Animator Interview with Mentor Jason Taylor
Animation Mentor:
What inspired you to learn character animation?
Jason Taylor:
Although I always enjoyed animation, I think it was after watching The Nightmare Before Christmas for the third time in the theater, that I really fell in love with it. The character design was just so unique and yet they still felt like they were alive. I then realized there is magic in breathing life into inanimate objects. Creating thinking, feeling, living characters? Yes, please!
Animation Mentor:
What were the most important steps in your animation training?
Jason Taylor:
Practice. For me, just learning about the principles of animation was not enough to totally grasp it all. I needed to repeatedly do animation tests in order to figure out how to actually apply those principles and achieve that sought-after illusion of life.
Animation Mentor:
If you could do one thing differently on your journey to becoming an animator what would it be?
Jason Taylor:
Get a more concentrated education on the fundamentals of animation from the start. I went to a general fine arts college and learned a good amount about experimental filmmaking techniques such as cut-outs, under lit sand, stop motion, and some very basic 2D. What I DIDN'T learn was how to make characters live and breathe through movement. I spent years slavishly learning character animation on my own. Animation Mentor has a great program for learning animation right from the start. Where were you 16 years ago, Animation Mentor?!?
Animation Mentor:
Where do you currently work and what are the projects you've worked on in the past?
Jason Taylor:
Currently I'm animating shots for Sony's Open Season 3. In the past, I've had the honor of animating on some really fun projects. Some of which include Horton Hears A Who!, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Open Season 2. For Blur Studio, I worked on many commercials, game cinematics, and film projects. Most notably, as a character animator and facial rig developer on the Academy Award nominated short film Gopher Broke, and as an animation supervisor on the short film A Gentleman's Duel.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite character that you've animated?
Jason Taylor:
For me, they all are. Each character has had its own challenges and totally unique personality. I try and look at each one as my new favorite character. Find the aspects that make the character unique and appealing and dive in. If I have to pick a few, it would be the Gopher from Gopher Broke, the Mayor from Horton Hears a Who!, and Boog from Open Season.
Animation Mentor:
What was your first animation job?
Jason Taylor:
In the last year of college, I mustered up enough crude work to score a job as a generalist at a small local production house. There I actually got paid (very little) to make CG animation for commercials and a 42-minute DVD title. I enjoyed doing all aspects of production, but I was most excited when it was time to do character animation. Even though I was creating animation for a living, I wasn't learning much anymore, so I started doing animation tests at night to further my skills.
Animation Mentor:
Who would you consider your mentor to be in animation?
Jason Taylor:
For me it's not just one person, but all the talented artists I've had the honor of working with over the years. Each and every one has inspired me in some way. With some, it's their pure talent that drives me to push my work. With others, it's their positive attitude and genuine excitement for the art that inspires me.
Animation Mentor:
Describe a typical day at your current job.
Jason Taylor:
The average day always starts with a coffee and checking of email at around 8 a.m. Then I'll review the latest edit of the project and make notes on what needs to get done that day. After that, I start in on my shots. Most of the day is focused on animating with the exception of a couple short breaks for lunch, 3 p.m. coffee, and some Frisbee fun with my dog. At the end of the day, I prep files for client reviews, check schedules, and give and receive feedback. Typically, I call it quits around 7 p.m.
Animation Mentor:
What do you enjoy the most about teaching at Animation Mentor?
Jason Taylor:
The rejuvenation of my excitement and passion for animation is what I enjoy the most. Even something as fun as animating characters for a living can lose its spark and become just a job after a while. It's extremely important to find something to keep that fire going. For me, it's been teaching at Animation Mentor. The act of lecturing about animation and story gets me excited about animation all over again.
Animation Mentor:
What is your favorite step in the production process?
Jason Taylor:
My favorite part of the animation process is the blocking pass. For me, this is where the creative process happens. When I'm blocking out a shot, I try and feel the way the character should be feeling at that specific moment in the film. Then it's about getting that emotion I feel in my heart onto the screen. This is where it seems to just pour out at a fevered pace. At this point, I'm in this zone, and I don't stop until I have enough detail in the computer to completely communicate the character's performance. Sometimes I don't even want to take a bathroom break, because I'm so into the moment!
Learn more about Jason Taylor, please visit the following links: