Author Archives: Laura

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Ryan Ortgiesen

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
My name is Ryan Ortgiesen. I’m a freelance animator and director in Brooklyn, NY. Thank you for this opportunity, Mike.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? 
I’m not sure “crazier” is the right word. Hmmm, maybe zanier. I’ve had a lot of terrible jobs including foundation repair, digging trenches and evicting people from their homes. I’d say the worst was when I worked on this vineyard in France. I chopped wood for six hours a day, put up scaffolding on a five story castle with no safety equipment and was eventually fired. Longest week of my life. It was just like that one episode of The Simpsons.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Thus far, I’ve mostly worked for clients doing smaller project and some work for Cartoon Network. My proudest work is my own personal projects because I feel most passionately about the ideas and look. Passion will always spawn greatness within yourself.

How did you become interested in animation?
Being a product of the late 80’s-early 90’s, I was inundated with a barrage of fantastically crappy cartoons, particularly “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and possibly a little “Jem” thrown in there (she was, after all, truly outrages). When I was around 4 years old, I would Continue reading

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Vrinda Zaveri

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Vrinda Zaveri, freelance illustrator and Animator.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked for a startup animating and illustrating icons.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I worked on a music video for the band Lindtsrom, directed by Oliver Clegg.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am from Bombay, India. I did my postgraduate studies at Continue reading

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Tomek Pilarski

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Tomek Pilarski and I’m a student of animation at University of Fine Arts in PoznaÅ„, Poland.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I’m a student so technically I’m still trying to get into animation therefore no crazy jobs here… at least yet.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
At my University every student works on his/her own animation by themselves until completion, so in all of my projects I was the only person working on them (except musicians), and of course I’m the most proud of my latest project, which is WHADDUP FISH! If you are interested in the story behind that project, you can visit Whaddup Fish! Tumblr and click the link below the vimeo video. The story is too long to put it here and I think is worth reading.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from an extremely small village in the middle of nowhere called Wygoda which means Continue reading

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Hethe Srodawa

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Hethe Srodawa and I work as a concept artist for Trion Worlds.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Nothing crazy, just normal jobs like dog grooming, construction, data entry, working in a bakery ect.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I really enjoyed working on Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption and loved how that game turned out. After seeing the new trailer for Grand Theft Auto V I have to say I’m proud to have worked on that one as well. The entire production looks amazing.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
I love art and stories and always have. Ever since I saw this stuff as a kid I wanted to make it, to be a part of it. The interest started as Continue reading

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Betsy Baytos

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Betsy Baytos…..Illustrator/Animation Choreographer/Filmmaker & Eccentric Dance Historian.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Performed & created the ‘Betsy Bird’ & puppeteered on the Muppet Show…..trained over 250 clowns in a ‘character movement’ workshop for Ringling Bros. ‘Clown College Alumni’…..toured the country in a vaudeville/burlesque show ‘Baggy Pants & Co’ as the featured eccentric dance act.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Working as a Disney animator since 1976, then coming full circle as ‘animation choreographer’ for Disney’s ‘Princess and the Frog’…..Consulting for Cirque Du Soleil…..performing eccentric dance as the ‘Betsy Bird’ on the Muppet Show and performing physical comedy in the Broadway run of ‘Stardust’ in a featured eccentric dance act as ‘Maurice’, but most importantly, bringing this film, which I have researched & worked on for the past 20 years, ‘FUNNY FEET: The Art of Eccentric Dance’, to fruition for the next generation.
How did you become interested in animation?
I have always drawn and danced since I can remember. I discovered eccentric dance while working as an animator at Disney, then discovered Continue reading

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Brynn Metheney

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
My name is Brynn Metheney and I am a freelance illustrator and Concept Artist.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? 
I got my first job when I was 17 and I worked all kinds of jobs through college. I’d say my two craziest jobs were working at a make-up counter in a department store and being a waitress at a country club. I didn’t like them very much, haha!
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
I have a few that I’m very proud of! Last year, my work was included in The Sappi Standard 5. It’s a educational printing manual for designers and firms and it was designed by Studio Hinrichs. I also collaborated with artist and writer, Ethan Nicolle on the cover for Axe Cop – President of the World 2. Recently I’ve been involved with Paizo and Wizards of the Coast on some really fun and exciting projects I’m looking forward to sharing more about. Of course, I’ve always wanted to work in film and the two projects I’ve worked on are very exciting for me! Can’t say much now but I’m looking forward to sharing more about it in the future!
How did you become interested in animation? 
I grew up on a pretty steady diet of Disney cartoons and movies as well as Looney Tunes and Jim Henson. All of these really pushed me to appreciate animation and film at a young age. I remember being amazed that Continue reading