Jeff Victor

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Jeff Victor and I work as an illustrator/designer for Nickelodeon Games. I work as an art lead on a online game called PetPet Park, designing characters, backgrounds, props, and more.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’ve worked many mundane jobs in my life, but one that is really pretty special to me is when I first moved to Los Angeles, I got work as a background performer, or “extra”. As I was unsuccessfully submitting my portfolio to studios, I made my living as a student/doctor/terrified pedestrian/casual onlooker, etc. I appeared in hundreds of TV shows and movies. As a huge film buff, it was incredible being on set watching some of my favorite directors work. You only earn a tiny paycheck, but being on set with Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese was a priceless experience. My other craziest job was working a few years at Universal Studios Hollywood. I was a show tech, which basically meant I had to set the stage explosives, hook the actors to their flying rigs, move set pieces around on stage, and in the case of Fear Factor Live, handle giant scorpions. All in a day’s work.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I am extremely proud of the work I’ve been doing for Nickelodeon. I enjoy that people all over the world have seen my work. I also really enjoyed some of the stints I had as a character designer at Warner Bros animation, and at East/West DVD, where I got to draw DVD covers for classic cartoons. It was my first real job in animation, and I am really proud of the work, even though it looks incredibly dated to my eyes today. (Of course, things I drew 3 weeks ago look dated to me, but that’s another story…)

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from the Chicago suburbs, and after receiving the “Art of Star Wars” book as a youngster, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I was obsessed with comic books and cartoons as a kid, especially Batman the Animated Series. I filled my grade school notebooks with Continue reading

Luca Fattore

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Luca Fattore , I am a lead animator and a pre production artist .

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
None, I started working in the animation field at the age of 18.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Balto ( Universal/Amblimation) The magic sword ( Warner Brothers) Help i am a Fish ( A.Film ) Asterix and the Vikings ( A.Film) Marco Macaco ( Nice Ninja productions) … the short film “Shark and the Piano” ( Munich animation ) Some “7Up” commercials where I have animated one of my favorite commercial characters , Fido Dido .

How did you become interested in animation?
I drew as a kid , and at the age of 13 I started watching my favorite shorts frame by frame ….. 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

Mary J. Sheridan

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Mary J. Sheridan and I am a 2D Effects Animator, I have been in the business for 25 years.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Cleaning an office space for a truck hauling company .

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My first feature was “All Dogs go to Heaven” at Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland. It was my first job in animation and I was a trainee inker. My mentor was trained by Disney inkers and I got to see original cels from Sleeping Beauty which was all hand inked and learn the techniques of the old inking masters. My first job as an effects animator was with Steven Spielbergs animation studio Amblimation on the production “Balto”. It was a great experience and one which opened the door to working with DreamWorks SKG in Los Angeles.

How did you become interested in animation?
My uncle was a great fan of all cartoons, from Wile E Coyote & Roadrunner to Tom and Jerry to the great classics. He loved watching them all. Myself and my cousins would gather around him and laugh together. I remember Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal, doesn’t get much better than that! Its a tradition I kept with my own son.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am from Dublin, Ireland. When I graduated from art college I couldn’t find work so I left for London. Unknown to me, my mum submitted my college portfolio to Sullivan Bluth Studios and before I knew it I was offered my first job in animation!

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
Well I work freelance at the moment so it has to be very structured, I work from home. I like to work an eight hour day or more depending on production needs and deadlines. 1. cup of coffee 2. sharpen pencil 3. draw.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I get to draw and get paid for doing what I love. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with very talented artists and visionaries who to this day still keep the art of classical animation alive.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
The last day of a production is the toughest. I meet great people and its always sad to have to say goodbye, being part of a team and creating magic is a bonding experience. Meeting those same people again and sharing memories is always what keeps you going.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Well I am a traditional artist, my studio consists of an animation desk, a line tester, a 27inch imac with the latest software and from which I upload my work to remote servers, for approvals etc.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
I would say its the down time, being a freelance 2D artist in a 3D world is very challenging. You have to have the drive and faith in your talent to keep going and keep your passion alive. I have been blessed to be able to continue to make a living as an effects animator and to share that experience with other great artists.

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Everyone I work with is an animation great! I have been very fortunate to work with some of the greatest names in animation to this day.

 

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
I have realised in life that tough situations are learning experiences which guide us to new opportunities and remind us to always stay positive and believe in yourself.

 

Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
I am an oil painter and a photographer, I have a website where you can check out my latest work and my animation
portfolio www.maryjsheridan.com.

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
I love browsing through thrift stores and collecting old things, I have been known to collect toys shhhhh

 

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
If you are planning on working in the animation biz , most commonly now the 3D world always have traditional work in your portfolio, draw and paint learn how light and textures work through painting and life-drawing. Take traditional classes in sculpting etc, look for intern opportunities.  Go to conventions and meet with people in the business, make connections and keep up with changing trends. Stay ahead of the game and always respect who you work with and what you work on, its a small business and your reputation is what will make the difference if it comes down to hiring choices. Have fun and keep passionate!

 

JOHN HARDMAN

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What is your name and your current occupation?
JOHN HARDMAN, Director of Development and Production, Saban Brands LLC.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was a maintenance man for a function hall.  I spent every afternoon cleaning cigarette butts out of urinals and mopping up wedding guests’ vomit.  I worked in a car wash for one summer and had numerous close calls whenever I had to park a car with a stick shift.  I also have the typical Hollywood story of working for a producer who threw the telephone across the room at me when she got mad.  Worst of all, she got mad a lot.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
So many…. Rugrats, Rocket Power, Jackie Chan Adventures, Xiaolin Showdown, Mr. Men, Power Rangers.
How did you become interested in animation? 

I’ve been a huge fan of animation since I was a kid (no surprise!).  What I found most exciting was Continue reading

Nick Fredin

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Nick Fredin. Currently working as an animator at Weta Digital.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
The craziest jobs I had were actually in between animation jobs when I was just trying to get my foot in the door in the animation industry. I worked for a movie theatre cleaning up popcorn kids puke, but mainly I switched off my radio so no one could find me and watched the films that I would one day help make. I fully recommend to newbies to get a job related to your craft whether it’s working at a video rental store or an art gallery. I would also suggest learning to cook or make coffees. Once you’ve broken into the industry you’ll have a full wealth of movie knowledge, know how to feed yourself and stay caffeinated.

 

What are some of your favourite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Rango won the Oscar for best animated feature this year so I’d have to say I’m most proud of that project. Not only was it amazing to work on but the team was incredible as well. It was also amazing to be a part of The Adventures of Tin Tin under the direction of Steven Spielberg. I felt like a little kid when I was a part of my first telephone conference with Steven Spielberg. Any time he approved a shot it was spine tingling. Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty special too although I didn’t get to work on it nearly as much as many others. 2010-2011 was a pretty great year for me in terms of working on some great projects.

How did you become interested in animation?
Jurassic Park! After seeing that film I needed to somehow be involved in the movie making process. I wasn’t sure exactly how though. After a suspicious Continue reading