Animation U

Robert St. Pierre

AnimationU is a weekly show where we talk about the exciting animation industry. Each episode will address a variety of topics including detailed analysis of the different jobs and responsibilities of those employed in the studios, and we’ll share insider information on the steps you should take to help start your own career in this highly rewarding, fascinating field. If you’re curious about animation and the people who create your favorite shows or if you’ve often wondered what it would take to land a job at a studio this podcast, and AnimationU, is what you’ve been searching for.

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Episodes

Background Painting for 2D Animation TV Series with Andy Clark
Jun 11 2023
Background Painting for 2D Animation TV Series with Andy Clark
Have you ever been mesmerized by the background paintings that provide a stage for your favorite animation to come to life? Check out this engaging AnimationU episode that focuses on Background Painting with Andy Clark as he shares his thoughts and provides valuable insight and tips for anyone who has ever dared to imagine having a career as a background painter in the 2D animation industry.Andy is a graduate of the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California majoring in illustration with a minor in fine art and has since earned a reputation as a Background Painter, Visual Development Artist and an Art Director working for world renowned studios including Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., Fox Animation, Paramount Pictures, Disney TV, DreamWorks Television, Cartoon Network, HBO/ Max, Bento Box, Shadow Machine, and Hanna-Barbera Cartoons.Andy’s multiple film credits include Fabulous Furry Freak Bros, Flintstones reboot, Cosmos a Space-Time Odyssey, the Sponge Bob Series and the Sponge Bob Movie, We Bare Bears, Fired on Mars, The Great North, The Angry Beavers, Chalk Zone, and Dexterʼs Lab.Andy was nominated for an Academy Award for his Art Direction on an episode for Sponge Bob.Please be sure to check out Andy's amazing work at his website. https://www.andyclark.usHere are some additional helpful links where you can learn more about Andy as well as a link to the Animation Local 839 website providing information on union contract and wages. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-clark-544a446/https://animationguild.org/contracts-wages/
Career Preparedness with Camille Eden
Jun 5 2023
Career Preparedness with Camille Eden
The right preparation when looking for your next job can make or break the deal. Camille Eden, Vice President of Recruitment, Talent Development and Outreach at Nickelodeon Animation Studio offers her expertise and insight into how you can best prepare for landing your next job. Her advice applies to all jobs and all disciplines.In this episode of AnimationU's "Career Preparedness", you'll learn how to make yourself more attractive to potential employers and gain tips that can help increase your visibility and hire-ability in the job market. What exactly do studios and employers look for when they're looking to hire the right candidate? What can you do to help you stand out from the competition? Come listen to Camille's valuable tips and...and be sure to take notes.Camille has worked in a variety of positions ranging from Production Management, Recruitment and Artist Management for the world's most prestigious studios including  Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, Sony, Nickelodeon, Disney Animation and Framestore located in the UK.Some of her film credits include James Bond Quantum of Solace, the Harry Potter franchise, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen and Frozen 2, Moana, Zootopia, Sponge Bob, Star Trek Prodigy, Surf's Up, Cloudy With a Chance, and more… Please check out these links to learn more about Camille's impressive career, and be sure to check out the other valuable links she wanted me to share with you to help you in your search for or advancement in your career in animation.https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-eden-54343a1/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0249078/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12416699/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2Important links Camille wanted to share:https://womeninanimation.org/https://www.riseupanimation.org/https://latinxinanimation.org/https://www.vesglobal.org/Additional important links:https://lightboxexpo.com/https://ctn-events.com/https://animationguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-Studio-List-1109.pdfhttps://www.awn.com/
Directing 2D Animation with Vic Cook
May 27 2023
Directing 2D Animation with Vic Cook
