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 think you do at work all day?: CG modeling and animating -Animalator: The Ouroboros

Animalators

Episode 60: Sarah Blank

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 film: Spirited Away -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: I don’t they know--messing around with cartoons. -Animalator: A little hybrid cat-thing because people tell me sometimes I’m like a cat.     **Note: The Mill worked with JAY-Z, Roc Nation and Director Mark Romanek via Anonymous Content to create the animated music video for ‘The Story of O.J.’   Lisha and The Mill artists realized JAY-Z’s vision using a combination of hand-drawn cel animation, computer graphics, and painted backgrounds, collaborating with Titmouse to animate the original characters.

Episode 59: Lisha Tan

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 process for commercial work -Electric Theatre Collective -The Line’s business structure -Looking forward -The Illusionist -Partizan -Wesley’s story of process and growth -Becoming a director -Dream Client: Nike or Capcom -Favorite animated film: Kiki's Delivery Service and Akira -What do the people you love think you do for a living: Draw and make things move. -Animalator: Rabbit, because of Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit

Episode 58: Wesley Louis

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 -Liking to do a lot of different things -Storyboarding -Exploring professional illustration -Dream client/project: Google Spotlight Stories -Favorite animated film: Revolting Rhymes -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: Whatever animated film we see. They think I’m always abroad and that I do cartoons. -Animalator: To Be Determined

Episode 57: Manddy Wyckens

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 -You can’t put a price on fulfillment -Dream client/project: Using my skills to make an impact for good -Juneteenth -Favorite animated film: The Prince of Egypt -What do the people you love think you do at work all day? They think I made Black Panther, but for the most part, they get what I do. -Animalator: Night Owl

Episode 56: Handel Eugene

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 LeClue -Anatomy In Motion -Ringling College of Art and Design -Teaching -The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore -Mentorships -Jenny LeClue Kickstarter -Coding & planning -Pre-release feelings -Appreciating the journey -Advice for aspiring game developers -Gamemaker, Unity, Unreal -PlayMaker -Release plans -The future of Jenny LeClue -Dream client: Wes Anderson or David Lynch -Favorite animated film: Iron Giant or Magnetic Rose -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: Make a book -Animalator: Corgi

Episode 55: Joe Russ

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 -Hussein Chalayan-Hussein Chalayan Table Dress-Three Legged Legs-Angus Wall/Elastic-Gameshow winners-Taking pressure off-Staying open to the world-Drawing without expectation-Cultivating openness-Wild Wild Country -Headspace-Dissociating from emotions and getting out of your head-Definitions of being an artist-Personal projects-Conquering fears-Rupi Kaur-Hyperbole and a Half-Going back to basics-Originality and style-Dream Client: Jonathan Nkondo-Favorite animated film: Evangelion-What do the people you love think you do for a living: At least some form of animation

Episode 54: Tuna Bora

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 people you love think you do for a living: Logos and stuff -Animalator: Dinosaur

Episode 53: Alex Griendling

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 Your Dragon -What do the people you love think you do at work all day?: My kids just think I work on Star Wars all day -Animalator: Raven -Andrews questions for Zac -Bouncy Smash -Future of Animalators

Episode 52: Andrew Kramer

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  

Episode 51: Austin Mann

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 door -Cassette tape ministry -Live sound -Getting it right the first time -Being comfortable doing things wrong -Transition to freelance -Jordan Scott -Game development -Level 99 Games -Arkham Horror -Captain Sonar -Battlecon Online & Pixel Tactics -IDEO design studio -Freelancing in Seattle -Hiring his first employee -Dream Client: Nintendo -Favorite Animated Film: Akira -What do the people you love think you do for a living: His wife pays the bills -Animalator: Bat

Episode 50: Wesley Slover

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 Anxiety -Freelancing in London -Moth Animation Studio -Art&Graft -Forming professional relationships -The London animation scene -Twitter -Illustrator -Claudio Salas -Advice for new freelancers -Working out the type of work that you want to do -Animade -Lessons learned -Interacting with people face to face -Working out of studios -Burnout -Two freelance jobs at the same time -Dedication to a job -Character animation -Tweening -Background artists for Meat Mysteries -Meat Mysteries release -Pros and Cons of being the creator of Meat Mysteries -Dream Client: Moth -Favorite Animated Film: Akira -Favorite Animated Series: Rick and Morty -What do the people you love think you do for a living?: Draw cartoons in newspapers. -Animalator: Shark Man

Episode 49: Ross Plaskow

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 Being hands on for a project vs. being an Animation Director Handing over the role of design Working with illustrator Daniel Clarke The School of Life Working with other designers and illustrators The beginning of Wednesday Studio Making the jump into freelance animation director at the same time Motionographer article Directing as a team Simultaneously developing a visual language Dividing work and coin flipping Growing as a studio and exchanging roles The future of Wednesday Fear Representation Direct to client or going through a studio Not so personal projects Paying yourself Next exciting steps Taking the studio to the next level Working with a remote team After Effects Hand drawn touches Incorporating 3D shapes Textures in photoshop The hunt for personal projects Dream Client: A charity, National Geographic Favorite Animated Film: Disney Classics like Dumbo and 101 Dalmations Animalator: Gorilla 

Episode 48: Wednesday Studio

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 comfort zone -Influencing the Animade style -Advice for young animators -Dream Client : Estonian Academy of Arts -Favorite Animated Film : Childhood - Spirited Away; Perfect Blue -What does your family think you do : Advertisements for TV -Animalator : Mammoth

Episode 47: Lana Simanenkova

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 -Narrative work and title sequences -The Pacific -Dusk -Pitching something you’ve never attempted be -Perspective and being mindful of the bigger picture -Presenting a handful of directions -Slack -Pulling and utilizing a reference bank -Gretel -Brand immersion and concept research -Overcoming burnout -Work/Life Balance -Mindsets -The Future : storytelling - Dream Client: Nike - Favorite Animated Film: Doesn’t have one. But her daughter will only watch Frozen. - What does your family think you do: I think they think I color.

Episode 46: Lauren Hartstone

From Identity Visuals comes Animalators: curious conversations from the world of animation. On each episode, animator Zac Dixon sits down with members of the animation community to discuss life, art, business and the creative process.