What is your name and your current occupation?
Cheyenne Curtis and im currently working for Disney Television Animation
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
In Montreal i once worked at this really shady linen store that had no bathrooms. Since i worked alone all day, i used to have to call friends to come over and watch the store for me while i ran to the bathroom! The good part of that story is working alone all day meant some nice sketching time when the store was empty.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’ve had so much fun doing character designs and layouts for the Disney TV pilot i’m working on, Daron Nefcy and Dave Wasson are so amazing to work with!
How did you become interested in animation?
Originally i had no idea that animation could be a career! I was in Studio Arts at Concordia University in Montreal and i remember feeling like i didn’t quite belong, even though everyone was interested in art. Luckily one of my friends suggested Sheridan Institute in Oakville, and i applied and got in! I had never done animation before, and i was in a class surrounded by these incredibly talented artists who had already made short films before! I really felt that was where i belonged because it was the first time being surrounded by people who openly and confidently admitted they watch all kinds of cartoons and play video games etc.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
I mainly use Photoshop and Flash on my Cintiq.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Well i don’t know if these are considered unusual…but i really like doing wood burning as a hobby. I buy little wood trinkets and boxes and decorate them etc. I’m also helping my friend out with his puppet buisness, so i’m getting to design my own puppets which is super fun! aannndddd i’m getting pretty good at Mario Kart 7.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?Â
I’m still incredibly new to the industry and i’m finding that i still need advice and help on trying to break in. The only advice that i’ve learned in my short time is just to be nice to everyone, and don’t burn bridges. I know horror stories of people getting ‘bad reps’ and since our industry is so small word does tend to get around. I also learned that never having a social life and making yourself sick from over-working is a really bad idea. In school it seemed like some people who did all weekly all-nighters and slept at school and got sick wore it like a badge of honor, but i learned that working in the industry that behavior is seen as reckless and undependable.
