Animalators

Michael Jones is the founder of MoGraph Mentor based in Bend, Oregon. During our conversation, we talked about the power of visual journalism, the ins and outs of MoGraph mentor and the future of art education. Links: Website: http://michael-jon.es/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelJones7 MoGraph Mentor: http://www.mographmentor.com/ Highlights: -Self-taught -Character animation -Motion design -Animation Mentor -Learning on projects -Cardboard Castle -MoGraph Mentor -12 weeks of workshopping -Develop artistic skills and professional skills -Provide job placement -Connect mentors with aspiring artists -Students from 70 different countries -Future of education -Always re-making our skill sets -Make sure your product provides value -Freelance balance -Business development as a freelancer -Skills and network correlation -Educate your client -Cost structure of art education -Visual journalism -Time management -Propaganda -Dream client: The New Yorker -Favorite animated film: Tangled -What does your family think

Andrew Vucko is a freelance design director and animator based in Toronto. During the show, we talked about how Dance Dance Revolution changed his life, his personal project: Original, and the challenges in posting work for the world to see. Links: Website- http://vucko.tv/ YouTube Gaming- http://vucko.tv/portfolio/youtube-gaming Original Short- http://vucko.tv/portfolio/original Motionographer- Original- http://motionographer.com/2015/01/21/what-it-takes-to-be-original/ Firewatch- http://www.firewatchgame.com/ Boomerang Mono- http://vucko.tv/portfolio/boomerang Highlights: -Sociology/psychology background -Film school -Dance Dance Revolution changed his life -Big Studios in Toronto -Jumped into full-time freelance -Learning 3-D -Shifting from generalizing to specializing -First personal project -Original Short -Time management -YouTube gaming -Gaming -Firewatch -Sonar Festival -Boomerang Mono Project -Posting your work -Dream Client: Cartoon Network -Favorite animated film: Space Jam -What does your family t

Erin Sarofsky is the owner and executive creative director of Sarofsky based in Chicago, IL. During our conversation, we dove into her process and workflow habits, how she began her company, and what it is like to work on projects with Marvel. Links: Website- http://sarofsky.com/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/Sarofsky Art of the Title article- http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/captain-america-the-winter-soldier/ Animal Kingdom Main Titles- https://vimeo.com/168837557 Highlights: -Digital Kitchen is “where I grew up” -Taking every single opportunity   -Superfad -Communicating budgets with workers -Art of the Title - Captain America: The Winter Soldier -Workflow habits -Concept-ing process -Be careful with partnerships -Creating good workplace culture -Helping younger designers build talent -Always have a junior and a senior on a project -Learning how to be a boss -Community title sequence -Pitching strategies -Studio set-up for Marvel -Focus on design -Favorite parts of working with Marvel -People respond to

Claudio Salas is an independent animator, director and designer based in London. During our conversation, we talk about the tension of being a generalist or a specialist, how to collaborate within the animation community, and a few of Claudio’s latest projects. Links: Website- http://www.claudiosalas.com/ Childline Project- http://www.claudiosalas.com/childline/ The Wisdom of Pessimism Project- http://www.claudiosalas.com/pessimism The Wisdom of Pessimism Project Spreadsheet- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FRA-PjApn88JJEufk_muLWDDdlq1Gz2Yco1tNyTG1HI/edit#gid=0 Blend- http://blendfest.ca/ Wine After Coffee- https://vimeo.com/wineaftercoffee Highlights: -Uncle taught him how to draw, scale and grid -Started on photoshop & flash -Schooling -Intern at Buck LA and NY -Now a full-time freelancer in London -Childline project -Benefits of working in a team -Buck’s team dynamics -Communicating with clients -Transitions and style frames -The Wisdom of Pessimism project -Working with a bunch of freelancers

Phil Borst is the lead motion designer at Spread Truth based in Normal, IL. During our conversation, we discussed how to balance two jobs and a family, learning to perfect camera movements, composition and scene layouts, and the importance of getting feedback from other artists. Links: Vimeo www.vimeo.com/philborst Ligonier https://vimeo.com/157529316 Framed Ink http://www.amazon.com/Framed-Ink-Drawing-Composition-Storytellers/dp/1933492953?ie=UTF8&keywords=framed%20ink&qid=1464286622&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 Spread Truth http://spreadtruth.com/ Highlights: -Went to school for film editing -Wedding videos -Learn how to work on quick deadlines -Graphic design -Started taking on small personal animation projects -Learned animation from tutorials online, reading a lot of books -Animated storyboards with sketches -Designing and animating workflow -Sources of inspiration -Life/Work balance -Learning new things -Trying to get better at design -Framed Ink -Camera movements -Learning about composition and s

