Animalators

Sarah Blank is a freelance animator, compositor, designer and sometimes-writer/director. In the episode, we chatted with her about CG and live action compositing, Travel Oregon and user interfaces in VR.   Links: Website: www.thesarahblank.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-blank-96062b11/ Travel Oregon: https://bit.ly/2N7dnfb NYU Tisch: http://tisch.nyu.edu/ Nomad Editing: http://nomadedit.com/   Notes: -Apple screen graphics -Game of Thrones Season 1 -Compositing (CG and live action) -Travel Oregon -The forest for the trees approach -NYU Tisch -Nomad Editing -Editing vs. Compositing -Editing on Game of Thrones -Seasons of freelancing -Husband, Dave Blank -Coordinating freelance schedules and taking time off -California Bloodbath -Giving yourself deadlines on personal projects -User interfaces in VR -Commonalities in top-level work across studios -Pigeon-holing artists -Improving as a director -Dream client: Michel Gondry -Favorite animated film: Who Framed Roger Rabbit -What do the people you love thin

Lisha Tan is a Creative Director at The Mill in Los Angeles, CA. In the episode, we chatted about The Story of O.J., reading YouTube comments and managing creative limitations as a director.   Links: Portfolio: http://www.themill.com/portfolio/filter/collection/103/lisha-tan The Mill: http://www.themill.com/ Lilchotchke: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lilchotchke Resolution Design: http://www.resolutiondesign.com.au/ The Pirates of Somalia: https://imdb.to/2M955Gd   Notes: -The Mill LA -Mill+ -Project processes -The Story of O.J. -Jay Z -Reading YouTube comments when a job goes out -Giving and receiving notes as creative director -Communicating vision on a project -Transition to creative direction -Coaching character animators -Personal pitching process -The Mill’s internal resources -Pitching vs. pre-production -Lisha’s process of ideation -Managing creative limitations as a director -Lilchotchke Ceramics -Lisha’s mentors -Resolution Design -The Pirates of Somalia -Developing personal style -Favorite animated fil

Wesley Louis is a Director at The Line Animation out of London, UK. In this episode, we talked about The Line’s team structure, hiring freelancers and Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit.   Links: The Line: www.thelineanimation.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/librabear/?hl=en Tumblr: https://librabear.tumblr.com/ Blogspot: https://librabear.blogspot.com/ Gorillaz - Humility: www.thelineanimation.com/work/gorillaz Jamie Hewlett: http://jamiehewlett.com/ Aya Suzuki: http://ayasuzuki.blogspot.com/ Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit: https://bit.ly/2NHxro8 Electric Theatre Collective: http://electrictheatre.tv/ Partizan: https://www.partizan.com/   Notes: -The Line -The Line's team structure -Founder meetings & complimentary strengths -Hiring freelancers -Gorillaz -Jamie Hewlett -Aya Suzuki -Enforcing cinematic animation perspective -The Line funding their personal projects -Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit -Celebrating personal projects in a big way -Setting deadlines for personal projects -The post-mortem

Manddy Wyckens is a director and designer at Studio AKA. In episode 57, we talk with her about giving direction, doing things she loves and finding a voice.   Links: Website: https://www.manddywyckens.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wyckns Tumblr: http://manddywyckens.tumblr.com/ Studio AKA: https://www.studioaka.co.uk/ 99 Percent Lifestyle Interview https://bit.ly/2zsRRiC Gobelins School: https://www.gobelins-school.com/ CalArts: https://calarts.edu/ Cory Loftis: https://twitter.com/coryloftis?lang=en Revolting Rhymes: https://www.netflix.com/title/80234290   Notes: -Studio AKA -AKA’s pitch process -Giving direction -Finding her craft and voice -Digital classes and animation vlogs -Gobelins School -Sociological differences in schooling -Interning at Disney -Mentor: Cory Loftis -American feedback -Having a voice in client work -CalArts -Focus and spontaneous drawing -Commercial work -Freelance -Compositing -Character design -Freelance life vs. full-time staff work -Short films -Writing a children’s book -Li

Handel Eugene is a motion designer and instructor for Mograph Mentor and Otis College. In the episode, we talked about his journey to Full Sail University, failure motivating success, and his obsession with documenting life. Links: Website: http://handeleugene.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/handel_eugene Spider-Man: Homecoming: https://vimeo.com/250944644 Perception Black Panther Animatic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE_8p58q0z4 Video Copilot: https://www.videocopilot.net/ We Are Royale: http://weareroyale.com/ Notes: -Marvel -Spider-Man: Homecoming -Perception -Client involvement -Black Panther -Full Sail University -After Effects -Jayson Whitmore/We Are Royale -Family on art as a career -Dropping out of college -Failure motivating success -Teaching at Mograph Mentor and OTIS -Learning the tools before you get to school -Tutorials -Personal development -“The Gap” Ira Glass -Having a mentor -Freelance vs. studio work -Gathering inspiration and developing ideas -List obsession -Documenting his process -

