Category Archives: Artists Interviews

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Jason Kruse

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Jason Kruse, Cartoonist/Animator

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was a swim instructor for a long time and a worker at Little Caesars but that’s about as crazy as it got.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Though it wasn’t critically well-received, my favorite project I worked on was animating everything in “Master of Orion 3”. A huge undertaking but I had so much creative freedom and got to animate aliens.

How did you become interested in animation?
I started drawing comic strips in college and after that decided to try some animation classes in Manhattan. After that I was hooked.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in Jersey. After college I basically begged my way into a small studio on the shore doing everything from inbetweens to cleanup to full-on animation and storyboards–it was awesome.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
Get up. Go to work or work on my reel and portfolio.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
The chance to be creative. It’s what drives Continue reading

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Rob Davies

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What is your name?

Rob Davies

What would you say has been your primary job in animation?

I don’t know that I’ve had a ‘primary’ job in animation to be honest. My longest stint is as one of the founders/owners of Atomic Cartoons in Vancouver. However, I’ve worn many hats in and out of Atomic.
I started as a traditional animation layout artist. Anyone who’s been around for awhile (pre-digital) knows what that is…
Other titles include character designer, art director, storyboard artist, storyboard supervisor, director, producer, series creator, and presently VP of Development at Atomic Cartoons.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?

Before I broke into the ‘toon biz, I worked as a sign painter, dishwasher (lasted one night), construction laborer, duty-free store clerk, T-Shirt designer, political cartoonist, silk screen printer, art supplies store clerk, even worked the camera counter at Kmart…
Can’t say there was anything that was particularly ‘crazy’ (like juggling flaming chain saws at kids’ parties) although the duty-free store at the BC-Washington State boarder was strange. It required I run down the highway to just past the nearest exit to the boarder crossing and then hand customers their shopping bags. This was to prevent Canadians from loading up on smokes and rye whiskey at the duty-free and then hanging a quick right just before customs. I ran in all sorts of weather. It is Canada after all. Eventually they just closed off the street. Easier.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?

I’m grateful to have been a part of anything, to be honest. But I’m most proud of Beetlejuice the Animated Series, Asterix Conquers America, Eek The Cat, Pinky and The Brain, The Zeta Project, Captain Flamingo, and Atomic Betty.

How did you become interested in animation?

It was pretty obvious, especially in math class, that I was destined to do something with a Continue reading

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Tony Merrithew

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What is your name and your current occupation?
 Tony Merrithew, animator, sculptor, visual development artist.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
 I delivered liquid oxygen to people with breathing problems. I drove a tractor on a tree farm.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
 I worked as an animator on the first California raisins commercials as well as the Noid.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
From Portland oregon. Got a job by walking into Continue reading

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Frank Abney

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http://vimeo.com/41565987
What is your name and your current occupation?
Frank Abney, Animator at Crystal Dynamics.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I actually haven’t had any crazy jobs before Animation, lol. I worked at a few retail places, but nothing out of the ordinary.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My favorite projects so far has been a tv show pilot I worked on called “Miles Across the Sea” at Lightstream Animation Studios, and “Tomb Raider”, at Crystal Dynamics which I just finished work on. “Miles” really stands out to me because we were a small intimate team that felt like a creative family all driving towards the same goal. It was a lot of fun!

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in Alameda, Ca and grew up mainly in a city called Suisun City. I got into the animation business shortly after Continue reading
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Syed Waqar Alam

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What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Syed Waqar Alam. I’m doing the best job in the world, Animation!

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?

None. My first job is animation.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?

I’ve worked on the upcoming hollywood movie “Mega Spider”, It was so much fun to animate 8 legged, freakishly big spider. Recently, I’m working on an Abu Dhabi cartoon TV series “The Adventures of Mansour”.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?

I’m from Pakistan. My childhood is full of Chuck Jones cartoons and Disney movies. I’m a big fan of Pixar movies! Once, I saw the making of Aladdin, Glen Keane flipping his Continue reading
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News: Flintstones storyboards with layouts

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Years ago when I was working at Hanna Barbera working on my What-A-Cartoon shorts, I paid a visit to the archives there. It was filled with all the artwork from every show Bill and Joe had done over the years. It was truly an animated wonderland. Original pencil drawings on paper. I was in awe!

In those days, you were actually allowed to check the artwork out like books at a library, something you can not do at the Disney or Warner Bros archives. I borrowed a Flintstones storyboard because they were always my favorite and pored over it amazed at how well it was drawn and the simplicity of the shots. There was even some cut out scenes that I guess were deleted for time. To my amazement there was some layouts stuff in-between the board as well and it was like truly meeting celebrities because those were the real drawings, the breath and sweat and lifeblood poured into them. I managed to xerox a copy of them but never borrowed another one. I really should have because it’s a true piece of history. Anyway, without further adieu I give you orignal scans of the storyboard for Episode 72; Fred Strikes Out, written by Joanna Lee. I don’t know who boarded it but IMDB says Don Jurwich and Lin Larsen did layout so it might have been one of them.