Background Supervisor Kati Prescott discusses learning to understand her own work habits, overcoming imposter syndrome, and valuing the connections she makes through the Guild. Tell us a little about yourself and your career. Hi, I’m Kati Prescott and I’m a Background Designer, Background Painter and Background Supervisor based in Glendale, California. I am a native Angeleno who grew up in the North Hollywood/Valley Glen area. Growing up in Los Angeles, I had some exposure to animation at a young age since my mom worked in the legal department at Walt Disney Television Animation. I was always ..read more

On his fourth Kung Fu Panda movie, Animation Supervisor Philippe Le Brun found news ways to spark his creativity. When Philippe Le Brun was offered a job as Animation Supervisor on Kung Fu Panda, he accepted because he already knew and liked many of the people on the team. But he confesses that when he heard first the title of the project, he was a little hesitant. He had no idea if the movie would be any good, and he also knew it was going to be a steep learning curve because he didn’t have a background in martial arts.  In his previous animation work, Le Brun had mostly focused on emot ..read more

For Women’s History Month, Storyboard Artist and Episodic Director Leslie Park shares how two TAG women inspire her on the job. When TAG reached out to members asking them to nominate a TAG woman who inspires them, Leslie Park couldn’t choose just one. Working as an Episodic Director on Hailey’s on It!, she admires fellow Episodic Director Cat Harman-Mitchell for the way she thought of the well-being of each individual on the team, and she respects Art Director Lee Ann Dufour for standing up for other team members when they’re too afraid to speak out.  “I believe Cat deserves a spot ..read more

Intention and expertise guide artists exploring mental health and emotional wellness in animation. From an episode touching on cognitive behavior therapy in Steven Universe to Perrito the therapy dog in the movie Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the past decade has seen animation actively exploring mental health and the different ways it can be depicted. Words like mindfulness and intention not only help guide productions, but this language is also finding its way into storylines and dialogue. To make sure they get it right, some creators reach out to experts to ensure their shows ..read more

Production Technical Director Vinod Krishnan shares his process for continuous growth, a desire to create work that transcends language barriers, and how being in the Guild has given him confidence in his career. Tell us a little about yourself and your career. My name is Vinod Krishnan, and I was raised on a little island in the Middle East called Kingdom of Bahrain. Despite harboring a natural inclination towards creative work, I never considered it as a viable career path. It wasn’t until I reached the age of 16 or 17 that the notion of pursuing animation (or just art in general) as a ..read more

25_Spring-2024Download The post Issue No. 25 appeared first on Keyframe ..read more

Director and Story Artist Leo Matsuda shares his thoughts on finding his voice, telling stories from his own experiences, and the Guild’s protection of artists’ talents. Tell us a little about yourself and your career. I graduated from the Character Animation Program at CalArts, where I fell in love with storytelling and filmmaking. I have been working in the animation industry for more than 15 years, and my focus has been primarily as a Story Artist, although I also love exploring characters and the stories behind them through their portrayal in character design. I worked at Walt Disney ..read more

Character Designer Jennifer Wood strives for a work-life balance, aspires to bring joy through her work, and appreciates the Guild’s support during down times. Tell us a little about yourself and your career. Hello! My name is Jennifer Wood, and I’ve been working as a Character and Prop Designer in the animation industry for almost 20 years.  Growing up in Southern California, I received my BFA in animation and illustration from Cal State Fullerton.   I began my career as a production intern at Nickelodeon on Catscratch. In a stroke of luck a character design pos ..read more

January is National Mentoring Month, celebrating and recognizing the impact of mentors and encouraging the development of mentorship programs. Being a mentor is both a talent and a skill. Here, TAG members who represent WIA (Women in Animation) and Black N Animated share their thoughts on important qualities for being a mentor, what mentees should expect, and the mentor-mentee relationship.  Aydrea Walden Screenwriter and actress Aydrea Walden helps run the mentorship program at WIA. Briefly describe WIA’s mentorship program.  The Circles program is our group mentorship program that ..read more

Story Artist Cameron Woodard discusses discovering his unique strengths, the thrill of learning behind the scenes, and how the Guild helps him keep going. Tell us a little about yourself and your career. Howdy! My name is Cameron Woodard, and I am a Story Artist living in Los Angeles. I went to college to pursue my passion for animation at Loyola Marymount University. Upon graduating, I secured a Production Assistant position at Wild Canary Animation for several years before being hired on as a Revisionist for Disney Junior’s Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. Over the past year, I’ve spent my ..read more