What is your name and your current occupation?
Thomas E. Richner, Associate Professor of Animation at the Columbus College of Art and Design
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Its not too crazy, but I worked at McDonalds the summer before I started graduate school at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television where I studied animation. I’m not sure why I decided on McDonalds, but I’m glad I did it. I learned that I really wanted and needed to ‘make it’ in animation after that experience.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’m very proud of episodes of ‘The Simpsons’ that I worked on. Working on a high profile show is fun because you know a lot of eyes are on your work. However, I’m also very proud of the smaller projects I’ve done, like a commercial I created a couple years back here in Columbus, Ohio. Directing your own work is very rewarding as well.
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How did you become interested in animation?
I started off as a biology major in college, but half way through college I switched my major to art. There were actually a number of us that migrated from the sciences to art that year. I think there is definitely a connection between Continue reading
