Lori Hammond

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Hello my name is Lori Hammond and until recently I was the Program Director for Animation at a local Film school. Currently I am an Artist/ an Instructor/ a Consultant/and an Events coordinator for a couple of companies related to Animation & VFX industry.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Before getting into the animation industry I suppose Barista of alcohol, could be “crazy” on certain nights with certain customers. (Laughing) especially since at the time I did not drink.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My favorite projects are perhaps “Princess and the Frog” working as a Training Specialist on that movie.  At Disney I was able to work with some amazing artists, as a trainer I got to work with Layout, Animation, EFX, Color stylist, etc. it was an amazing time teaching classes for the Disney Academy. I actually got to teach some of the greats such as Glenn Keane on some of the software for the production.  I also enjoyed a small short animation project that was started at Disney and is currently finishing up production called “Mila” by Cinzia Angelini, helping this production connect with some upcoming talent and watching that project develop has been amazing.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Originally, I am from Illinois and I received my BFA at Northern Illinois University, where my major was Painting. I moved to New York after my undergrad days and attended Pratt Institute where I majored in Digital Arts with a focus on 3D Animation. I loved the fact that as an artist, not only could I develop more work from my original painted vision, but Continue reading

Micah McNeely

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Micah McNeely and I am a freelance 3D modeler and Texture Artist.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Before Animation I was a Production Supervisor at Kinko’s Copies and the Chappell Episode “Pop Copy”was a day in the life of my job LOL! My experience there gave me the interest in computers and design so, it wasn’t too bad of an experience 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Oh Man one of the coolest things for me to work on were game cinematics. I worked on cinematic trailers for Colonization/Civilization Revolution and a yet announced game. That being said, I am now working on environments for the PC title FORGE and that has been a great experience for me because although most of my experience in the VFX studio category I have always wanted to work on a video game.
How did you become interested in animation?
Ever since I was a kid I loved comics and games! I grew up in the Marvel Comics and NINETENDO era and when my mother put my first console on layaway at our local Kmart I was hooked! I would say that I also had Continue reading

Alessandro Baldasseroni

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Alessandro Baldasseroni and I’m currently hired as one of the character modeling lead at Blur Studio.My job consists in creating (modeling and texturing) 3d characters and creatures.When I’m lead on a show ,  I take care of supervising the character assets , artistically and technically.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I didn’t have many jobs in my life honestly, but I recall helping my parents at their restaurant as a barman and then  I had some experiences of web design and i was a cad operator before working full time in cg.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Definitely the halowars cinematics and the work blur did on the pitch for the Goon feature film, also working on the star Wars : the old republic cinematics was pretty challenging . Also doing one of the NFL on fox robots for their pre game tv commercials was very rewarding.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
Just by chance, back in1996. , I was working in a networking company as cad operator , and by chance I Continue reading

Andrew Hickinbottom

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What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Andrew Hickinbottom, and i am a freelance character modeler for illustration and animation.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? 
Not sure on the ‘crazy’ side of things, but my first ever job was working in my dad’s factory as a general handyman doing various laborious jobs like sweeping, painting and grass cutting, before moving on to being a machine operator and packer there. I once worked in a videogames shop as well. Since i got my first job doing what i love, i cant see myself doing anything else – i’d whine too much!
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
I modeled all but 2 of the characters in an advert for the International Olympic Committee at Nexus productions in London. Really nicely stylised characters – I was really pleased how that job came out. Also, I was the lead character modeler on the 3D sections of a 2D / 3D cartoon series called ‘friends and heroes’ – i made over a hundred characters during the series production run of 2 years. The art director i worked with was an really inspirational guy who worked with Disney, and he taught me a lot about character design, appeal and composition. This job helped me find my style which i progressed it to what it is today. Im proud of all of my personal projects too, but that’s because they are labours of love – i can take as long as i want on them, without deadlines, client feedback or budgets complicating things. Im especially proud of the limited figure run i had made from one of my personal pieces (Trixie) and are now selling via my website.
How did you become interested in animation? 

As a kid i loved cartoons. Garfield, Tom and Jerry, Transformers, Looney Tunes, Disney. I doodled a lot and was pretty good at drawing for my age. I always wanted to become a cartoonist, but i figured that was Continue reading

Jez Hall

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What is your name and your current occupation?
I’m Jez Hall and I’m currently series director on Fleabag Monkeyface.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I haven’t really had any proper jobs, let alone crazy….. I was an illegal wine waiter once. Illegal as in I was only 16. I wasn’t some kind on Pinot Grigio gangster. Drive by cork popping… I then drew comics before getting in to animation.  Animation is crazier than pouring wine.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Theres lots. I’ve been doing it over twenty years so it would be a big list. The list of projects I’m not proud of would be way bigger.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
People paid me money. Continue reading

Ed Bell

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Ed Bell. I’m an animation artist and currently an affiliate director with Special Agent Animation, in the Bay Area. I’m building a short film at the moment. I also teach character design and mentor aspiring animation artists at CCA. Recently, I’ve started painting, and developing a gallery show.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
None. My first real job was in animation.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“ Bring Me The Head Of Charlie Brown” was a short my classmate Jim Reardon made, that we took around to festivals with Spike & Mike. Awesome experience. Then there was the “Ed” trilogy by Richard Moore, also made at Cal Arts. I think of “Roger Rabbit” and “The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse” from the 80’s. But at Collosal Pictures, “The Big City” for Liquid Television because it was my first short as a director, and “King Tut,” with the great John Stevenson and Jerry Juehl with Quincy Jones helping us pitch, those are cherished memories, (even if Tut never made it to the screen). As a Warner Cartoons fan I’m amazed I got to contribute to some Warner Brothers cartoon shorts with animators I learned a great from.

How did you become interested in animation?
I’m a child of the “golden age” of T.V. or whatever, and grew up glued to the TV set, or glued to movie screens whenever and wherever I could. Every aspect of entertainment seemed to mesmerize me, nearly as much as it entertained me! Animation’s hand-crafted nature, and animation’s rich sense of Continue reading