What is your name and your current occupation?
Martyn Gutteridge, animator
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I used to work in a department store as a visual merchandiser so had to dress up mannequins which was a bit weird, the room where all the body parts were stored could get a bit creepy
.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Working with well know properties is always enjoyable so working on Make way for Noddy, also really enjoyed working at the BBC it was a great environment.
How did you become interested in animation?
Cartoons as a kid as well as comics led me towards art in general. I remember being strongly affected by.
the first Ghibli film I saw which was ‘Laputa Castle in the Sky’. I also remember seeing various different types of animation on a channel 4 slot called 4mations which included Nick Park’s Creature Comforts. These influences stayed with me until I started an Art and Design degree course which offered an animation course.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Scotland. I studied art at Dundee and eventually joined the animation degree course there. Following on from that I interned at a studio in Glasgow which led to my first industry job.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
My day usually consists of a couple smallish meetings or discussions about where we are in the current project, a few emails, a solid amount animation and bug fixing work and hopefully a few good games of table tennis.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
Its great seeing some of you animations being applied as designed within the software we’re developing at my company.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
There is a fair bit of bug fixing and solving technical issues with animation networks which is necessary but quite tedious.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
I work entirely on a PC using mainly maya to generate the animations for work, occasionally I do some video editing or compositing as well.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
When I was a freelancer it could be a bit nerve wracking not knowing when the next job would come along but you got used to it. I’m lucky enough to have a full time job at the moment.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I was at a dinner with Sylvain Chomet once which was fun.
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Starting out as an intern and having to commute between cities while holding on to a part-time job wasn’t easy but it led to a career.
Any side projects or you’re working on or hobbies you’d like to share details of?
Nothing at the moment.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Afraid not, although I do enjoy a spot of archery.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Yeah, be prepared to start out interning or working unpaid even if you have degree, unless you’ve been lucky enough to land a placement, then it is the best way to get your foot in the door and see how the industry works.
