Tag Archives: 3D Studio Max

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Jason Kruse

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Jason Kruse, Cartoonist/Animator

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was a swim instructor for a long time and a worker at Little Caesars but that’s about as crazy as it got.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Though it wasn’t critically well-received, my favorite project I worked on was animating everything in “Master of Orion 3”. A huge undertaking but I had so much creative freedom and got to animate aliens.

How did you become interested in animation?
I started drawing comic strips in college and after that decided to try some animation classes in Manhattan. After that I was hooked.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in Jersey. After college I basically begged my way into a small studio on the shore doing everything from inbetweens to cleanup to full-on animation and storyboards–it was awesome.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
Get up. Go to work or work on my reel and portfolio.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
The chance to be creative. It’s what drives Continue reading

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Tim Birks

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Tim Birks, I’ve recently finished working on Wizart Animation’s Snow Queen animated feature due for theatrical release on 31st December 2012.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was lucky enough to get my first animation gig whilst still in my 3rd year of university, however whilst studying at college and university I like to consider my dues to have been paid by stacking shelves at 5am and grafting throughout the summer breaks at various colleges, jobs included cutting down trees with a blunt saw and sweeping gutters!
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I was proud to have been a part of production on the CG animated TV series, Jellikins (or Jellabies as it was renamed for American TV), not only was this my first animation gig in the late 90’s but it was also the first CG animated TV series to be produced in the UK, seems like such a long time ago now!  More recently I’m proud to have been apart of animation production on ‘The Snow Queen’ feature, the Russian CG industry is still developing and they have overcome so many obstacles to get this film made on such a limited budget, the finished product is outstanding and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to help out.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Birmingham, UK.  I’ve always worked in the West Midlands, UK throughout my entire career so far, apart for a brief stint in London. The industry is very Continue reading
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Kenn McDonald

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http://vimeo.com/32092877

What is your name and your current occupation?
Kenn McDonald. I’m an animation supervisor for Dreamworks on the Dragons tv series.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I don’t know if I’ve had a truly crazy job. I’ve made pizza, served ice-cream and taught English in Japan. The coolest job outside animation I had was working at a fine art foundry that cast bronze statues. That was a gas.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Going way back to my 2d days I’d say Cat’s Don’t Dance. I love that movie and it was one of the best times I’ve had on a production. Some other high points would be Stuart Little 2, Beowulf, which was my first gig as a supervisor and Watchmen. I’m having a great time on Dragons now.

How did you become interested in animation?
That would go all the way back to sitting on my Dad’s lap while he drew for me. He’d draw a lot of superheroes and stuff like that. He still paints. From there I was Continue reading

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David M. Breaux Jr.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNaM74Znms
What is your name and your current occupation?
David M. Breaux Jr. Character / Creature Animator

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
First job was in a framing shop….boring more than crazy… but I did do two summers working as a sculptor one summer was making Mardi Gras floats… the other summer was making huge Mardi Gras themed sculptures for Casinos: Harrah’s, Luxor, and MGM Grand.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Garfield….yes Garfield, it was my first film…I worked on the postvis then was hired by Rhythm & Hues as an animator for the film. It was the most character work I had ever done at that point. Till the sequal. Tron Legacy..dream come true though I wished I had been on the show longer and had more shots. Real Steel was quite fun, I learned a lot about dealing with mocap at an entirely different level on that show.

How did you become interested in animation?
I had always liked cartoon growing up, and was always watching monster movies, Godzilla, King Kong, any Ray Harryhausen films, really anything that was Continue reading
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Liz Kupfer

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Elizabeth Kupfer: 3D animator/artist.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I got into animation straight out of college, so all my crazy job experiences happened while I was still in school. For 2 and a half years, I was a balloon girl at a party store. Let me tell you. People get very passionate about their balloons and crazy when they don’t get them as soon as they show up (even if there are 10 people in front of them). I have such patience for people in customer service because of my time put in at that party store. You wouldn’t believe how entitled people feel about their balloons.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Currently, my favorite projects are the video games I’ve worked on. It was a lot of fun working on and with each team. My favorites of these were Dance Central and Dance Central 2.

How did you become interested in animation?
I’ve always been interested in animation. Saturday morning cartoon child. But the real kick was Continue reading

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Dan Long

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Dan Long and I am a freelance animator currently working on the adventure game Cognition from Phoenix Online Studios and also on the web series Eight Bit Strange.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I have been a bouncer at a bar, a commercial fisherman, a race horse groom where I lived on the racetrack in a tack room, a telemarketer, a roof truss designer and builder, and tons of other jobs. So many that it’s really hard to recall them all.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I am really proud of Eight Bit Strange. I was brought on at the very end of the last episode so I only go to animate a few seconds in it, but the next “season” is in production right now and I got to animate, co-write and co-direct one of them and I hope that people think that it’s as funny as I think it is. Eight Bit is not about money, it’s about the love of animation and having fun animating.

How did you become interested in animation?
I got into it way late in life. I’m 42 now and just graduated Animation Mentor last year. I wanted to Continue reading