Aaron Rozenfeld

What is your name and your current occupation?
Aaron Rozenfeld and I am unemployed.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I haven’t had a job any crazier than in animation except for selling(or to be more precise, not selling) ugly t-shirts to the audience of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. But that more sucked than was crazy and was after I got into and left out of the animation industry. I’m not really sure what crazy means. I’ve always interpreted crazy as ‘knowing the difference between right and wrong, but not caring. Being that I’m a both moral and spiritual person, I always care about right and wrong so I wouldn’t participate in a crazy job.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
The Simpsons, Futurama, Fairly Odd Parents, and the next job in animation I get.
How did you become interested in animation?

I became interested in animation as a child, watching cartoons. SOme favorites include Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, Woody Woodpecker, Spiderman and his Amazing Friends and many others.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Walnut Creek, California. It’s about 20 miles east of San Fransisco. I got into the animation business with Continue reading

Thomas Starnes

What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Thomas, and at the moment I am teaching online classes for the Academy of Art University (AAU). I also do freelance illustration and animation (and by animation, I mean 2D animation, as in the old fashioned hand drawn type of animation. I am strictly a novice when it comes to 3D animation).  My specialty is animation layout (basically, I design/draw backgrounds) and most of my screen credits read “Background Layout Artist”.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I can’t really say I had any crazy jobs. I worked in a number of different restaurants. The craziest thing in that regard might have been the prank calls into the pizza restaurant. Typical example: “Hello, Luigi’s Pizza, may I take your order?” “Yes, is your oven running?”“Uhmmm…Yes” “Well, why don’t you go chase it?” (Actually there were far worse prank calls than this, but assume we are trying to maintain a G rating here).

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I never know how to answer this question, because I have thoroughly enjoyed so many of the projects I worked on and the great crews with which I had the honor and opportunity to work. Of all the films I have been involved with, Disney’s Mulan is probably Continue reading

Scott Sackett

What is your name and your current occupation?
Scott Sackett: Freelance Illustrator/Storyboard Artist

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Restaurant Deep Fryer Hood Cleaner, Security Guard, Fotomat Sale Associate (yes those little shacks!)

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
WB TV Animation: Pinky & the Brain and Ozzie & Drix TV shows.

How did you become interested in animation?
Probably my earliest influences were Terry Gilliam’s animated segments in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” Later I was really into Ralph Bakashi’s “Wizards” and 1980 animated feature “Heavy Metal”. Probably because Continue reading

Elyse Whittaker-Paek

Hi My name is Elyse Whittaker-Paek, Ex pat Aussie.

I’m currently a freelance Illustrator and mum of 2 lovely little looney lads.
Some of the crazier jobs I’ve had?  Well I was a Dental assistant at the tender age of 14, my dad would have me help him out after school in Sydney Australia.  He very much wanted me to get into the drill fill and bill biz.
I was very good with x-rays and Continue reading

Larissa Marantz

 

 

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
Larissa Marantz, Owner of OC Art Studios, Illustrator, Fine Artist, Art Instructor

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I am short so I used to work as a mascot for various conventions and shows- any time there was some kind of costumed character with a big head. Once I dressed up as Elmo.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I am proud to be one of the 200 artists that were involved in the Manifest Hope:DC art exhibition celebrating the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2008. I flew to Washington DC a few days before the inauguration to participate in the art exhibit and the energy was amazing. The first Obama painting I did “Unite America” was sold in an auction during the campaign. The image was also published in a multicultural calendar. The second painting “This Moment”, was published in an Art of Obama book, exhibited at the Bowers Museum and now hangs on my wall. Someone I knew was doing a brief stint at the White House and passed out a bunch of posters of my paintings to the people in his department. I was told that they were put up on the office walls. So, although I don’t have physical proof, I think I can say that my paintings are in the White House.
How did you become interested in animation?
I had always wanted to teach art but after meeting with my advisor and finding out that Continue reading

Isaias Crow

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Isaias Crow, I currently work for myself, I am a visual storyteller using a diversity of mediums.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Working at a telemarketing company. It was crazy because you needed to get into character as if you are going to act in a play or film. I created so many characters to sell the services we offered over the phone, the character of choice depended on who I was speaking to on the other line. Now you know, when a telemarketer or bill collector calls you, just remember, they need act in order for you to budge into paying, so don’t take it personal. 🙂
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
After finishing art school, I realized how many people can’t afford to pay such expensive tuition fees so I gathered some of my closest friends and associates and created Continue reading