What is your name and your current occupation?
Paul Thompson and I’m a motion graphics artist.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? Can’t say I had any jobs you would term as crazy, I was programming before motion graphics and that got a bit boring.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? I quite enjoy doing assembly instruction videos and as far as I can find on the web it seems I have done more than anyone in the world. I’m quite proud of the fact that this is obviously the future and I was one of the first to be involved in this kind of thing.
How did you become interested in animation? Since I was a child watching cartoons, especially Spiderman! I got a present for Christmas when I was a child which was a Disney projector that you held to your eye. You turned a handle and it Continue reading
My name is Luis MarÃa BenÃtez and currently I work as a background artist and as a freelance illustrator.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I had the misfortune of working at a call center. I had moved to another city and I didn’t know how to get started. A real nightmare.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?Â
I’m relatively new in the business so I wouldn’t be able to say that yet.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?Â
I was born in Lobos, Argentina. I got into the animation business after I moved to Buenos Aires, the capital where after a while I recovered my dream of studying animation so I Continue reading
What is your name and your current occupation?
I’m Art Grootfontein, and I’m a freelance animation artist, designer and illustrator.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I would love to say that I was a submarine cook for the British army, or a pet taxi driver in Singapore, but I’m afraid I didn’t work on anything weird before I start my art carreer…
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I think I’m usually happy only with the very latest things I did… recently, I directed a TV spot for Yoplait which I’m really proud of. This spot had been aired during the 2013 Emmy Awards night.  I had the chance to be in charge of the major part of the work (storyboard, design, animation) so it was pretty fun. And these days I’m working on something completely different : an fun eCard for JibJab, and I’m really enjoying working on it too.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?Â
I’m from Paris, France. I studied at the National School of Art & Design in Paris. There I learned graphic design and illustration.
I discovered later that animation was my true passion. I think I had a brain wave when I saw “Gruesomestein’s Monsters” from Mark Ackland and Riccardo Durante.  I understood then I’d have to work on animation !  So I trained myself watching hours of TV animated shorts and series, frame by frame, in order to understand how all this magic was done !  Then I started doing stuff just for me, and when I thought I was ready, I started entering some contests. I had the chance to win a couple of ones, like this bumper for a company named myToons, who disappear a few years later (its aim was to be the “youTube” for animation… fail !)I also did an animated greeting card every year, sending it to everyone in the animation world to get my foot in the door! Gradually, people saw my work, and so I started working on “real” stuff !
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?Â
First I eat some chocolate. Â I sit on my chair and check my mails, hoping I wouldn’t get too much retakes on the animation I sent the day before. Â Then I eat some chocolate, and I work on all the retakes I received by email. Â When I realize it’s the end of the day, I try to wash myself as fast as I can and I eat some chocolate. Â That’s it ! (Kids : don’t try this at home, it does’nt work so well)
What part of your job do you like best? Why?Â
I love the beginning of a project, when everything is still possible. It’s the part where I feel I’m completely free to do what I want (even if i’m obviously not !) I don’t feel any stress at this time and I’m the more creative.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
When Adobe Flash crashes !
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis, how has technology changed in the last few years in your field and how has that impacted you in your job?
I work with Photoshop, Illustrator… and Adobe Flash. Â As I started recently to work on animation, I can’t say that things really changed for me regarding technology. I never learned animation “the old way” with hole punch paper and peg bar…
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
Finding paid gigs and new clients is probably the hardest part of the job in my opinion.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I’m afraid I don’t quite understand the question. But I love brushes and travelling !
Describe a tough situation you had in life.Â
One day, there was no chocolate at the store.
Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
I would love to have time to work on something I really care about, a series concept about a skate team, but I don’t have much to say since I did not do much right now…
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Animation used to be my hobby ! And in a way, it still is.
But, I have to admit, I have a kind of everyday habit, but I’m not comfortable talking about it. The only thing I could say is that it has something to do with cocoa.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?Â
“Hey guys ! I AM an artist trying to break into the business ! So please wait a few years more so I can find my place. Cheers !”
What is your name and your current occupation?
Peter Donnelly. I am a freelance illustrator and animation professional. I develop visual concepts/storyboards for advertising agencies, animation studios and illustrate childrens books.  I also teach film pre-production to 3rd level students and direct animation.
 What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Most of my previous jobs were art related although I did work cleaning shopping malls as a Summer job after school…operating one of those big floor buffers dreaming of escaping..
