Becca Ramos

 

What is your name?
Becca Ramos

What would you say has been your primary job in animation?
I started out as an animation checker but with my architecture background, I took the bg layout test on “The Simpsons” and that’s when I started wearing two different hats – layout & checking. Then I moved on to design when WB hired me for “Pinky & the Brain.” Since then, I have been switching back & forth doing background design or layout and props, from time to time. 🙂

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I would have to say “Chowder” would top the list. I loved the style of that show, I still do, even though our department was the only non-digital one because we were hand inking all the bg designs as the style required. Kudos to Carl Greenblatt & Dan Krall, who created the show and art directed it, respectively.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was an architect (in the Philippines) for a short while and had just passed the Continue reading

Louie del Carmen

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Louie del Carmen and I’m a story artist at Dreamworks Animation

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Nothing real crazy but I was an FM DJ in Manila before I came to the US and one of my early jobs after coming to America was a hotel room service order taker.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’ve learned from EVERY show i’ve worked on whether they were hits or not but I loved my last TV gig on the MIGHTY B!  KIM POSSIBLE was another awesome show.  INVADER ZIM was challenging and the people where downright insane. In other words: FUN.  RUGRATS was where I learned to board and eventually direct series so that was memorable.  The few episodes I boarded on GRIM ADVENTURES of BILLY AND MANDY really challenged and eventually elevated my work.  Really proud of those.  And of course, working alongside some really amazing, world class talent on KUNG FU PANDA.
How did you become interested in animation?
I probably didn’t recognize it but growing up watching Japanese toons like Tetsujin (Gigantor) and Mazinger Z as well as all the american fare like Johnny Quest, Herculoids and Space Ghost, I guess I was always interested.  It wasn’t until I was Continue reading

Donna Grillo

What is your name and your current occupation?
Donna Grillo.  Casting and Dialog Director.


What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’ve always been in the entertainment business – that’s crazy, right?

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Well, Spongebob Squarepants is certainly the most iconic show I ever cast but as far as favorites go I’d have to say “Squirrel Boy” and “The Angry
Beavers” just for the sheer laughs and freedom to create crazy characters. “Duckman” was also an awesome show – so friggen funny!

How did you become interested in animation?

Although I loved Looney Tunes when I was growing up I wasn’t that big of an animation fan until I started working at Klasky Csupo.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m an L.A. girl. I was burned out from years of working on motion pictures.  I took some time off to write but…. 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

Debbie Bonzon


What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Debbie Bonzon and I am currently working as a free-lance timer, storyboard artist, illustrator.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’ve worked as a bread deliverer to stores and restaurants, landscaper, farmer, drywaller, caterer, bicycle and running gear salesperson, advertising sales, and as an illustrator for demonstrative evidence in the courtroom.What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Most recently I am very proud to have worked as a timer on the “Curious George”  tv series, 2nd movie and Christmas Special.  Also, the Rugrat feature movies were a blast.  At Warner Bros.  I really enjoyed storyboarding on “Pinky and the Brain” and timing on “Freakazoid”.    At Nickelodeon, I really liked timing on “Cat Scratch” and directing on “Oswald”.   Also, storyboarding on the “Tick” was a kick!  As an animator, many years ago, I really enjoyed working on the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series in Dublin. 

http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Debbie-reel.mov

How did you become interested in animation?
In high school, I wanted to work at Disney.  I loved animation, mostly the Warner Bros. shorts!
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in Albuquerque NM and grew up in Los Alamos, NM (the atomic city).   After attending a few different universities trying to find a major that could land me a “real job” and I realized, like it or not, that I was an art enthusiast, I completed my BFA at the University of NM.  I had looked at the brochures from Cal-Arts, but, was intimidated by the photographs of other students, who were way cooler than I ever was or wanted to be, I began to look for something here in Albuquerque after I graduated.  There was a small studio that produced commercials for clients around the world and after 2 weeks of graduating, I put on my best outfit and “stopped by” to see if they needed any help.    When I entered the front office, I noticed they didn’t have a receptionist and thought I could do that.  As I waited for someone to come to the front, the owner of the company passed by, stopped, and asked if he could help me.  I told him I had just graduated and would love to work for them doing whatever they needed.    He said I could work in the paint dept. (cell painting!)  They paid minimum wage, at that time $3.35/hour!  I didn’t care, I actually felt I Continue reading

Gregory Hinde

http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bp_reel_2.mov
What is your name and your current occupation?
Gregory Hinde, Music Composer www.GregoryHinde.com

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked for an industrial air-conditioner company cleaning ducts by climbing through them. Some of them were as long as 450 feet but only 2 feet high and 3 feet wide. I kept thinking what if I get stuck?!

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I started in the production side of animation and some of my favorite projects were Roger Rabbit and Little Mermaid at Disney Feature. I also worked as a checker on “Animaniacs” and “Pinky and the Brain” for WBTV before I started composing full time. My training is as a classical musician. Being a part of production really helped me understand the process of animation and the importance of telling a story with the music I write. I’m proud of the score and song work I did, along with Drew Neumann, on “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” at Cartoon Network and the final season of “The Wild Thornberrys”. Recently I’ve been composing for Continue reading