Joe Russ is a director, illustrator, motion designer and one of the developers of indie game Jenny LeClue. On the episode, we talked about his transition from freelance motion design to game development, impostor syndrome, and the journey of making Jenny LeClue.   Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mografi_Joe Jenny LeClue: http://jennyleclue.com/ Jenny LeClue Twitter https://twitter.com/JennyLeClue Ben Tillett: https://twitter.com/VoiceOfBen MK12: https://www.mk12.com/ Psyop: http://www.psyop.com/ Gretel: https://gretelny.com/ Fathoms: https://vimeo.com/83345929 Anatomy In Motion: http://mografi.com/anatomyinmotion/ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore: http://morrislessmore.com/?p=app Inside: http://www.playdead.com/games/inside/   Notes: -PAX East 2018 -Jenny LeClue - Detectivu -Core team - Ben Tillett -SCAD -MK12 -Psyop -Impostor syndrome -Gretel -Not just an artist but a professional -Fathoms -Freelancing 9 months per year -Personal projects -Looking back -Learning -From freelance to Jenny

Tuna Bora is an illustrator, production designer, and content creator living in LA. On the episode, we talked about working with Nexus Studios, Hussein Chalayan, and getting out of your head.Links: Website: http://www.tunabora.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tunamunalunaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tunamunaluna/Nexus Studios: https://nexusstudios.com/Patrick Osborne: https://twitter.com/patricktosborne?lang=enJonathan Nkondo: https://www.instagram.com/futursauvage/Otis College of Art and Design: https://www.otis.edu/Hussein Chalayan: http://store.chalayan.com/Hussein Chalayan Table Dress: https://bit.ly/2v6kFLOThree Legged Legs: https://bit.ly/2GTYCJnElastic: https://elastic.tv/Wild Wild Country: https://bit.ly/2FYBYQyHeadspace: https://www.headspace.com/Notes: -Nexus Studios-Directing -Challenges-Writing & narrative-The Artist’s Way-Seeing yourself outside of what you do-Successful strategies for collaboration-Moving from Istanbul, Turkey to Los Angeles, CA-Otis College of Art and Design-Fashion

Alex Griendling is the co-owner of Lunar Saloon with his wife Meg. On the episode, we talked about movie posters, creative freedom, and making what you want.   Links: Lunar Saloon: https://lunarsaloon.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexgriendling Stardeck: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunarsaloon/stardeck-space-grade-playing-cards MCAD: https://mcad.edu/   Notes: -Lunar Saloon -Bouncy Smash -The gaming industry -Cold tweeting -Making what you want -Kickstarters -Stardeck -Astro Alphabet -Interlink -Movie posters -The film industry -Creative freedom -Google -Design vs. Being a designer -Teaching at MCAD -Client relationships -Design process -Starting with sketches -Not being defensive to feedback -Minneapolis -California -Starting Lunar Saloon -The future of Lunar Saloon -Being proud of your work -Twitch -Live streaming -Dream Client: Valve on branding fake corporations and characters within their games -Favorite animated film: Akira, Princess and the Frog, Who Framed Roger Rabbit -What do the peop

Andrew Kramer of Video Copilot joined us for episode 52. We talked about rising to expectations, Intercept, Star Trek lens flares, and relying on the talents of a team. Links: Website: http://www.videocopilot.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/videocopilot Element 3D: https://aescripts.com/element-3d/ Action Movie FX: https://apple.co/1kehsvC SENTiNEL: https://vimeo.com/248374832 Intercept: http://bit.ly/2D4iwii Notes: -Video Copilot -Deciding what to work on -Pushing yourself -After Effects -Star Trek -Concept vs. tools used -Element 3D -Bad Robot/Super 8 -JJ Abrams -Rising to expectations -Outside perspectives -Star Wars: The Force Awakens -Relying on the talents of a team -Tutorials -The After Effects community -Action Movie FX -Client work -Managing time -SENTiNEL -Short timelines -Review sessions -Skill development -Intercept -When to stop tweaking single VFX shots -Directing -Future short films -Writing for scenes -Creating tools -Dream client: Elon Musk -Favorite animated film: Tangled and How to Train

Austin Mann is a travel photographer who is constantly on the move creating content for today’s best brands. He also founded Weld, a co-working space and community for creative pros. On the episode, we talk about fostering creative communities, how to face closed doors in your creative career and how to pitch yourself.   Links: Website: http://austinmann.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinmann WELD: http://www.weld.co/ Good To Great: http://amzn.to/2EbyHj5   Notes: -Weld -Co-working had just begun -We work better together -Creating trust -Collaboration -Asking good questions -Relying on others -Define where we are going -Good To Great -Blind spots -Collective imagination -Pitching ideas -iPhone 6 Project -Photography -What makes a good looking image -Injecting time -Interacting with light -Dream Client: Audi -Favorite Animated Film: Toy Story -What do the people you love think you do for a living: Travel Photography -Animalator: guanaco  

