What is your name and your current occupation?
Hi im Raymond Arrizon. Â Im a Flash Animator and Character/Prop Designer
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Some of the crazy Jobs I had before was during my school years, I worked as an assistant to the animation department head and was able to meet all these great people and went to awesome trips to Pixar DreamWorks and many more.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
There are many I am actually proud of being a part of but one of the recent one was Rainbow Brite 2014. I was able to do character designs Animate and work with a number of great folks. Another fun project was the Anchor Man app game for Animax/Paramount, Along with the NBC Community Animated shorts!
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in LA, as a kid our school was visited by Syd Hoff who wrote and illustrated Danny and the Dinosaur. At that moment I realized what a great career to go into, I love drawing! That was the driving power I had as a kid that encouraged me to ultimately follow in this career. I often reflect back on it and wonder what would have happened if a Doctor came in that day for career day~ haha~
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
The day starts with Brainstorming in the morning and organizing my assignments by mid day I have a good chunk of my list completed so like to explore more on what can be improved and finish the project strong. Usually after work its a lot collaborating with coworkers/ friends on how we can create and explore the project from style, technique and overall presentation.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
The most obvious answer is of course designing or animating in any given project, but looking closer I really like having creative meetings and reviews, a lot of folks might not,however I feel the most growth as an artist and as a crew is experiencing these things.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
Well usually when the project is over, its really easy to get attached to the crew you work with and just like with any friends you tend to miss their creative shenanigans. even more so when there is a great work engine flow.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis, how has technology changed in the last few years in yourfield and how has that impacted you in your job?
I use a cintiq it is the standard tool for most studios in the industry, It really is a marvelous device. however in my off time I find myself sketching when traveling or even right before going to bed. I always have to doodle something. So I tend to keep a note book close to me.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
Usually as a person love a reliable income, but that is not this industry! thus said, when I work on any given project the key thing I always try to find is a way to have the same vision as the client so that we can collaborate and have the project a success.
If you could change the way the business works and is run how would you do it?
Well for starters I believe Canada has a really great animation industry, unfortunately a lot of us have a home and family in the Us and are unable to relocate. If there was a change in the industry I would really love it to be geared towards being stable with out mass layoffs one often hears about.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Of course from Ray Harryhausen, Frank N’ Ollie to John Lasseter, too many to count really.
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
One of the toughest situations I had in life was during the 2008 recession. I believe that was one of the toughest years I have ever dealt with in my adulthood, possibly something that could compare to that was my appendix bursting in my 20’s.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Haha, One of my unusual talents was actually being able to scale walls very quickly like a cat, not sure if I could do that now.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the
business?
I would consider spreading your interests in many things not just one. If you consider Animation as a career always be friendly, considerate and kind after all we are making Toons.
http://the-raymond.blogspot.com/
