Tag Archives: The Simpsons

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Ruben Chavez

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Ruben Chavez – Key Background Painter – Starz/Film Roman Freelance Background Painter – Disney TV
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Bellman/Room Service waiter for Hilton Hotels – Lots of crazy stories I could tell, but I won’t !  Repair and deliver electric motors for industrial businesses such as Farmer John’s .
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Hands down, Iron Giant and Cat’s Don’t Dance, other’s are The Simpsons Movie, Juniper Lee, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Lilo & Stitch 2, and most recently, Dan Vs.
How did you become interested in animation?
Comics and animation were my favorite interests since I was a child, I was constant;y drawing characters and scenes every chance I had, it was Continue reading

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Dane Romley

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Dane Romley and I am currently head of the training department at Topdraw Animation studio’s in Manila Philippines.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Oh wow let’s see, I worked a few summers at Valley Sash and Door in Burbank, California.  In college I worked a few semesters at FedEx ground in one of their warehouses, and then I also worked at Trader Joe’s for a little bit.  I was a late night security guard for a week before I quit due to the late hours.  Oh and I was also a video game tester for a month.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
The project I am most proud of I would have to say is The Simpsons.  I was a character layout artist for 5 years and it’s really nice being able to say I had a part in one of the biggest culture icons of our time.  Other projects I’m proud of are Mini Loup, Guess How Much I Love You, and Dennis & Gnasher.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born and raised in Sun Valley, California; just outside Burbank.  I attended Woodbury University from 2001 to 2005 and it was my professors that encouraged me to apply to The Simpsons as I approached my senior year.  Two of them were working there at the time and they took me to Film Roman to meet some of the artists and directors, and from there I took the test and got accepted.  If  it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have got the job, I owe them a lot.  August of 2005 I officially started my animation career.

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Kickstarter: Techtopia: An Animated Comedy Short

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Here’s an interesting Kickstarter with a technology twist. I’d actually like to see this made! Check it out!

The Finkelsteins, a family of out-dated gadgets, cast out of Techtopia by Gooog Inc, find purpose again by starting a temp agency in the suburbs of Passé, “Where no one goes obsolete!”

Techtopia: an animated comedy short pilot, is brought to you by this excellent team:

3-time Emmy winning Simpsons director, Mark Kirkland…
Life of Pi animation lead, Will Kistler…
Voice of Cartoon Network’s Tom and Jerry, Rick Zeiff…
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! writer, Libby Ward….
Voice of Leonard on Nick’s Get Blake, Kevin Glikmann… 

Audio recording completed (Igloo Studios). Working with a great animation company (Lady Bug Studios) to produce a high-quality product. Please help us see this animated project to to the finish line! www.TechtopiaShow.com 

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Thomas E. Richner

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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.

 

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

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Carlos Ramos

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What is your name and your current occupation? 
Carlos Ramos. I’m currently freelancing as a storyboard artist, character designer, writer. I just got done storyboarding on all the Madagascar trailers and ads and a bit on Dreamwork’s Rise of the Guardians.  And as always pitching, pitching.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Thankfully I only had one job before getting into animation. In high school through my freshman year at college I was a Show Controller at Universal Studios Hollywood. Basically crowd control and making all the park announcements. That place is a real dump and I can’t imagine why people would pay money to go there but it was a really fun job.


What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Well, I haveto say the show I created at Nickelodeon: The X’s where I served as art director as well. The design theory was “No lines” so everything was colored shapes. AND it wasn’t in Flash. All hand drawn and animated by the amazing crew at Rough Draft, Korea. An extremely tough series we all bled on. I just recently rewatched a few episodes and it still holds-up.

How did you become interested in animation?
My earliest memory was attending a screening of a pencil test of The Black Couldron at the Disney Burbank lot when I was a kid. I was forever changed by the experience and actually seeing the bungalows where the animation happened intrigued me for sure. I was obsessed with Mad Magazine growing-up and always assumed that’s where I’d work when I “grew up”. But after the original editor William Gaines died the magazine’s quality did too so I had to think of another plan. I was going to Fairfax High School in the magnet arts program and one Saturday took an animation class and the instructor said that Cal Arts was the only school for people seriously contemplating a life in cartoons. I took those words to heart and was determined to get in even after being rejected and having to re-apply the following year. Looking back it was funny because I never visited the campus before the day of registration. And it was just a short drive from my house. I just knew it’s what I wanted.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from L.A. born in Burbank. Attended Cal Arts and got a job at DIC as a development artist the summer of my freshman year. My plan was to graduate college with a BFA with 3 years of experience under my belt. It was a balsy plan that worked out. I did the full four years and worked the summers and freelanced for Disney Television and DIC. Looking back I got really lucky. DIC was the funnest job I’ve ever had and at Disney I was a character designer on Nightmare Ned – a show I doubt anyone remembers but had the most hardcore bad ass crew ever assembled. Seriously everyone on that show went on to Continue reading