Anton Bogaty

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
Anton Bogaty; director, animator

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Briefly sold discount golf course memberships door-to-door with a co-worker called Alfie.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’m probably most happy with my own short films.

How did you become interested in animation?
An extension from an interest in film in general.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? 
From the Southeast and, excluding brief excursions, I’m still fairly Continue reading

Andrew Chesworth

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Andrew Chesworth, and I am an animator at Walt Disney Animations Studios.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Guidebook illustrator, Subway sandwich artist, bookstore clerk, and phonathon caller for my college’s alumni office.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My favorite project I’ve ever worked on was a traditionally animated film noir short entitled Palm Springs, which was used as a festival opener and promo for the Palm Springs International ShortFest in 2010 as well as 2011. It was a perfect storm of timing, directorial autonomy, an art style I thoroughly enjoyed, getting to write playful words for remarkably distinct voice actors to speak aloud, and working with a tight-knit team of artists and friends I’d known since college and developed a very familiar rapport with.  I would rank Disney’s Get a Horse! as another high point for me, getting to animate the iconic Ub Iwerks Mickey Mouse in classically mischievous and outlandish scenarios. Working with veterans of the industry like Lauren MacMullan, Eric Goldberg, Dale Baer, Alex Kupershmidt and Mark Henn was a really privileged and rewarding experience. Wreck-It Ralph will have a special place in my heart for being the first Disney feature I got to animate on. It was interesting how much that experience encapsulated my nostalgia not only for the video game characters of my childhood, but for Disney as well. A tremendous first film to work on, with a strong and clear voice from Rich Moore.  I’m proud of every project I’ve worked on at Disney, truly. Frozen, Big Hero 6, Feast. It’s such a healthy time to be at the Disney studio. The artists are young, hungry, and full of vitality. Something is in the air there these days.

How did you become interested in animation?
I was never not interested in it, to be honest. As soon as I was old enough to comprehend what I was watching, I was hooked and attempting to draw. I will say there were Continue reading

Lock Wolverton

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What is your name and current occupation?
My name is Lock Wolverton, retired animator and animation instructor from the Walt Disney Co. I am currently an animation instructor at Tulsa Tech.

What are some if the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Many, many years ago I was an attack dog handler for the US Air Force, guarding 100 megaton nuclear weapons on a tiny island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This was during the Cuban middle crisis. Few people know how close we came to a nuclear exchange between the US and the former Soviet Union. The world leaders during that time took the human race dangerously close to extinction.

What are some of your favorite projects you are proud to have been a part of?
During my time with Disney I had the privilege of designing and directing a series of annual animation events which featured such epic films as Mulan, A Bug’s Life, the re-release of Fantasia, Atlantis the Lost Empire and A Tribute to the Disney Villains. These events drew animators and students from all across the country and around the world. Those in attendance would observe chalk talks and lectures from directors, lead animators and producers who brought these great films to life. We were gathering the who’s who of all of Disney animation. For many it became a life changing experience. I met and taught animation to hundreds of aspiring animators, many of which I still maintain contact to this day.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? I am from Orlando FL, currently residing in Tulsa OK. I was born at an early age and Continue reading

Chris Woodworth


What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Chris Woodworth, and I’m an Animator.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Ahhh. Haha! I don’t know if you can call them crazy jobs, but I used to work part time at a sports equipment store, and then went on to working part time for Blockbusters (dvd rental store).

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
GTA4, Lego Harry Potter, and recently Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean.

How did you become interested in animation?
I grew up with stories, whether it involved listening to them or telling them. It became a big part of my life, and also I had an ongoing obsession with movies. I discovered Animation as a career choice when I was 15 years old, and the more I read about this craft, the more I realized that it involved all of the things I love doing anyway. Drawing, acting, sound design, voices, music, the works! From there, being an Animator was my goal. The idea of being able to Continue reading

Raquel Omana

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Raquel Omana. I am now a freelance artist.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was Interior Designer.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Most popular old Saturday morning cartoons, Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles, Scooby Doo, My Little Pony and many more; First educational games that started the Sony Play Station; film features, Anastasia and Titan AE.

How did you become interested in animation?
It was more alluring to me at the time.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m originally from the Philippines. At that time, Continue reading

Maxwell. A. Oginni

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Maxwell. A. Oginni. I’m an animation director, animator & illustrator, working mainly in commercial advertising.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Way back in my student days, when I was broke & hungry, I once took on a Summer job as a street fundraiser… That was pretty crazy. I met some very “interesting” people… I also (mistakenly) once asked a woman when she was “due”… she wasn’t pregnant.

 

 What are some of your favourite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Last year my good friend Gosia, who teaches at a primary school invited me to give an animation workshop/ pep talk to her graduating class of 11-12yr olds… Before my visit, I had the kids design their very own cartoon characters, as an exercise to explore their ‘personal’ creativity… The day finally came; the kids were so charming & adorable! Originally I was to choose only one winner from the bunch who’s character I would re-design & animate; but on seeing each design, I was so impressed by the effort & skill they had all put in, that I decided I’d get my industry pals involved… I made a quick announcement on my Facebook page inviting animator/ illustrator friends to help me in re-designing ALL the characters. Within two days I had over 20 artists on board! The project, which I hosted via my Facebook page, ran on for about a month or so. The re-designs were fantastic, & the response from everyone on my friends-list (artists/ non-artists) was great; people really got involved & it pretty much became it’s own thing… Anyways, I had all the re-designs sent over to the kids via their teacher as high-res images they could print & frame up as posters. According to Gosia, the kids nearly hit the roof once they saw their designs being “brought to life” by industry professionals… It was honestly one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I live in London, but was born in Benin- Nigeria. My story into animation I’m sure is pretty much the same as most other animators, really… As an introduction, back when I was a kid in Nigeria (about 5-6yrs old, late 80’s), I remember Continue reading