What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Alexandre Belbari, I am 24, and at the moment I work as a Creature Animator in a Film company called Trixter, I am animating Wolves for an Upcoming BBC Series.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
My best memory of work would be pizza delivering in France, I was doing this job at the same time of my animation studies. Â It s bloody dangerous but really fun for a small period. As you get a low salary, you put all your efforts on getting a maximum amount of tips from the client ;p
What are some of your favourite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
As I am a total fan on Marvel films, I was really proud to work on the last Xmen- First Class, and it was also my first film project. Â Another favourite project would be Prometheus , it was a really good experience! ( I haven’t seen it yet but I usually love Ridley Scott movies )
How did you become interested in animation?
When I was really young, when I saw for the first time Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. From that moment, my dream was to work in visual effects, Then I saw Toy story, and all the other Pixars, I was totally in love with theses movies, Enough to plan animation studies.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I come from Montpellier, in south of France, I got my first animation job right after my studies in September 2010. A lot of recruiters from big companies such as Themill, Mpc, dreamworks and many others went for the final jury to see my student animated short ( Mytho Logique ). the day after I had interviews and It really helped to get into the business.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
I arrive at work around 10, do a tour and say hello to mates, then watch mails and news taking the breakfast :D At 10.30 I go to the session of dailies with all the animators, in a dark cinema room. We watch all the latest animation, leads and supervisors give their feed back and talk about my shot. After the dailies session at 12.30,  The rest of the day is dedicated for animating, doing the feedbacks! I leave around 6 or 7 pm.
http://vimeo.com/40237972
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
Finishing an animation, see it on the final project,  be able to see my own progress, sharing experience and tips for animation, communication! Most of all I really love animation because I know I ll never do the same thing, and I will always have something new to learn. I will always progress in animation.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
The fact that we need to stay every days front of 2 screens. I wish I can animate without a computer, but I love visual effects too much. And I don’t have enough 2d traditional skills yet to avoid the 3d.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
I always work in Maya, I don’t use any specials technologies, just key framing animation.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
I would say being at the maximum level all the time, I can t really do mistakes in that industry, they are too many animators ready to take your job.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I m quite new in the industry, for the moment I never had any problems, I cross my fingers for the future!
Any side projects or you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
More a side work than project, but I am also new in character design industry, and its something I really want to develop in the future, I draw more and more, I and just love it as much as animation.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
I can open a beer with my arm! wouhou! talking about beer, lets have one. Cheers!
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
I would say you need to move ,contact and practice constantly something. Never stay at home for weeks waiting for an eventual answer from a studio. If you have no answer, a good idea is maybe to go and see the studio directly, to prove that you are motivated !! you ll improve your chance finding a work.  Don t be afraid to travel, you have the opportunity to work everywhere with this job!  If you know people in the industry, ask them to write a recommendation to the recruiter for you, this is often the golden ticket to get a job, and many studios recruit only on recommendations !
what a waste of talent, he did a wondeful work of art on mythologique and now he became another anonymous operator/tecnician/buttonpusher.
I dont feel the way you describe, my plan is to take experience from the animation industry first. I dont consider that animating big creatures for films is a Button pusher work, its quite the opposite, as well as working as an art director and illustrator.
very inspiring advice Alex..I just visited your blog and I must say..you have great 2d traditional skill.That’s how I want to be too..wanna be good at 2d and 3d animation.