Patxi Peláez

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Hello. My name is Patxi Peláez and I work as Character Designer and Visual Development.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
In my student days I worked part time as a waiter in different cafes and pubs of my town.I even worked on the beach putting drinks… sounds fun, but it was a shit.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I have worked as character designer for feature films and TV series, as illustrator and comic artist, 2D animator and story boarder,here in Spain. I am not particularly proud of either. I always hope that the next project will be better than previous, and to do my job better.  Anyway, I’m happy with the different children’s books I’ve illustrated. It was fun to make them, it is very gratifying to work for children.

How did you become interested in animation?
As a child, my favorite pastimes was the comics and animation series on TV. It’s a hobby that has always been there. But I never dreamed I would have the fortune to work in this business.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from I run, a small city of the Basque Country in Spain. And I started in the animation world by chance. I always liked to draw. “Dibulitoon”, an animation studio in my town,was looking for artists. I went there with my portfolio,they liked my work and I could start working with them. There I learned the basics of animation and everything else. Learning while you are working is my school.  My passion for drawing took me to the animation. And now, I don´t know I love more .

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
If you’re lucky, draw, draw, draw.:)  I work in a small study and I am the person charge of the design of characters and environments. But I also do the story boards and everything about the artistic supervision. Some days are more fun than others.:)

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I love the character design and work with color. It’s a very creative process: from the first sketches, the search for the visual style of the film,the visual development… Go seeing how the project grows is very exciting.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
The less creative. for example, anything that keeps me away from the drawing board.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Pencil, paper, and Photoshop CS.+Wacom tablet.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
Instability. The animation is a difficult business, at least here, in Spain. There are few quality productions and the work can be a bit frustrating.

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I did not have such luck. I hope that in the future to meet personally with some of the artists I admire and inspire me.

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
The serious illness of a close family member which makes you reconsiderer the priorities in this life.  Recently we have had to operate my little daughter, which has not yet two years. The day before the surgery was difficult. It is not pleasant entering your child in the hospital for an operation. Happily everything went fine and my daughter has recovered beautifully.

Any side projects or you’re working on or hobbies you’d like to share details of?
Unfortunately I have not much time for side projects. Work and family take most of my time. But I try to find time to draw for fun.

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Sometimes I dress up as a clown and try to pull a smile to the audience … but my daughters are a demanding audience. : D

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
I do not like to give advice, but if I must say something, is to have passion for work and perseverance. The love for a job well done makes it grow to the artist.

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