Aaron Ray is one of the founders of Legwork studio based in Denver, Colorado. During our conversation, we talked about how the studio got started, the ins and outs of creative project management, and the importance of having creative outlets. Links: Website http://www.legworkstudio.com/ Twitter https://twitter.com/aaronjray Animated Storytelling http://www.amazon.com/Animated-Storytelling-Creating- Animation-Graphics/dp/013413365X Highlights: -Background -Loving to draw -Rust Boy project -3-D Skills -Basic design development -Ad agency -Collective - Marketing Ad for young people -Transitioning into Animation -Started Legwork in 2008 -Team size growth up to 14 -Defining the brand -Pros & cons of being in Colorado -Company growth -The art of self-editing -Team dynamics -Put your culture/tone into it -Challenges of managing -Book: Animated Storytelling -Timelines -Storyboards -Thick skinned -Other creative outlets -Future of Legwork -Dream client: Music Videos -Favorite animated film: Ernest & Celestine

Rachel Yonda is the senior graphics producer for The Late Late Show with James Corden based in Los Angeles, California. During the conversation, we discussed her transition from television to freelance and back to television, how to escape creative dry spells and where to go for creative inspiration. Links: Website: rachelyonda.com Twitter: twitter.com/rachelyonda Highlights: -Obsession with animated characters as a kid -NYU -First Internships -Little Einsteins Rigs -Transition into freelance -TV motion design vs. studio work -CTN Expo -Transition back to TV -Overlap from freelance career -The Late Late Show with James Corden -Senior Graphics Producer -Day to day work - games, headlines, etc. -Role changes every hour -Collaboration within the workplace -Being a lifelong learner -Creative dry spells -”You can’t animate life if you don’t live life.” -Places for inspiration -Dream client: Find illustrators and animators I admire and work with them -Favorite animated film: The Big Snit -What do the people you lov

Greg Gunn is a creative director at Blind studios based in Los Angeles, California. During the episode we talked about the importance of creative weightlifting, the pros and cons of art school and the importance of developing and sharpening ideation skills. Links: Mythical Mondays: https://vimeo.com/151205483 Website: http://www.ggunn.com TLDR: http://www.ggunn.com/tldr/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/grgnn Highlights: -Otis College of Art and Design -3D Animation -Thrown into directing -Benefits of art school -Design thinking -Importance in finding a teacher, mentor -Transition from school to director -Ego & creative control in a project -Working with clients -Speaking truths over yourself -Personal projects -Mythical Mondays -Creative weightlifting -Becoming a creative director -A day in the life of Greg Gunn -Keeping skills fresh -Style vs. substance -Sharpening ideation skills over technical -Teaching -Dream client: A nonprofit, help create a video that will tangibly help people -Favorite animated fil

Chris Kelly is a creative director and co-owner of Odd Fellows, a sateen design and motion studio in San Francisco, CA. During this episode we discuss how Odd Fellows grew into the company it is today, the role of Creative Director, the advantages of blending styles on a project, and the difficulties of making the transition from artist to manager. Links: Website: http://chriskel.ly/ OddFellows: http://www.oddfellows.tv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrusKelly Bot & Dolly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6JcybgDFo Highlights: -Background- fine art focus -Adobe cut and paste challenge -Auto Fuss -Transition from 2 to 11 employees -Workflow -Creative directing -Working remotely vs. locally -Freelance staff -Advantages of collaborating with a lot of different people -Diversity of styles -Blending different strengths & styles -Pitches -Introverted -Managing -The fear of letting go -Dream client: Any client that trusts you -Favorite animated film: Tall Tales & Legends -What do your kids think you do:

Marcus Eckert is a programmer and motion designer based in Oslo, Norway. During this episode, we discuss Wide Sky, taking negative feedback, where to start when learning code languages and the importance of developing new skills and improving on the old skills. Links: Website: http://www.marcuseckert.com/ Squall: http://www.marcuseckert.com/squall/ Tumblr: http://marcus-experiments.tumblr.com/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/marcus_eckert Wide Sky: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wide-sky/id592925278?mt=8 Wide Sky Trailer: https://vimeo.com/57916203 Highlights: -Background -From journalism to counselor to freelance motion design -Wide Sky game & its trailer -Process of getting better, trying old work again -Coding & expressions -Taking feedback -Advice for anyone looking to get into creative projects -App culture -Squall -Stop motion -Google/ Apple Motion Design -Future for Marcus -What Marcus is learning right now -Advice on starting to learn code languages -Tools for After Effects -Dream client: S

