Alen Esmaelian

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Alen Esmaelian and I work as a Background, Prop, and Character designer at Rough Draft Studios.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Nothing out of the ordinary. I’ve been working in this industry for 6 years and prior to that, I used work for Pizza Hut as a customer service representative (fancy way of saying that I used to take customer orders over the phone).

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Without a doubt, my proudest moment was working on Futurama alongside the very talented crew at Rough Draft Studios. I was particularly proud to see my finished designs for Bender’s robot monastery on episode nine of this current season.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in Tehran, Iran but I’ve lived in the Los Angeles area (San Fernando Valley) since I was two. I started to exhibit a love for animation and design at the tender age of 5, when I used to Continue reading

Tuna Bora

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What is your name and your current occupation?
I work as a visual development artist (sometimes only as a color stylist) and character designer for projects in games, animation and commercials.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I did an internship as a personal assistant for a fashion designer named Bahar Korcan. Since I moved to the States for college and stayed, I wasn’t able to pursue anything outside the limits of my degree.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
It’s really more about the people I work with for me, but if I were to look back as individual projects I’d probably say the 30ft digital display on top of Target HQ in Minneapolis, the interactive Rome music video by Chris Milk, and anything I was a part of at Elastic.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m originally from Turkey. I came to the States to study at Otis College Of Art And Design. I tried to venture out as much as possible and upon graduating I was Continue reading

Daniel Swartz

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Daniel Swartz, Assistant Professor & Freelance Illustrator.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into illustration?
Most of my earlier jobs have been crazy! I worked in a popcorn factory for awhile to pay for undergrad. I was constantly covered in oil and grease. It was a great incentive to finish school! I also worked at state and county fairs for a couple summers. 14 weeks of fair food is not as fun as it sounds.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
A few years ago I did the illustration for Virginia’s summer reading program for tweens. I enjoyed knowing that my illustration was helping promote reading. I read a fair amount, and think it is imperative we pass on the joy of reading to the next generations. My first children’s book is coming out soon as well. (Duckville, Wesleyan Publishing House) It is executed entirely in natural-media and I just love the tactile, accidental feel of the illustrations. My big dream is to do a Little Golden Book, and I think this project moves me closer to that goal.
How did you become interested in illustration?
I really didn’t even understand what illustration was before college. Fortunately, Continue reading

Paulo José

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
My name is Paulo José and I do a lot of things … Character designer, animation director, write screenplays and draw comics.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I would not say crazy, but I was a radio announcer and voice actor.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
I do prefer to believe that the work that I will be proud will be next job! Because I am still learning! But to name a few, I do like the comic strips I did for many years (see above) and some films that directed. See links;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDn-3zFclSw

And others who had the opportunity to drive in the studios Mauricio de Sousa.
I also like the Sapo Xulé (stinky foot frog) And pilot Oligoque where I also wrote the songs. (please listen the music! it’s mine!) It is likely that you do not understand anything because everything is in Portuguese.

How did you become interested in animation?
I always loved to draw. I entered the school of Fine Art, however Continue reading

Michael Michell

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Michael Michell and I’m a freelance filmmaker and Illustrator.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’ve had a lot of jobs over the years, I’ve worked as a dishwasher, at a women’s clothing store and one summer as a city roads worker.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I created a short film for the Balsillie School of International Affairs, called Be Castro which was part of a series of shorts films promoting a book that was being published. I was happy to work on that project and even happier when my dad bought the book.

How did you become interested in animation?
All through high school I wrote and drew comics but Continue reading

George Pfromm

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is George Pfromm and I am a freelance animator and illustrator, and a full time faculty member in the animation department at the New England Institute of Art.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Working the front desk at a walk in clinic for homeless schizophrenics and crack addicts in Seattle was a nutty one. I enjoyed almost every minute of that one truthfully.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Hands down, storyboard artist at Flying Rhinoceros Inc. in Portland Oregon in 1999 –2000. It was my first full time animation job and I have not worked with the level of talent like that since. I got a few glimmers of how special it was and how good everyone in the animation department was but I had no idea how rare that perfect storm of talent can be.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
I blame it all on Jonny Quest, the Herculoids, and Alex Toth in general I guess. I watched cartoons every morning on Saturdays as a kid in the seventies, and used comic books to give me through the long week until Continue reading