commercials and music videos.
Hanan is known for his ability to work in many settings, historical periods, styles, and narrative structures, and for his facility in translating complex ideas into visual reality.