 What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a partof? Â
The Land before Time, Titan AE, The Thief and the Cobbler, Prince of Egypt to name a few and some short form films and TV projects that have picked up some nice awards along the way.  In total I’ve been credited on around 15 feature films to date. How did you become interested in animation?Â
I was always a fan of the ‘Art’ of animation, the design and mood that could be achieved with shape, line and colour. Although I never had a desire to be an animator , I loved to draw and wanted to be an illustrator and in time realized Continue reading
What is your name and your current occupation? Tom Beattie – Series Producer
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?Â
I used to work in live action commercial and pop video production starting as a runner. There are too many crazy jobs to mention. A few highlights include pigeon wrangling, trying to lay a red carpet in the sea, dragging a vaulting horse back and forth across ‘the’ Abbey Road pedestrian crossing and sticking 100’s of fake flowers into a garden in winter to make it look like spring.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?Â
Again I’ve worked on so many fantastic projects, including Charlie and Lola, but Mr Bean has to be my favorite. It’s been a pleasure working with Rowan Atkinson having followed his amazing career. It has also been great having the entire crew based in the office in the UK. They are a fabulously talented bunch.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from the UK and always had an arts background. I went to art college and then onto university to study Visual Communications. I specialized as an advertising art director/copy writer. I moved to London to continue that career but moved across to the other side of the camera to the production of commercials and pop videos. While freelance I worked at Tiger Aspect, who had a children’s department, and I was offered a full time position starting as a production co-ordinator on the first series of the animated Mr Bean.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?Â
This can vary. On the Mr Bean series I could be reading scripts, watching animatics, viewing animation or attending voice records. With a 52 episode series you are looking at different stages of many episodes at any one time. It’s a lot to keep in your head. I also run the animation and kids department at Tiger Aspect so I’m also developing new shows and overseeing the projects that we’ve completed including Charlie and Lola.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?Â
As above, it’s the variety. Each day is different. From the people I meet and work with to the different stages of a project. I love working on Mr Bean particularly the voice records and mixing an episode with all the different sound effects.
 What part of your job do you like least? Why?Â
Nothing major. There are boring parts of everyone’s job like filing but I can’t complain. I love what I do.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis, how has technology changed in the last few years in your field and how has that impacted you in your job?
The animated Mr Bean is a perfect example. The first series was all hand drawn with 500+ people working on the series. For the second series we didn’t have the time or budget to replicate that. We wanted to produce the series digitally but without a ‘reboot’. We wanted the series to play concurrently with the first without too much difference. We’ve achieved this using a software called Celaction2D along with Adobe Illustrator and a talented team. We now have an in-house crew of 60.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
It’s the funding. It’s a long slog to get a show fully funded (if) and there is a lot of chasing to get things moving and keep the momentum up.
If you could change the way the business works and is run how would you do it?
Tricky question. The industry is changing anyway with so much content online so we’ll see what happens. I’d also say commission all my new shows and fully fund them. 😉
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Many great animators/directors. Richard Purdum directed the first series of Mr Bean. He was from a fantastic group of animators producing some beautiful animation.
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Rejection. While trying to get in to the industry you receive a lot of rejection before you get any interest. Perseverance is the key.
Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
A lot of the projects are in early development so can’t say much but I am excited to be working on Simon’s Cat.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
I collect novelty sunglasses. The wackier the better. I’m not sure why but I do love the character you become when you wear them.
 Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Keep drawing. Almost all animation is digital but we still look for animators with traditional skills. You need to have a solid base and understanding of how things move and are built.
What is your name and your current occupation?
Joe Apel, Flash Animator at Cartoon Network Studios
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked a variety of jobs before I finally got my break in animation. I worked at a Comic Book store at the age of 13 organizing comics. At the age of 15-17, I worked as a camera man for the school district’s cable access station. I washed dishes for a catering service. I worked at a movie theater for 10 years and worked my way up from usher, to projectionist, to Assistant Manager, to Promotions Manager.One job that I thought I would love but ended up hating was working at the Warner Bros. Studio Store in a local mall. I worked in the “gallery” area of the store mostly. I was there to inform people on what the artwork was and sell them cels, maquettes, and limited edition art. I made commission if I sold artwork and they even had a payment plan. I was terrible at the job, I loved the Warner Bros. cartoons so much and I felt it was morally wrong to persuade people into buying animation art when they only intended to come to the mall to buy a pair of jeans. I believe I only worked there for about a month.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I storyboarded on the PBS series, WordGirl, which I find to be an educational and funny show. I created character designs for the pilot of Allen Gregory, which will premiere this fall on Fox. It was inspiring to…. Continue reading
