Tag Archives: Disney

3 Comments

Warren Leonhardt

  By

 

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
No comments

Jean Texier

  By


What is your name and your current occupation?

My name is Jean Texier. That’s French, so it’s not Jean as in JeanHarlow, but Jean as in Jean-Claude Van Dame. I’m living and working in France and  I’m what you call a story artist, or a story-boarder. I also occasionnally do designs and illustrations.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
A long time ago, I worked as a bell-boy in a big parisian hotel. The high-point of the job was a conversation I had in an elevator with Burt Lancaster and I also remember serving a hot chocolate to Kim Wilde at 2 in the morning. Prior to animation I worked in a Fish n’Chip shop in Dublin, Ireland, which was great fun.  One could write a sit-com on the goings-on over there.
How did you become interested in animation?
My dad used to take us to see old Disney flicks in the cinema, and  as early as I can remember I was being very selective about what artwork was good and what was less good. Also in France there’s a Continue reading
2 Comments

Chris Savino

  By

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

One Comment

Boom Cookie

  By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


What is your name and your current occupation?
Boom Cookie. I am an illustrator, currently designing for animation.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation
One of my first jobs was for a local movie theater that only had two screens (I watched Disney’s Tarzan and Notting Hill about a dozen times)… and UPS on the night shift packing trucks. That was only fun because I worked with my girl friend, and we’d have farting contests to see who would have to evacuate the truck first. Once in college I held a job as an office clerk at a rental agency. And the worst was when I tried telemarketing for home security systems. I had to quit when I found out the call lists were for the parents of newborns… and I didn’t want to know how they got that info.  All that before I realized – OH, I can make money from my art work!!

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I sure enjoyed working on “Robot and Monster” for Nickelodeon. The crew was amazing, the style was fun, and the writing was awesome. ‘Twas a good fit.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in Massachusetts (USA). I always loved animation, so it made sense to pursue the business when I dedicated myself to art. At 21 I moved to San Francisco to go to art school, and I really loved my classes. I met with the head of the animation department every semester to get her advice on what classes to take, and in my last year Continue reading

No comments

Lock Wolverton

  By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


What is your name and current occupation?
My name is Lock Wolverton, retired animator and animation instructor from the Walt Disney Co. I am currently an animation instructor at Tulsa Tech.

What are some if the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
 Many, many years ago I was an attack dog handler for the US Air Force, guarding 100 megaton nuclear weapons on a tiny island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This was during the Cuban middle crisis. Few people know how close we came to a nuclear exchange between the US and the former Soviet Union. The world leaders during that time took the human race dangerously close to extinction.

What are some of your favorite projects you are proud to have been a part of?
During my time with Disney I had the privilege of designing and directing a series of annual animation events which featured such epic films as Mulan, A Bug’s Life, the re-release of Fantasia, Atlantis the Lost Empire and A Tribute to the Disney Villains. These events drew animators and students from all across the country and around the world. Those in attendance would observe chalk talks and lectures from directors, lead animators and producers who brought these great films to life. We were gathering the who’s who of all of Disney animation. For many it became a life changing experience. I met and taught animation to hundreds of aspiring animators, many of which I still maintain contact to this day.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business? I am from Orlando FL, currently residing in Tulsa OK. I was born at an early age and Continue reading

One Comment

Michael Chase Walker

  By

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


What is your name and your current occupation?
Screenwriter Author Producer Actor Michael Chase Walker, I’m just finishing 2 children’s books with my collaborator UK artist illustrator Jason James and currently producing, writing, and/ or developing three feature films for a major animation studio.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I studied Eastern philosophy and Sanskrit literature’s for 6 years in India and abroad. I also lived, studied and traveled with Dr. Timothy Leary for 3 years.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
The Last Unicorn, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Galaxy High School ( movies and television) Teen Wolf, After Man, The Court Jester. 003 1/2 The Adventures of James Bond Jr. and CBS Entertainment.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Manhattan born and raised. I got into the animation business after Continue reading