Debbie Bonzon


What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Debbie Bonzon and I am currently working as a free-lance timer, storyboard artist, illustrator.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’ve worked as a bread deliverer to stores and restaurants, landscaper, farmer, drywaller, caterer, bicycle and running gear salesperson, advertising sales, and as an illustrator for demonstrative evidence in the courtroom.What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Most recently I am very proud to have worked as a timer on the “Curious George”  tv series, 2nd movie and Christmas Special.  Also, the Rugrat feature movies were a blast.  At Warner Bros.  I really enjoyed storyboarding on “Pinky and the Brain” and timing on “Freakazoid”.    At Nickelodeon, I really liked timing on “Cat Scratch” and directing on “Oswald”.   Also, storyboarding on the “Tick” was a kick!  As an animator, many years ago, I really enjoyed working on the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series in Dublin. 

http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Debbie-reel.mov

How did you become interested in animation?
In high school, I wanted to work at Disney.  I loved animation, mostly the Warner Bros. shorts!
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in Albuquerque NM and grew up in Los Alamos, NM (the atomic city).   After attending a few different universities trying to find a major that could land me a “real job” and I realized, like it or not, that I was an art enthusiast, I completed my BFA at the University of NM.  I had looked at the brochures from Cal-Arts, but, was intimidated by the photographs of other students, who were way cooler than I ever was or wanted to be, I began to look for something here in Albuquerque after I graduated.  There was a small studio that produced commercials for clients around the world and after 2 weeks of graduating, I put on my best outfit and “stopped by” to see if they needed any help.    When I entered the front office, I noticed they didn’t have a receptionist and thought I could do that.  As I waited for someone to come to the front, the owner of the company passed by, stopped, and asked if he could help me.  I told him I had just graduated and would love to work for them doing whatever they needed.    He said I could work in the paint dept. (cell painting!)  They paid minimum wage, at that time $3.35/hour!  I didn’t care, I actually felt I Continue reading

Gregory Hinde

http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bp_reel_2.mov
What is your name and your current occupation?
Gregory Hinde, Music Composer www.GregoryHinde.com

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked for an industrial air-conditioner company cleaning ducts by climbing through them. Some of them were as long as 450 feet but only 2 feet high and 3 feet wide. I kept thinking what if I get stuck?!

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I started in the production side of animation and some of my favorite projects were Roger Rabbit and Little Mermaid at Disney Feature. I also worked as a checker on “Animaniacs” and “Pinky and the Brain” for WBTV before I started composing full time. My training is as a classical musician. Being a part of production really helped me understand the process of animation and the importance of telling a story with the music I write. I’m proud of the score and song work I did, along with Drew Neumann, on “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” at Cartoon Network and the final season of “The Wild Thornberrys”. Recently I’ve been composing for Continue reading

Mike Collins

 

What is your name and your current occupation?

Mike Collins.  I’m a digital clean-up artist.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?I don’t know about crazy but I worked at the swing shift at Kinko’s to put myself through college.  I was also an assistant inker to Sean Parsons of Roughhouse Ink.  It was unpaid and I got no credit in the comics but the experience was invaluable.  It was a lot of fun working with someone who became one of my best friends.  And it helped prepare me for clean up work.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?I’ve really enjoyed working on all of them.  But I’d have to geek-out and say The Powerpuff Girls 10th Anniversary Special and Sym-Bionic Titan due to being able to work with my animation idols Craig McCracken and Genndy Tartakovsky.  So cool!

How did you become interested in animation?When I was 10 years old, I remember walking out of a movie theater in Colorado Springs, CO after seeing Who Framed Roger Rabbit and thinking Continue reading

Vito Viscomi

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
Vito Viscomi – Writer/Story Editor and Partner at Slap Happy Cartoons.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I used to walk around in women’s shoes as an assistant Foley Artist. Oh, and I used to stuff animals.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Jackass, The Tom Green Show, The Vacant Lot, Fin shorts for the Vancouver Canucks, Kid VS Kat, League of Super Evil… and a few other future projects.

How did you become interested in animation?
I grew up watching Warner Bros. cartoons.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Born in Italy, grew up in Toronto. Was into sketch comedy and got a call about the possibility of writing for Studio B productions in Vancouver and immediately fell in love with the freedom animation allows.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
Usually deal with emails about projects, then collect notes, handle revisions, the occasional conference call with producers/creators/networks, assign scripts and revision notes, edit scripts, write and rewrite.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
Writing a first outline/draft. As a writer, it’s usually the most fun because there are few Continue reading

Keith Baxter

What is your name and your current occupation?
Keith Baxter. Story Artist for Reel Fx

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Janitor at a department store and lead guitarist for an 80’s power pop band.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Songs for Flushed Away. Theme song for The Mask TV series. Story for Greedy Grizzly section of Scrambled Ink, Sidekick Shorts project for Dreamworks which was never completed, especially the Over The Hedge Love Story mashup.

How did you become interested in animation?
Looney Tunes and Disney movies from when I was a kid and the Continue reading

Rich Arons


What is your name?
Rich Arons
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Directing/Producing/writing on Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid, Biker Mice. Lately I’m having fun making cartoons on youtube and developing new properties.

What would you say has been your primary job in animation?
Directing/Producing (ha! I snuck in 2 jobs)

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I scrubbed toilets at a miniature golf course, made sandwiches at Arby’s and cleaned school desks. I even studied to be a lousy auto mechanic once. I failed.

How did you become interested in animation?
Watching Bugs Bunny on TV as a little kid got me into it. I remember asking my mom, “what do they call those guys who draw those cartoons,” when I was about six, because I had to write a paper on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wish she had said “billionaire” instead of  “animator.”

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in NYC and made a lot of flip books as a kid. I went to art school back east and then went to the Disney School at Cal Arts for college. I was also lucky enough to study under the great Ben Washam when he taught animation from his Continue reading