Warm-Ups

If You Want the Best Chance in Animation, Don't Pooh Pooh Disney

It never hurts to appreciate and study guys like Milt Kahl. Never hurts.

Hi everyone. I've been working off site (as in away from the DreamWorks Glendale campus). I guess unbeknownst to many people (including people who's been in the industry for a long time), the studio can loan you out to other sites like TV places and other studios that may need artists. Right now, I'm at Titmouse. Can't talk about the project I'm on, but I've been trudging away at this grittier, artier studio in a semi-sketchy part of Hollywood. It's fitting because Titmouse's culture is more "urban" than the more family-friendly studios like DreamWorks and Disney, which are literally located in the suburbs of Glendale and Burbank respectively.

It's a good lesson in adaptation for me. For example, at many of the feature places, the storyboarding program of choice is Photoshop and Bridge. At Titmouse, they like their ToonBoom Storyboard Pro. It's not too hard to learn, so don't be intimidated. It is different, however.

But I don't want to use this blog to talk too much about the business side and leave out talking about the craft. Since I'm talking about adaptation, I want to stress the importance of having traditional appeal in your drawings for boards. I have many peers who like to snicker at Disney because it's what they're taught to do at school when they're learning about the other great art that's out there.

What I learned is, yes, there's more out there than Disney when it comes to animation, but having an understanding of the things the Nine Old Men established gives you such a leg up in terms of being versatile in the industry. An artist with strong drafstmanship and is "classically-trained" so to speak in animation is attractive to most employers, as opposed to someone who only knows how to do a niche style like anime or Simpsons.

So keep taking those life drawing classes and keep studying Milt Kahl!

Quako

New storyboards! I had to do a pitch to some DreamWorks directors and head of stories because I was away from the studio for a few months on Dragons TV.  This pitch was a way to "remind them" what I do. I made something new and it went over well!  I also re-pitched them my "Swimming in the Lake" boards. There's a common theme between the two of a boy caring for an animal. Enjoy!