Leonardo Trinidad

What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Leonardo Trinidad and I’m Producer and Director at Rocket Cartoons in Costa Rica.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I guess you could say I was very lucky because I have never worked in anything that wasn’t animation or film, I started in this business since I was 18 and haven’t stopped yet!

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Of course my personal producctions, they are like my babies, to be specific Ivick Von Salza The Little Lumberjack, a series of 52×2 mins, which marks our debut as a production company and will be airing this year in Europe and Asia.

How did you become interested in animation?
Since I was a little boy I have always enjoyed drawing, but I never imagined the cartoons I watched were actually made by people who earned money for making them. One day when I was deciding what to study (in college) I found an advertising about studing animation, and at the same time they were giving on T.V a “making of” of the movie from Disney, Tarzan. I linked one with the other and finally realized thats exactly what I should do.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Im from Costa Rica, (Central America), after studying the carreer of Digital Animation I started working for a couple of years doing TV commercials and other small jobs at an costarrican animation company. Afterwards I established international contacts with animators with more experience and that helped me start thinking about working on my own projects.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
I get up, eat a harty breakfast, go to the office, mostly just sit and work for 8 hours (I sometimes get time to eat too) and then go to sleep.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I enjoy working (making cartoons) for kids. Its great to know we can transmit different values and entertain the future generations thru the things we make.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
I least like dealing with the administrative problems that pop up day to day. Since I work on my own properties I have to make the final decisiones in almost everything and If it were up to me I would just draw all day, and have someone else take care of that.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
I believe staying updated with the new tecnologys that emerge everyday, being able to be present in every new platform in order for my product to get out there and compite with all the rest.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Adobe Production Premium Package. Regular Quad Core computers, Wacoms, Mics, and a lot of paper and pencils.

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Well it depends on your definition of greatness.. But Im just gonna say Not yet.

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Starting up my own company, getting others to believe in the possibilites we had to creat great material and most importantly for them to believe in all this being a posibility in a country like Costa Rica.

Any side projects or you’re working on or hobbies you’d like to share details of?
I havent abandoned my idea to create picture books for kids, and in my free time I enjoy sketching up any new idea I get.

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Yes I am an amazing Conga Dancer . . . (Just Kidding).

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Perseverance. Patience. Pasion. I believe these 3 things are the most important in this bussiness and in order ot gain the respect and credibility of others, its all about not giving up, once you’re in, you will see the amazing industry this is, and how great its to work doing this.

http://www.rocketcartoons.com