Author Archives: Laura

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Heber Alvarado

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What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Heber Alvarado and I am working proffesionally as a Senior Artist with Microsoft Game Studios. I also freelance on film projects and teach character modeling at local schools from time to time.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I had a couple jobs in high school but the craziest one was working in a warehouse driving a pallet jack  (like a mini forklift of sorts) you were basically lifting heavy boxes all day and had to make a “daily quota” or you would be fired. Needless to say I was there about 5 days into it when I crashed my pallet jack into a large beam that had lots of boxes full of eggs stacked on top. It was a disaster , a domino effect if you will. After getting chewed out by the supervisor over it and having to clean it up I decided I was never going to work that type of job ever again, lucky to say I never did.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Recently wrapped up a couple of cinematic trailers for a client (Saints Row 3 and Rift) that is pretty recent work and It proved very rewarding, got to work with close friends on them and learn a lot from them as well.  Before that it would have to be when Continue reading

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Lyndon Ruddy

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Lyndon Ruddy. I’m a story artist currently working at Paramount Animation in Hollywood.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
 Nothing too crazy, mostly art related jobs, although I did work at an industrial laundry mat when I was 15. The ones with the giant washers and dryers. If I fell in, that’d be it.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I loved storyboarding on Gnomeo and Juliet, The Legend of Tembo ( the project was shelved) Tinkbell and Planes Franchie movies.  The Pramount project I’m currently storyboarding on is going to blow people away. Its going to be really good.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Toronto Canada. I went to Sheridan College and studied classical animation. My first job was as a layout artist on Ewoks and Droids for Lucasfilm. It was Continue reading

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Colter Avara

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Colter Avara. I am currently a freelance illustrator, animator and designer. Most of my clients are mobile game and app developers!

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Oh man, I think I am pretty fortunate on that front. I spent several years working various IT jobs, unfortunately that isn’t crazy. Just boring. The craziest job I ever had was given to me by my dad. When I was a kid, I really wanted a video game. I think it was Sonic The Hedgehog 2 but I’m not 100% sure, I wanted pretty much every game.  In an attempt to teach me about working for things in life, he told me that he would buy the game for me if I plucked every clover flower in our yard. Our yard was over an acre and full of mostly clover, just to give you an idea of what I was dealing with. It was crazy! I spent almost an entire week filling up drywall buckets with flowers. I don’t think either of my parents predicted that I would be so diligent, but the buckets of clover flowers and the swarm of pissed off honey bees told them otherwise. They had me stop at around 4-5 buckets.  I earned the video game and possibly destroyed an ecosystem in the process. Sorry, to any honey bees out there. I’m probably going to get trolled by honey bees now.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I enjoyed working on all of my projects, but I had the most fun on the projects where I had a little more creative freedom, particularly on a social game that I worked on called, Rock Riot. It was a guitar hero style facebook game. The team really let me take the reigns creatively and the player community was really into it! That was the best part, seeing the players enjoy the items I had created. I’ll never forget the first time I saw players using the turkey guitar I made for Thanksgiving. That was hilarious.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am originally from Maryland and I am now living in Pennsylvania. My professional career started in 2008 when I worked with John Kricfalusi on The George Liquor Program. After that, Continue reading

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Frank Detrano

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What is your name and occupation?
Frank Detrano. Storyboard Artist & Character Designer for Finetoon Animation

What have been some of the crazier jobs you’ve had before getting into animation?
I think I’ve had a more interesting and varied past than most artists in the field, having been a professional opera singer, a teacher of ancient history and a personal trainer.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Mostly all of the shows have found a personal niche in me. However, if I had to choose one it would be Clifford Puppy Days. It was educational and entertaining at the same time. Plus I would draw dogs frolicking and playing all day and always came home in a great mood.

How did you become interested in animation?
I could always draw, even from an early age and did Continue reading

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Darren Kiner

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Darren Kiner – CGI Lighter / Compositor / Supervisor.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Optical Effects for a surf film, before moving to LA. I also worked my way through college as a busboy. Sorry, not very crazy.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Aladdin, Iron Giant, Fantasia 2000, Thirteen Days, Charlie Wilson’s War (the last two being somewhat historically relevant).

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Escondido, CA – UCSD Film School – Lucky to Continue reading