Chris Oatley

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Chris Oatley. I was a Visual Development Artist and Character Designer at DisneyToon Studios (most recently designing characters for Disney’s ‘Planes’ franchise) before I left to start The Oatley Academy Of Concept Art & Illustration. At The Oatley Academy, I teach Composition, Color Theory and Digital Painting. I also have a Character Design Workshop coming up soon.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
At age sixteen I submitted my illustration portfolio along with a standard application for employment at my neighborhood Kroger and was immediately hired as a cake decorator. They also wanted me to do the in-store illustrations – china markers on the windows and what have you.  I think I started out at $12 an hour. It was way more than any of my friends were making at Bob Evans or Dippin’ Dots or wherever. It was my first job and I was already getting paid (well) to draw….until the US Department Of Labor called two days later and shut me down.  An industrial meat slicer was located within a certain proximity of the cake decorating station and thus there existed the possibility of accidental lacerations. The liability waiver I had signed didn’t count, legally, because I was a minor.  I was immediately demoted to bag boy. I liked bagging groceries because I could chit chat

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Michelle Lin

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
My name is Michelle Lin, and I am a freelance illustrator/character designer and aspiring vis-dev artist.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I haven’t held that many crazy jobs, but I have worked for some very interesting characters who I probably shouldn’t name…  (My friends can attest to some of the interesting times I had working as an office assistant at Art Center).  I will share, however, during my time at USC, I storyboarded for a live action short and found myself on a late night road trip to a farm, getting in a minor car accident, and staying up all night baking cookies in the shape of chickens.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? 
I haven’t worked on anything big, but I’ve had some cool opportunities to work on projects with friends and former classmates.  Most of us went on different paths after graduating, so getting to work together was always a treat.  Recently, my friends Dom, Jackie, and I made an animated “Mean Stinks” campaign video for a Tongal competition and won first place!
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? 
I’m from Houston, Texas and moved to LA to pursue animation at USC.  Honestly, I never really considered animation as a career until Continue reading

Rin Kurohana

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Rin Kurohana. Im an independent artist and character designer and just started to get into animation.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I havent really done anything crazy before.. I was never good at anything besides drawing.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Im currently working on a project based on Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Aside from my personal projects i think this is one of my favorites so far. I always wanted to put my own twist to folklore and fairytales, so i started a new portfolio based on this concept when this project fell onto my lap.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Im reside in Los Angeles. I started developing character brands and just wanted Continue reading

Ben Camberos

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Ben Camberos, Illustrator and Character designer.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I always been involved in art, i guess that would be pre press technician.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I still have a long way to go, but i guess that would be the current job i have right now…I’m working as a character designer for a feature animated film here in Mexico.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Im from Tijuana Mexico, and i have to admit that Continue reading

Randy Bishop

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name’s Randy Bishop and currently, I work as a freelance illustrator and character designer which is fantastic.

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

Oh goodness… I’ve worked a lot of jobs before being able to support my family doing freelance. I’ve worked landscaping, retail, construction; I even drove an ice cream truck one summer. That was a cool job.

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

Right now I’m actually working on a project that I’m really excited about. The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a old timey radio performance show that has a great fan base and a lot of great people working on it. I was approached by the creators to illustrate one of their properties into graphic novel form and it’s been a blast to work on. It always helps when you enjoy associating with the people you work with. My very favorite project to work on is a personal project I’ve been collaborating with a friend of mine on for a few years. It’s a property called Monomyth that we’re very proud of and very protective of. We’ve had to put it on the back burner for a while until we get the time and funds to really work on it full time, but once we get started it’s going to be phenomenal. We’re planning on telling an epic story directly influenced and surrounded by multiple ancient mythologies including greek, norse, egyptian, as well as others. It’ll be done in graphic novel form, but we like to think of it in terms of animation. The stylization of the characters as well as the storytelling itself lend it to eventually being made into an animated franchise.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? 
 I’m from Idaho which isn’t a place where you’d Continue reading

Justin Rodrigues

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Justin Rodrigues. I’m currently a freelance character designer and visual development artist. Some of my clients include Fisher-Price, Starburns Industries, and Wonderverse Studios.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I spent quite a few years in retail, which can be torturous. It involves long, crazy hours and some horrible customers. I managed a comic book store for a couple years, which wasn’t too bad. It was cool to see that side of the industry and I got to read all the comics I wanted to for free. I also spent a year moderating chat logs for an online MMORPG. There are some pretty crazy stories I could tell about that one!

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’d have to say I’m pretty proud of the project I’m currently working on. I’ve been on it since the very beginning and I’m really happy with how it’s coming along. I’ve had a hand in a lot of different roles – from character design to backgrounds to prop design, so I’m really honored to be a part of it. I can’t say much more about it just yet, but I think it will be really cool once it’s released.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in Fresno, California. I’ve had a passion for art and drawing for as long as I can remember. I moved to Los Angeles to go to college, thinking I would try and get into the music industry of all things. I very quickly failed a calculus class and realized business wasn’t for me. I remember walking past the Continue reading