In this episode of AnimationU we'll explore an informative and interesting conversation with animation veteran Vic Cook as he shares his experience and provides advice for anyone interested in  Directing 2D animated films. Vic has been nominated for multiple Emmy’s including 2 Emmy Nominations for 101 Dalmatians the series, 1 Emmy Nomination for Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and an Emmy Nomination for The Legend of Tarzan. Vic has worked for some of the most prestigious animation studios including Disney Television Animation, Warner Bros Animation, Sony, Titmouse, Film Roman and Cartoon Network Asia, as an Executive Producer, Supervising Producer, Director, Supervising Director and long-time Storyboard Artist. In addition to a soon-to-be-released, new Disney Junior television series "Pupstruction" Vic's list of properties he's worked on include Disney Junior’s series TOTS,  Hasbro’s Stretch Armstrong and The Flex Fighters, the Spectacular Spider-Man, Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated, Lilo and Stitch, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, 101 Dalmatians, Darkwing Duck, Gargoyles and Aladdin, and Return to Neverland starring Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite, which is part of the animation exhibit at Disneyland’s California Adventure.Please check out these links to learn more about Vic Cook:https://twitter.com/Victor_Cook1https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177328/https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-cook-9148873?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhttps://www.comicsonline.com/2018/04/comicsonline-exclusive-the-spectacular-spider-man-10th-anniversary-reunion-interviews/https://collider.com/stretch-armstrong-netflix-series-vic-cook-interview/https://www.overlyanimated.com/2019/02/03/50-years-of-scooby-an-interview-with-victor-cook/
Pre and Post Visualization for Animation and VFX With Noah Amrani
Apr 30 2023
Pre and Post Visualization for Animation and VFX With Noah Amrani
Spider-Man: No Way Home, Black Adam, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania are just a few of the mega films that our special guest Noah Amrani has worked on. In this episode of Pre and Post Visualization for live action, animation and VFX, you'll learn what a career path in this direction entails. Noah will help clarify what these artists do and what skill-sets you would need to learn in order to get your foot in the door, working on these colossal films. Noah is an accomplished Pre/Post-Visualization Artist, 2D and 3D Character Animator, Visual Effects Supervisor and a VFX artist. He’s also a Compositor, a Rigger, a CG Generalist and an adjunct professor at the California State University Northridge, as well as a member of the Visual Effects Society.Noah’s impressive studio list includes Digital Domain, FotoKem, Pixomondo, Aaron Sims Creative, The Third Floor,  Fuse FX, Creative Capers Entertainment, Almost Human, Shadow Machine, Film Roman, and Sageous Studios LLC (which is Noah’s freelance company visual effects and animation). Additionally, some of his client lists includes Disney, Marvel, DC, Sony, Amazon Studios, Activision, and General Mills.In addition to the film titles Noah has worked on he's also worked on Avengers: Infinity War, Aquaman, Venom, Rampage, Tomb Raider, Hell and Back,  the Law & Order series for their SVU and Organized Crime properties, The Underground Railroad, The Orville, the Simpsons and others.Here are some links where you can learn more about Noah and his work:http://www.noahamrani.com/https://www.facebook.com/SageousStudios/https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahamrani/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3952737/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Pitching Shows For A Television Series
Mar 31 2023
Pitching Shows For A Television Series
Have you ever had an idea for a show that you wanted to pitch to an animation studio? Come take a listen to Rudi Bloss share tips and advice on how to pitch a show to studio development teams. Rudi is an experienced industry artist who has pitched multiple shows to the studios. In addition to a show pitcher, Rudi is a show-runner, content creator, writer, supervisor, director, storyboard artist, Feature 2D and 3D animator, character designer and a lay-out artist.He has worked internationally and domestically for iconic studios including Amblimation, Dream Works, Disney Paris, George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic, Sony, Disney TV Animation, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Pictures.Some of his film credits include "The Goofy Movie", "An American Tail", "We're Back", "Star Wars Episode1", Shrek2", "The Polar Express", "The Mummy", "The Mummy Returns", "The Proud Family", "DC Super Hero Girls", "The Penguins of Madagascar (TV-series)", "Fairly Odd Parents", "TUFF Puppy", "Lionguard",  and "Penn Zero"Rudi is the recipient of several awards for his personal project "The Moving Pyramid" which was awarded for "Best Animated Short film in the "LA International Short Film Festival 2001, and "Hairy Scary" which received the award for best animated TV Series in the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.You can find links to Rudi's work here:Website: rudibloss.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudiblossYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@RudiBlosshttps://www.youtube.com/@worldofbloss4595Article:https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/articles/rudi-blosss-dreams-come-true-at-disney------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you're curious to know what animation beat boards and pitch bibles are, which were discussed in this episode, check out these helpful Google page links:Beat Boards:https://www.google.com/search?q=Animation+beat+boards&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=APwXEdeClyq9pzstUOwVm-Ep9Vz8xwMgPw:1680197810988&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUn7TNmIT-AhXTPkQIHco8BQYQ0pQJegQIBRAC&biw=1184&bih=668&dpr=1.33Pitch Bibles:https://www.google.com/search?q=Animation+Pitch+Bibles&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=APwXEddgEiuocAKZf5aWAaNULaa5d2i7Yg:1680197827008&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiYiYbVmIT-AhWOC0QIHR2LB4QQ0pQJegQIBhAC&biw=1184&bih=668&dpr=1.33#imgrc=uuU88H2LPgfEmM