Wesley Slover is the founder of Sono Sanctus, a sound design studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the episode, we talk about Wesley’s music library, learning to think like a designer, and his love for game development.   Links: Website: sonosanctus.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonoSanctus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wslover/ Marmoset Music: https://www.marmosetmusic.com/ Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences: http://www.cras.edu/ Twenty Thousand Hertz: https://www.20k.org/ Jordan Scott: https://t.co/LvQ18QjF3y Level 99 Games: https://www.level99games.com/ Trevor Richardson: http://www.trevorjrichardson.com/   Notes: -Remote Work Model -Sound Design Process -Supporting Animation Studios -Short turnarounds -Pitching -Reference tracks -Wesley’s music library -Marmoset -Poverty Island -Client feedback -Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (CRAS) -Matthew Lee Johnston -Microsoft Game Studios -Audio burnout -Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast -Learning to think like a designer -Getting in the d

Ross Plaskow, is a freelance animator and creator of Meat Mysteries. Having worked with the likes of Google, Target, Disney XD, Hulu, and Facebook, he told us a little bit more about his university beginnings, falling into freelance and the London animation scene.   Links: Website - www.rossplaskow.com Twitter - www.twitter.com/rossplaskow Instagram - /www.instagram.com/rossplaskow/ Meat Mysteries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC0O6WtmY8A Animade - https://animade.tv/ Greg Gunn - https://www.ggunn.com/ Art&Graft - https://artandgraft.com/ Moth - https://www.moth.studio/ Claudio Salas - http://www.claudiosalas.com/ Pencil Bandit - https://pencilbandit.com/ Ransomniac - https://twitter.com/RansomniacToons?lang=en Bouncy Smash - http://bouncysmash.com/   Notes: -Meat Mysteries -After Effects -Passion projects while freelancing -Architecture school -Changing course -2D -Looking for work out of school -Learning how to animate 3D characters -Studying in Denmark -Freelance from a tweet -Greg Gunn -Freelance

Daniela Negrín Ochoa and Iria López are the co-founders of Wednesday Studio based in London, UK. We talk about how they work together as a team, why they often exchange roles, and the importance of always having a personal project on hand. Links: Website - www.wearewednesday.com Twitter - www.twitter.com/WeAreWednesday Instagram - www.instagram.com/wednesday__studio/ Anchorpoint - www.anchorpointanimation.com/ Strange Beast - strangebeast.tv/ NFTS - nfts.co.uk/ Daniel Clarke - http://www.daniel-clarke.com/ The School of Life - https://vimeo.com/188632975 Motionographer article - http://motionographer.com/2017/09/06/better-together-wednesday-studio/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=motionographer&utm_content=Better%20together:%20Wednesday%20Studio Notes: Wednesday Studio Fine Art beginnings Jumping off point vs. Starting from nothing Creating a brief for personal projects Music videos NFTS Collaboration in schooling and being prepared Getting people on board with a project Be

Lana Simanenkova is an animator and designer at Animade in London, UK. On the episode we talked the Animade created program, Boords, gathering inspiration from tumblr, and the Estonian animation scene.   Links : Website :  http://lana.land/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/LanaSketch Animade : https://animade.tv/   Notes : -Animade -Character work -Talking to Clients and being nervous -Storyboards and style frames -Boords -Boords drawing tools and photoshop -Gathering inspiration from tumblr. and dribble -Trends and avoiding them -Skill development -Awkward characters that are happy about their lives -Early interior design roots -Live drawing classes -Grade School interests -London -Animation and short-films at university -Estonian Animation -Freelancing in university -Twitter -The path to Animade -Difficulties in working with a team -Learning at Animade -Personal projects for skill development -TV Paint and 3DS -Home setup -Burnout -Lessons over the years -Staying fresh -Difficult projects, operating out of the

Lauren Hartstone is a new staff creative director at Sibling Rivalry, having worked with a myriad of companies like Stardust, LoyalKasper, MTV, Imaginary Forces, and Gretel. On this week’s episode we talked about the pros and cons of being scatterbrained, how she approaches a pitch, pulling references, and the necessity of learning from other people.   Links : Website : http://lhartstone.com/ Sibling Rivalry : http://siblingrivalrystudio.com/ Imaginary Forces : https://www.imaginaryforces.com/work LoyalKasper : http://www.loyalkaspar.com/ Gretel :  http://gretelny.com/   Notes : -Sibling Rivalry -Background : VH1 -Brands having multiple specialties -Studios moving towards blended operational lines -Pros and Cons of being scatterbrained -Difficulties in modern personal branding -MTV -Stardust -Recognizing the need to learn from other people -LoyalKasper -Approaching a pitch -Pre production process -Setting the style with a team/creative collaborative process -Where to find references -Imaginary Forces -Narrati

