John K. Lei

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
Hey there, my name is John K. Lei. I am an animation director and artist. I recently finished up Assistant Directing on Johnny Test, season 5. Currently I am freelancing design and development, and working on my website and blog.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Well, I worked as a graphic designer for a small company in Toronto. Of course, there were the long hours (my first day there was 15 hours) and crazy expectations (I had 3 days to conceive, create and put together all the art and signage for a fashion show). However, the craziest thing about that job were the unrelated skills I developed (fixing computers and photocopiers, painting the office, being the delivery boy and my favourite – fixing the phones). I’m surprised I got any of the design work done.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I really like funny, zany shows like Johnny Test because our crew can have lots of fun. Also, working on features like Curious George is nice because we can afford time to create some beautiful artwork. I also liked illustrating the black and white art for some of the Franklin the Turtle books – it’s a nice break away from the typical animation production.

How did you become interested in animation?
Naturally, I got into animation by watching a lot of cartoons on television when I was a young kid. Some of my favourite shows were The Flintstones, Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies, Battle of the Planets (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman) and Starblazers (Space Cruiser Yamato). I was intrigued by Continue reading

Brad Graeber

What is your name and your current occupation?
Brad Graeber, Chief Executive Officer, Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked as an editorial cartoonist at 3 small Texas newspapers. It was good preparation for working in animation, having to contend with unmovable deadlines and getting something out everyday.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Personally I really enjoyed working on the Clerks IP with Kevin Smith, and we have had a blast working on Mickey Mouse and Oswald on the cinemas for the Epic Mickey game.

How did you become interested in animation?
Even in 3rd grade, when we had prototypal “what do you want to be when you grow up” project I knew that I wanted to be in animation. I really got hooked Continue reading

Nikolas Ilic

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Nikolas Ilic and I am currently working at ToonBox Entertainment in Toronto as a Junior Designer.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Nothing to to crazy at all, I worked as a cook at a pizza joint during and after highschool. It was alot of fun, especailly all the crazy customers and the late night drunks!
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Well right now the projects I am working at ToonBox are quite exciting. It is a pretty young and ambitious studio. I am jumping from project to project which is always fun and refreshing. Right now I am designing model packs for their upcoming TV series in development and also working on their upcoming feature film! Other then that making my own short film was something I loved  to be able to do and hope to do one day again!
How did you become interested in animation?
I became interested in animation through childhood cartoons for sure. Some of the cartoons that inspired me were Tazmanian devil, Pink Panther, Inspector gadget,  X-men, Ninja Turtles, Pinky and the Brain,  and Samurai Jack the list goes on really.  Also I have to give credit to Continue reading

Caue Zunchini

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Caue Zunchini, I’m a Freelance Animation Artist (Background Design and Painter, Character Design, Storyboard, 2D Digital Animation, Clean Up and Illustrator). And an art collector lover (action figures, books, dvds, posters and etc).

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Just one. When I was young I used to work in a gift company testing pens like an assembling line, checking the ink and testing on a paper. I used to test more than 1000 pens per day, It was really exaustive and boring hahahahah.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
All these shows are from Brazil, so probably many people from other countries don’t know Fudencio e Seus Amigos season 6 – MTV Brazil (2009  Popota – pilot (2010) Gui e Estopa season 3 (2011-2012)

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from São Paulo (Brazil), I always breathed animation since my childhood. I grew up watching cartoons and movies specially Continue reading

Warren Leonhardt

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

What is your name and your current occupation?
Warren Leonhardt, story artist at Blue Sky Studios

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Worked as a logger, prep cook at a truck stop, janitor at a hospital and a shoe repairman for a day. I thought about going into amateur kickboxing in 1993 or 94 after being invited by my coach to train in Thailand, but I’m too darn lazy when it comes right down to it.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
It’s not so much the gig as the folks I’ve been lucky enough to work with. I’ve been on great crews such as the one we had at Red Rover studios up in Toronto in the early ’00s. We had a blast making Puma, Mexican Gerber commercials, and concert videos for R. Kelly when he was just on the cusp of going completely bonkers. I had to draw his recently deceased mother as an angel who talked to him, which was awkward, to say the least. As far as movies or recognizable credits go, I’d have to say those guys at Sony who made ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ were really awesome for the short time I was on that movie. Still pals with a few of em. But there were fun crews in Ottawa, Copenhagen, LA, or Toronto that I’d like to gather together in a room again anytime, regardless of the job.  Of course I have high hopes for the movie that I’m working on right now. The crew at Blue Sky has some really bright and eccentric people here, which is always awesome to be around. Makes for good comedy bits.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
Same as anyone else, I guess. Television reruns of classic Looney Tunes and Disney shorts, mostly. There was one Disney special every Sunday evening when I was a kid. I was also a “Saturday Morning” kid, but I really liked waking up really early weekday mornings and watching original Tom & Jerry cartoons, Looney Tunes on Saturday morning and these Disney specials on Sundays. On one of those behind the scenes things, Walt Disney revealed that real live people made these cartoons with pencils and paper! I decided to try to become one of those guys even if it meant I had to figure it out myself. I’d have made a crappy chemical analyst anyway. My dad’s job was not for me. I got my hands on Preston Blair’s book and copied stuff from that and comic books.  And there was this other thing, too Continue reading

Chris Savino

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


What is your name and your current occupation?
MY NAME IS CHRIS SAVINO. CURRENTLY I SERVE AS THE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF DISNEY XD’S ANIMATED TELEVISION SERIES: KICK BUTTOWSKI SUBURBAN DAREDEVIL.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
BOY, I DON’T KNOW IF IT CRAZY, BUT ONE SUMMER I TARRED THE ROOFS OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. IT WAS GRUELING AND BACK BREAKING WORK, BUT MY FARMER’S TAN WAS PRETTY AMAZING!

 What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I FIND PRIDE AND LEARNING IN EVERY JOB I HOLD. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE (LUCKY) TO WORK ON SOME REALLY GREAT PROJECTS WITH SOME EQUALLY GREAT AND TALENTED PEOPLE. I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT PROJECT BEING MY
FAVORITE!

How did you become interested in animation?
I WASN’T REALLY “AWARE” THAT ANIMATION WAS A CAREER CHOICE UNTIL LATE HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN I REALIZED THIS I TOTALLY IMMERSED MYSELF IN  Continue reading