Allen Mezquida

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
Allen Mezquida Director/Writer/Animator

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I traveled the world as a jazz saxophonist. I got to play with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Gerry Mulligan amd Brad Mehldau among many others.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Bonus material for the DVD release of Aladdin and Toy Story. A short of mine called “Man’s First Friend” aired on Nickelodeon.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
That’s like asking how did I Continue reading

Ron Brewer

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What is your name and your current occupation?
Ron Brewer. Director.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? 
I was a drug runner. Or should I say a delivery boy and stock clerk in a class 1 drug vault for a completely legitimate pharmaceutical warehouse. We supplied all the pharmacies and hospitals in the San Diego area. I was involved in two armed robberies there. The first was a gang from LA that wore Halloween masks. They had shotguns and AR15s. We were made to lie on the floor and then locked in the vault. The second time was a gang from East LA. I was chased down the street by a guy with a handgun. There was no where to run to. We were tied up with duct tape. Curious that I would find the nerves needed to get through these trials to be a good tension test, to be a good prerequisite to my animation career. Cartoons is war!

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
I would have to say the Pink Panthers I was a part of. I directed 28 shorts for Pink Panther and Pals at Rubicon Studios LA. One of which won four 2011 KidScreen Awards including Best series, Best Series Viewers Choice, and viewers choice for Best Music –David Ricard and Best Directing –Me. Kerry Valentine produced, Ceci Aranovich did the design, Ryan Green and I did boards, Rob Sanders the sfx. Have a look!


The entire crew for the whole series was just awesome. The Pink Panthers are pure cartoons because of the absence of dialogue. Such a challenge to get the message across, stay true to the originals and hopefully be funny. You can find them on youtube or itunes.  Then I got to direct “A Very Pink Christmas” a Pink Panther special in the classic style. It’s the best thing I’ve done to date. Kerry Valentine producing, Ceci Aranovich design, David Ricard music, Rob Sanders sfx. A story that really came together thanks to so many talented people who I am very proud to have worked with. If you’re a Pink Panther fan or could just use a smile, go see it here.  I had the pleasure of traveling to the Philippines to meet the animation crew. Incredible the small army one of these things takes to complete. This show was also for Rubicon Studios LA., Manila and Amman. Unfortunately not many people saw it when it aired last year 2011. No publicity. You my insider friends know how that can go. But it really is a good little show and maybe it will pick up speed as the Christmas’s roll by. Look out Rudolph. 😉
How did you become interested in animation? 
I loved watching Saturday morning cartoons like the rest of you did. When I was a kid I had this idea to make Continue reading

Carol Wyatt

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What is your name?

Carol Wyatt.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I am very proud to have been a part of the first 4 years of The Simpsons TV series. I started out as a background cleanup artist working with Nancy Kruse and ended up doing background design & layout, assistant animation on the Butterfinger commercials, and color supervisor for 3 of the 4 years. It was a real learning experience working with Wes Archer, David Silverman, Brad Bird, Rich Moore, and many, many incredible animators! Klasky/Csupo was a crazy and fun place to be in the late 80s.  Another project I am very proud of is Nightmare Ned for Disney. It was an incredible opportunity to design and paint in a very unique and fun style. I worked  with immensely talented artists like Conrad Vernon, Mike Mitchell, Vince Waller, Mike Bell, Paul Tibbitt, Howy Parkins, Alan Smart, Miles Thompson, and Sue Mondt. We were definitely the Disney underdogs. I am very proud to have been a part of Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends on Cartoon Network and, most recently, The Ricky Gervais Show for HBO.  Most projects I have worked on I am very proud of and the people I have met are the BEST!

 

How did you become interested in animation?
I loved cartoons growing up and was a huge fan of Bugs Bunny and Pink Panther cartoons, plus the little cartoons on Sesame Street. Cartoons were only on on Saturday mornings when I was a kid, so it was a really big deal when a new show like Scooby Doo aired. I didn’t realize it at the time, but Continue reading