Why did you select Animation Mentor to study animation?

I chose to study at Animation Mentor because of the opportunity to learn from and interact with some of the top animators working in the industry today.

What did you learn from Animation Mentor?

Work hard – you get out of animation what put into it. Always remember to observe life around you and find beauty in motion.

How was the experience unique?

The student community at Animation Mentor is really amazing. The students are very supportive of each other. I don't know of any other school that is as focused on animation as Animation Mentor is. If you love animation, Animation Mentor is a great place to be. The weekly Q&A sessions were always packed with useful information and insights from the mentors. From workflow tips and tricks to industry insight to philosophical reflections on animation, there wasn't a week where I didn't learn something new.

What were some of the challenges?

Time management was a big challenge. Like many other fellow AMers, I was working full-time at the same time as I was attending Animation Mentor. You learn pretty quickly to stay organized and plan out your work in order to keep up.

Did you get a job after graduating from Animation Mentor?

I was fortunate to receive an offer from Sony Pictures Imageworks while I was in Class 6, and am really enjoying working with a great team there.

What is your position and how do you like it?

I work as an animator and I'm really enjoying being able to do what I love for a living, surrounded by other people who are as passionate about their craft as I am.

What kind of projects are you working on?

I'm currently working on a live-action/CGI film.

How have your Animation Mentor studies helped you in your job?

The workflow and animation techniques I learned at AM are the same ones I use everyday on the job.

Looking back, what Animation Mentor class was the most valuable to you?

That's a tough call. I'd have to cheat a little and say that the body mechanics and acting classes were really important for me. So many lights came on for me as I went through the body mechanics class, and I was able to use that information to make the most out of the acting classes that followed. The acting classes contained so much information I had never been exposed to before.

Who's your favorite animator?

It's so difficult to name just one, but Chuck Jones is always up there in terms of favorites. I grew up watching the Looney Tunes, and his work was responsible in large part for the love of animation that continues until today.

What is the animation moment that you take the most pride in?

The moment I most remember is that first bouncing-ball assignment. It was an amazing feeling seeing that simple ball come to life. At that moment, I knew I had found what I wanted to do.

What does your daily calendar look like?

On the project I'm currently on, we usually have dailies first thing in the morning, where we review everybody's shots from the previous day, and get our notes and assignments for the current day. In between working on shots, I usually try to find time to chat a little with my colleagues and check out a few animation and film news websites to stay up to date with the goings-on in the industry. Depending on the schedule we sometimes have afternoon rounds where we can show our work and discuss our shots with our animation supervisor.