Darko Tomicic

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Darko Tomicic. I am 2D and 3D animator and animation director on clips for Croatian National Television.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?

I worked as accountant in meat factory, and occasionally as security officer between two animation projects.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?

I enjoyed working on animated series Mr. Bean in Varga Studio Budapest, but I was even happier to work on Tom Jones musical video Give a Little Love. I animated several scenes, designed some characters and almost all old model cars that appear in the clip. Since I am a huge fan of 40’s and 50’s music and lifestyle I enjoyed a lot designing and animating cars from that period.
Regarding „proud to have been a part of“ I am proud every time people whom I worked for previously and were satisfied with my work call me again for their next project.

How did you become interested in animation? 

As a kid I loved comics and cartoons (don’t remember what was first) and spent most of my free time drawing.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?

I am from Zagreb, Croatia. I worked as accountant for three and a half years. I hated it and felt just as Joe ( Tom Hanks) at the beginning of Joe Versus the Volcano movie. One day I left my desk and decided to do what I really like since I was a kid – drawing cartoons. Studio Croatia Film from Zagreb had open positions, I applied and in a few days was there doing inbetweens.

 What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job? 

As a freelancer I don’t have usual routine how I work, each project that I am starting is completely different from previous one. My day starts with huge cup of Turkish coffee in the morning( what happens before that cup I have no idea).  After coffee I work in my studio which is in my house. Usually on Cintiq and Toon Boom, although on some projects I do traditional animation with good old-fashioned paper with peg holes.  I usually work all day with breaks for lunch, getting my kid from kindergarten, having coffee or beer with friends outside.

http://vimeo.com/29195448
What part of your job do you like best? Why? 

Drawing. Cause I just like it so much.

What part of your job do you like least? Why? 

Since I am a freelancer I work with lot of people on different projects. I hate when someone, before the rates are set, tries to convince me that the project is „very simple and easy, almost nothing“ which means that they just want to pay as little as possible. It usually turns out to be a complex and time-consuming project with no end.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?

I mostly use Wacom Cintiq, Toon Boom Animate Pro, Photoshop After Effects and Autodesk Maya.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business? 

There is no long-term project as in steady job. I have to compete for every new project/client. There comes the time where there are no projects for few weeks and then suddenly three super extra urgent projects pop up at the same time. Unfortunately, in Croatia there are currently no studios that make features or TV series so all the jobs I can get in Croatia are short term projects that should have be finished yesterday .

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?

Thanks to Internet, I don’t have to travel much. In Zagreb Film I met one of the forefathers of Croatian animators Mr. Dusan Vukotic, who won Oscar in 1962 for best animated short. Substitute . Also, while I was working in Budapest I met Csaba Varga, one of most important European animators.  Last summer on 3d character animation masterclasses I had a unique opportunity to have teachers that actually have shaped the form and standards in 3d art and industry in last decade and a half. It was Michele Meeker  from Animation Mentor, Andy Schmidt and Rich Quade from Pixar and last but not least Keith Lango from Valve.

Describe a tough situation you had in life. 

Not working on any project for three months. I just do not know what to do with all that free time I am not used to have.

Any side projects or you’re working on or hobbies you’d like to share details of?

I collect vinyl record from 40’s and 50’s (jump’n’jive, rythm’n’blues and 50’s rock’n’roll).
I still have some clothes in 50’s style that I used to wear but they shrunk too much lately. It happens when you spend whole day sitting and drawing.

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?

I can say words and sentences backwards without thinking, but till now I did not find any use for that.

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?  

You have to REALLY love what you do and never stop learning. Never be completely satisfied with your drawings and thrive for better. And, of course, there’s always somebody who is better than you, but if you’re sure you’ve done your best, you will have nothing to feel sorry for.

http://www.darkotomicic.com/index_eng.html

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One Comment

  1. Just for your entertainment here is my web series called Wise Hit…Comedy has never been this dangerous! http://www.koldcast.tv/show/wise-hit

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