What is your name and your current occupation?
Will Meugniot animation director and comic book artist.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Reporter, census taker, fry cook.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
ExoSquad, X-Men, Jem, Captain Planet, SpyDogs
How did you become interested in animation?
From television when I was a child. One of my science fair projects in junior high school was a flip book demonstration of how animation worked.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
My family lived in Washington State until I was 16 then moved to California. In my 20s I broke into the comic book business, and in 1978 that led to my discovery by Hanna Barbera and a chance to work on the Godzilla cartoon series with the great Doug Wildey, Jonny Quest’s creator.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
These days I’m consulting/directing on an animated pilot, and that takes first priority. My day starts with reviewing emails from overseas, downloading footage from a FTP site, and giving notes on the animation. The remainder of the day is spent on my comic book work.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I really enjoy drawing most. Drawing just makes the day fly by.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
The politics of production.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
The insane number of hours you have to put in when a show is in pre-production. There are times when you have to start work the minute you get up in the morning and have to keep going until the wee hours of the next day.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
A lot of Photoshop, Word, Excel, and FTP. I use a tablet for most of my animation work.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
The first year I was in the business, my bosses were Doug Wildey, Don Jurwich, Alex Lovy and Tex Avery. I learned a lot from all of them.
Any side projects you’re working on you’d like to share details of?
I’m currently doing a revival of the Nedor Comics characters for AC Comics and am going to start a graphic novel adapting an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel after that.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Love to draw, be disciplined, and listen to good advice.
http://www.storyboardpro.com/
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=5587
Many thanks many thanks thank you!