Daniel Arriaga joined Pixar Animation Studios in May 2001 as a Production Assistant in simulation & Effects on "Monster's Inc." and soon became the Production Assistant on the Academy Award winning "The Incredibles." He transitioned over to the art department as a Sketch Artist on Academy Award-winning "Ratatouille" contributing to the character and set designs. He continued in the art department on other award winning feature films "WALL•E," "Up" and became Character Art Director for "Toy Story 3."

In 2009, Arriaga began working with Walt Disney Animation as a Visual Development Artist on "Wreck-It-Ralph," and as an Art Director for "Prep and Landing 2." In 2011, he reunited with Pixar as a character designer on Academy Award-winning "Inside Out," and recently served as the Character Art Director on the studio's original film, "Coco" for which he won an Annie. As of May 6th 2019, he started working freelance for various studios including Illumination, Warner Bros and Netflix among others. He is currently now working on a feature film being created by Kuku Studios.

Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Arriaga studied art and illustration at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. He currently resides in Dublin, CA, with his family and his two beautiful beagles and cat.