Kids Entertainment Professionals For Young Refugees Fundraiser

Animators and actors, writers and composers, game designers and YA authors, producers, board artists, agents, studio and network executives – the entire international children’s entertainment community is coming together June 18-24 in an unprecedented grassroots fundraiser via Crowdrise. Help spread the word! PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO with friends and colleagues and SIGN UP FOR THE FUNDRAISER NOW at: https://www.facebook.com/events/114556855770817/
More information at our home page: https://www.facebook.com/kepyr/
Thank you – and Keep the Love Coming!

John Jagusak

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is John Jagusak and I am currently a freelance cartoonist. Some of the projects I’m working on now include comic strips for several publications and character design for a web series.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I would have to say that my previous job as a tattoo artist was the craziest job. One day I would be tattooing a group of teenage girls and the next I would be tattooing a group of 1%er bikers.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Around 2007 I had the opportunity to collaborate with a great cartoonist and writer on a syndicated comic strip. That was a pretty fun project. At around the same time I also landed a job at the newly reformed Cracked Magazine which had been a life-long goal of mine. However, Cracked magazine only lasted for a short 3 issue run before the presses once again came to screeching halt.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m originally from Cranford, NJ but I currently live in Long Island, NY. From 1999-2003 I attended the School of Visual Arts in NY for Cartooning. During my first 2 semesters at school I was working on the weekends as an airbrush artist at children’s parties. In the summer before my third semester I was hired as the art director for a children’s publishing company (basically cheap labor). Around this time I had Continue reading

Betsy Baytos

 

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Betsy Baytos…..Illustrator/Animation Choreographer/Filmmaker & Eccentric Dance Historian.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Performed & created the ‘Betsy Bird’ & puppeteered on the Muppet Show…..trained over 250 clowns in a ‘character movement’ workshop for Ringling Bros. ‘Clown College Alumni’…..toured the country in a vaudeville/burlesque show ‘Baggy Pants & Co’ as the featured eccentric dance act.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Working as a Disney animator since 1976, then coming full circle as ‘animation choreographer’ for Disney’s ‘Princess and the Frog’…..Consulting for Cirque Du Soleil…..performing eccentric dance as the ‘Betsy Bird’ on the Muppet Show and performing physical comedy in the Broadway run of ‘Stardust’ in a featured eccentric dance act as ‘Maurice’, but most importantly, bringing this film, which I have researched & worked on for the past 20 years, ‘FUNNY FEET: The Art of Eccentric Dance’, to fruition for the next generation.
How did you become interested in animation?
I have always drawn and danced since I can remember. I discovered eccentric dance while working as an animator at Disney, then discovered 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

Jacques Muller

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
My name is Jacques Muller. I am presently senior lecturer (Classical animation) at the School of Interactive Digital Media of Nanyang Polytechnic of Singapore.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Waiter for half a day in a Paris restaurant, with no prior experience (I spilled the drinks over 5 customers when I couldn’t keep my tray balanced)

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam, Rescuers Down Under, Star Wars, the Illusionist.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am from the Angouleme region in South West of France, one hour north of Bordeaux. I started at Continue reading