Bee Grandinetti is an independent graphic designer, animator and illustrator who is currently working on a team at Google Creative Lab. On the episode, we talked about her consistent desire to learn, her love for small companies and working in her PJs, and how she manages to still be social while working so many hours.   Links: Website:  http://www.beegrandinetti.com/ Motionographer Article - http://motionographer.com/2017/06/27/the-good-and-bad-about-life-as-an-expat/   Notes: -Hyper Island -Google Creative Lab -A new/experimental team of Google. -Blend talk -School Of Motion -Freelancing -Trend researching company working design -Typography -Fresh Content -Moved to Sweden   -Feeling fresh and inspired -Always wanting to learn -Student perspective>Industry Leader -Final projects -Get familiar with people in the industry -Prefers smaller companies -Loves working from home -Goals: Learn Animate & TV Paint. Acting classes. -Learning how to represent people-acting-research. -Ukulele. (always wanted to be in

Daniel Savage is a designer and director based in Los Angeles, CA. On the episode, we talked about his deep love for Instagram, why animation is best done in the context of a team, and the reason for mixed parts.   Links: Website: http://somethingsavage.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/somethingsavage Motionographer Article: http://motionographer.com/2013/12/05/daniel-savage-wondersauce-yule-log-2-0/ Vanity Fair Article: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/05/welcome-to-the-hive Mixed parts: https://mixed.parts   Highlights: - Transition to LA from NY - Networking - Starting from scratch - Linkedin - Print Jobs - Animation is hard when you don’t have a team. - Illustration -> Designer - React through storytelling - Rebrand/more mature work as you get older - Fear of releasing work/pigeonholed - Instagram an extension of portfolio - Versatility - Presenting the work you want to be known for - Mini portfolios catered to individual clients - Working for Comedy Central - Yule Log project - StandardVision - mixed

Joey Korenman is the founder of School of Motion and author of The Freelance Manifesto. During the episode, we talk about why and how he started School of Motion, a few tips from The Freelance Manifesto and his love for teaching, his kids and a short commute.     Links: The Freelance Manifesto http://www.freelance.how/ School of Motion: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/ Toil: http://toilboston.com Twitter: twitter.com/SchoolOfMotion   Highlights: - Freelance.how - Story behind his new book - Two parts: Why you should freelance & recipe for getting clients - How he got his start in motion - Opened a motion design studio: Toil - Doing awesome work, but depressed - Didn't like going into work every day - Felt like there was a lack of purpose - So he created School of Motion - Wrong Mountain Syndrome - The Perfect Day Exercise - Tired of trading my time for money - The beauty of releasing products & passive income - Started teaching at a college: Ringling College of Art and Design - School of Motion started

On this week’s episode, we were live at Blend Fest 2017 with Andrew Kramer, Patrick Osborne and Erica Gorochow. During the panel, we talked about how originality is a byproduct of authenticity, how their is power in saying yes to something you may not be ready for and the importance of creating in new mediums.   Links: Andrew’s website http://www.videocopilot.net Patrick’s website http://www.bighappyaccident.com/blog/ Erica’s Website http://peprally.co Tilt Brush - https://www.tiltbrush.com This American Life - https://www.thisamericanlife.org   Notes: -#blendanimalators -Blend -Pursuit of originality   -Creation -Originality is a byproduct of authenticity -Passion -Taking risks/chances -Safe Ideas -Pushing boundaries -Experimentation -Process of elimination -Sometimes limitations/constraints are good (ex. Creating a new idea in the world of Star Wars...it has to look like it belongs in that world, but can be a brand new idea) -Problem solving -Storyboards in VR -TiltBrush -Trying new mediums -Community in or

Ted & Adam are the founders of the NYC-based design and animation studio Block & Tackle. During the episode, we talk about what it’s like to work with FX, the difference between being fine artists and commercial artists, and how they balance the fear and unknown in projects.   Links: Website: http://blockandtackle.tv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blocktackletv   Highlights: -Work habits -Managing staff -Working with people you like -Letting employees do what they do best -Varying work in portfolio -Trying new trends & styles -Helping clients communicate what they need to communicate -Pitching ideas outside of our usual jobs -Making connections with people in the TV industry -How to balance marketing a business -Working with FX -Pitching -Background -Started company -Taking on ambitious ideas -Balancing fear and unknown in projects -Kraken project -What are you learning, how are you improving -Dream Client: Film titles -Favorite Animated Film: Wall-E -What does your family think you do: Kids think