Michelle Higa Fox is a director and animator based in Brooklyn, New York. She owns Slanted Studios which focuses on creating mixed-media animation for experiences of any kind. During the episode, we discussed her permanent public art pieces, how she started with Mixtape Club, and the importance of building trust with a client. Links: Slanted http://www.slanted.studio/ Website: http://www.higafox.com/ Twitter https://twitter.com/higapod Squall http://www.marcuseckert.com/squall/ Highlights: -Background -Transition into animation -Mixtape Club- the first business -Music videos -10-11 of freelancing months & breaking for 2 months for personal projects -Transition from doing every style to being a director and needing to make those calls for clients -Make things over and over again to get better -Pitches: committing to making something look a certain way -Making depth without using 3D software -Building trust with a client -Interactive installation in an airport -Touchdesigner -Love for stop motion -Squall

Jordan Scott is a 2D animator, designer and illustrator currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. He is in the process of transitioning from freelancing to art directing for the Odd Fellows Studio in Portland. During the conversation, we discussed Ice Cream Hater, how to get started in freelance, and the importance of finding work that fulfills you. Links: Twitter https://twitter.com/jdashscott Website http://j-scott.com/ Ice Cream Hater https://twitter.com/icecreamhater Odd Fellows http://www.oddfellows.tv/ Highlights: -How Jordan got started -Making movies in high school -Vancouver Film School -Digital Kitchen, Lifelong Friendship Society -Getting laid off and forced into freelancing -How to approach freelance work -What to put on your website -Honesty is the best medicine -Being clear on money, time and expectations with clients -Share your work -”It would be like painting something and putting it in the closet” -Odd Fellows -Why the shift from freelance to full-time -Pros and cons of working in a team vs. fr

Sander van Dijk is a freelance animator from Brooklyn, New York. During this episode, we talked about his background in architecture and carpentry, why he switched to freelance and the importance of designing work that matters. Links: Wish List After Effects http://www.sandervandijk.tv/after-effects-features Twitter https://twitter.com/georegulus  Website http://www.sandervandijk.tv/ Sugar Detox Project: http://www.sugardetox.me/ Time Well Spent Project: http://timewellspent.io/ Facebook Redesign: http://dcurt.is/facebooks-predicament Motionographer article: http://motionographer.com/2015/12/15/trends-with-benefits/ Steve Jobs’ Speech: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html Highlights: -Transition from architecture and carpentry into animation -King and Country brought Sander to the U.S. -Worked for Buck -Transition to freelance -Move away from advertising -Importance of communicating life changing ideas -Daily choices -Personal next steps -Choosing clients that support what you believe -

Erica Gorochow is an animator based in Brooklyn, New York. She owns a studio called PepRally and loves collaborating with other artists around the world. During this episode, we talked about app designing, the Why Pay? project, and the importance of good writing. Links: Specimen: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/specimen-a-game-about-color/id999930535?mt=8 PepRally: http://peprally.co/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gorociao Why Pay?: https://vimeo.com/145548262 Highlights: -How Erica got into animation -As a kid always wanting to be an animator -Learning After Effects -Film degree from Northwestern -Transition from 9-5 to freelance -Pros/Cons: working for a company right out of school -Creating a safe space to ask questions -PepRally -Collaborating -Why Pay? -Focus on design and art direction -Relationships, marketing, getting clients -Writing for motionographer and Creators Project -“Writing is one of the most important things in the director's process” -Bringing on a copy writer -App called Specimen - a gam

Seth Eckert is a freelance animator and the owner of The Furrow, a studio specializing in animation, illustration, direction and film, based in Lexington, Kentucky. During our conversation, we talked about the practicalities of freelancing, the pro's of collaboration and the difficult balance of structuring work and life. Links: https://twitter.com/seth_eckert https://dribbble.com/seth_eckert http://setheckert.com/ http://thefurrow.tv/  Highlights: -Hating the work you used to do -How to find satisfaction in the work that you’ve done -The power collaboration -New people helps make up for your weaknesses -Cel work -How Seth started in animation -School -Learning programs -Jumping to freelance from full time job -Insurance and retirement -Working with Facebook -Mimicking people’s work -Life/work balance -Business names -Directing, animation, communication balance -The future of Furrow -Dream client: people who are the coolest to work with -Favorite animated film: Tangled -What does your daughter think you do: I

