SIGGRAPH Day 5: D-Day

This afternoon after getting one of a limited number of folio review appointments with the Walt Disney Animation studios I was both nervous and excited. As a student studying in Australia we don't often get the opportunity to interact or hear from major studios and, if like me, that's where you want to head in your career then you grab any opportunity you can. Even though my folio was hastily put together and more than a little dodgy on my ipad, I felt that it was worth getting a folio review, not for the possibility of a job or internship but more for what I could learn from the experience and feedback.

My appointment slip, yes I kept it I am but a noob. 

My folio review was conducted by character designer and animator, Jin Kim. His work is absolutely exquisite and I tried desperately not to think about that as he flipped through my corny images and bright artwork. 

In my folio I had 3 main sections: Character, Backgrounds and Life Drawing. After looking through my work he gave me detailed advice on the good and not so good aspects of my folio. He also took the time to address individual pieces with advice and compliments. He was particularly pleased with my use of colour in composition and also thought my life drawing was very strong. We spoke for a while about what my plans were once I finished my honours year and we also spoke of my honours thesis. At point blank I asked him whether he thought I was wasting my time or whether I should try for a different career; I explained that living so far from many major studios made it difficult to know where the standard was in regards to studio work. 

He answered with a frankness that was reassuring and genuine. He thought that my work showed promise and that I had what it took to work in the industry, but he felt that I was not yet ready for feature animation. He asked me whether I had worked in the industry previously to which I answered, nope. Other studios and television animation would provide me with experience and practice; but no he did not think I was wasting my time. 

I cannot express what a daunting experience it was to have my work appraised and critiqued by a studio who were instrumental in inspiring me to become an artist and animator. Showing my work in a professional situation outside of university is also something that takes some getting used to; I find it difficult at times to not under play my work. But I am getting better at it, and I'm also getting better at pushing myself forward and having more confidence in my own abilities as an artist. The most valuable thing the review process has taught me that it is so important to specialise if you want to work in studios and that you must be able to articulate your desired role and its position in the larger context of the animation production pipeline. 

Concept Art:  Disney's Tangled. Jin Kim