Troy Church is a Senior Experience Designer at Adobe in Seattle, WA. During the conversation, we discussed how the design community can be involved in improving Adobe products, the future of After Effects, and Troy’s role at Adobe. Links: http://blogs.adobe.com/aftereffects/ (AE team blog) http://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html (Submit bugs and feature requests for any Adobe Product) https://forums.adobe.com/community/aftereffects_general_discussion (After Effects User-to-User Forum ) http://www.troychurch.com/ https://twitter.com/tchurch     Highlights: -Role at Adobe -Working on a small team -Creative cloud business model -Been at Adobe for 10 years -Future of animation -We interact with our users all the time -Huge databases of what people think -Trip reports -How can users be a part of helping the product -Forums -Submit bugs -iPad pro -Flash changes -Google's use of animation -Dream client/product/After Effects: a good story -Favorite animated film: the incredibles -What do the people you love think

Jorge Canedo Estrada lives in Vancouver, Canada and is a creative director and animator at Giant Ant. During our conversation he shared about how he started in animation, his role and the team dynamics at Giant Ant, and his learnings from Blend. Links: Giant Ant: http://www.giantant.ca/ Guyana: https://vimeo.com/96605256 https://twitter.com/jrcanest http://www.jrcanest.co/   Highlights: -Motion animation with a camera in Bolivia -Cyber Cafes -Mom got him first gig -Scholarship at Vancouver Film School -Giant Ant -Monday morning planning -Half and half animating and creative direction -Team dynamics -Pros and cons of working for a studio vs. freelancing -“Sometimes the best way to grow is to find the best person for the job and learn from them.” -Future of Giant Ant -Learnings from Blend -Dream client: The one that he doesn't know that he would love -Favorite Animated Film: Toy Story -What your kids think you do: "He thinks I click on metal all day" -Animalator: A llama, the national animal for Bolivia

Adam Plouff is a freelance motion designer and animator based in Atlanta, Georgia. During our conversation, we discuss the beginnings of Rubberhose, how to start coding for animation, and his most recent project: “Why Pay?”. Links: Why Pay: https://vimeo.com/145548262 Rubberhose: http://www.battleaxe.co/   Highlights: - Photoshop T-Shirt Designer - Lead singer of a hardcore metal band - Learned Final Cut 6 & After Effects - Animators Kit - Writing expressions - “Try to push yourself forward with every project.” - How to make lines, curves and invert values and volumes - Rubberhose beginnings - ”Coding can be taunting: someone described it as staring into the void” - ”I wrangle data with code. If you can think of it in those terms: it’s just a different way of managing data.” - Dream client: Myself. - Favorite Animated Film: Iron Giant , Rejected by Don Hertzfeldt - What your kids think you do: I make robots - Animalator: A sloth because they are adorable, and they know how to chill and I don’t.

David Stanfield is a motion designer and director based in Charleston, South Carolina. During our conversation, we discussed his journey from an advertising major to a freelance animator, the pros and cons of animating with a design background, and the Nine Squares project.   Links: Blend: http://blendfest.ca/  Nine Squares: http://9-squares.tumblr.com/   Highlights: - Advertising major with design classes - Animation for TV and broadcasting - Pros and cons to having a design background - Illustrator and photoshop background - Having a harder time with space and dimensions - A piece of advice: “Don't worry about the animation just yet, start by making it look as good as possible, and telling the story in the most effective way. Worry about the animation later. Don’t limit yourself with fear of not being able to animate it.” - Making the transition to freelance - “There are more interesting things to aspire to then being comfortable.” - Nine Squares - Dream client: people who know what they want, more kid foc

Allen Laseter is a freelance animator and illustrator based in Nashville, TN. In our conversation, Allen discusses the importance of storyboarding, how to balance work and social life, and gave some tips on where to start with frame by frame animation.   Links: Coke project: https://dribbble.com/shots/2226244-Retweets-of-Love-Diet-Coke Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lasetat Perky Bothers: http://www.perkybros.com ”Are You Wondering:” https://vimeo.com/130635635   Highlights: - Graphic design history transition to directing to animation - What he loves more about animation over live video - Tension between mind and implementation - Problem critiquing in the moment instead of allowing his mind to allow him to create - Creative process (shot to shot) storyboards - Storyboards for clients - Frame by frame animation - where do you start? - Link to quoted people's work - Are you wondering? project - Photoshop for frame by frame production - Hand letter design - on coke dribble times squares - Mix between working at h