Featured Mentor: Luci Napier
Animation Mentor:
What inspired you to become an animator?
Luci Napier:
I come from an eclectic creative background: I have been fascinated by music, dance and theater since I was a kid. Not being a very good dancer (lol!), I would often come home from class frustrated that my body couldn't do what I wanted it to do. That's when I would pick up a pencil, a chunk of clay, or found objects to create a visual piece to make a character move the way I hoped my own body could. I was living in San Francisco in the late 80's when independent animation was flourishing in the Bay Area; there was a constant stream of small animation festivals in addition to the major festivals that still play here. At one of these festivals, I saw the work of Maya Derren, Erica Russell, Kathy Rose and Susan Young: all dancers who eventually found themselves at the animation table or working in film. I was invigorated! Here was a medium that used all aspects of my eclectic creative background. I began hanging out at the San Francisco Film Arts Foundation and began animating with clay and a super 8mm camera on my kitchen table. I got a job as a receptionist at Western Images, a post production facility that worked with all the commercial houses at the time (Collosal Pictures, ILM, PDI, even Pixar back when they were still doing commercials.) It was such an exciting and inspiring time watching animation and effects production. I made friends with some of the animators who were an amazing inspiration and helped me as I began making my own animation.
Animation Mentor:
Who would you consider your mentor to be in animation?
Luci Napier:
I have been so incredibly blessed in this department! In the very beginning of my path to becoming an animator, Stephen Buckley (at the time a stop-motion animator in San Francisco) was so kind and patient with me when I pestered him with my beginner questions and invited me to the sets of his gigs to check out how it's done properly. At CalArts, I was incredibly lucky to have Jules Engel as a mentor. He pushed me to think about myself as a film maker, always as an artist and showed me a whole world of experimental film and animation that continues to inspire me and open my mind to what is possible in animation. Eric Leighton and Mike Belzer at Disney were amazing mentors as I made the transition from Stop-Mo to computer. Man! Those guys pushed me hard! As a result, my animation grew to a whole different level and I will always be so grateful for their patience and generosity in sharing their genius with me.
Animation Mentor:
What was your favorite project?
Luci Napier:
Well, each project has something special, you know? You learn something new on each one and can't imagine how you could have learned those particular things without having worked on it. I have to say that on a very personal level, my favorite project was "Spirit." I was raised by a father who was a fanatic about Westerns and I grew up seeing all the greats. Working on Spirit gave me a special connection with my father...I was working on a project that in so many ways paid homage to the unique film language of the great films of the Western genre. Animation-wise, Spirit was a fantastic project! I learned so much about posing and acting with quadrapeds. I would stay late and study the shots in progress by the DreamWorks greats like James Baxter and Dan Wagner...it was so inspiring!
Animation Mentor:
What projects would you like to do?
Luci Napier:
My own short film! I make up stories and songs all the time just for the fun of it; recently, I came across an idea that I'm just chomping at the bit to make into a short film. Hopefully, my infant son and I can strike up a deal to schedule some time for it (lol!).
Animation Mentor:
Do you have any advice for aspiring animators?
Luci Napier:
Never lose your hunger to learn and grow as an artist.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite character that you've animated and why?
Luci Napier:
Oh! That's a tough one! I think I would say "Donkey" from Shrek2. Donkey is such a great character! I love his loyalty, his buoyant optimism mixed with a bit of naiveté' that would always get him into trouble and fun...it's great fun to put his energy into a shot. Eddie Murphy can't be beat for a great voice actor...that guy consistently comes through with great takes to animate with. Donkey was such a pleasure for me 'cause, at the end of the day, I think I'm just a sucker for the 4-legged critters!
Animation Mentor:
How has the Animation Mentor experience been for you so far?
Luci Napier:
This is a fantastic program! I wish I had had it when I was starting off! Beyond the great training in the program, I can't get over the level of technology and innovation that is bringing together students and mentors from all over the world. I feel so lucky to participate in such a culturally diverse group and I am eager to see how the student's unique backgrounds will influence their own work and, ultimately, the field of animation as they bring stories and characters from other parts of the world to the big screen as professionals.
What inspired you to become an animator?
Luci Napier:
I come from an eclectic creative background: I have been fascinated by music, dance and theater since I was a kid. Not being a very good dancer (lol!), I would often come home from class frustrated that my body couldn't do what I wanted it to do. That's when I would pick up a pencil, a chunk of clay, or found objects to create a visual piece to make a character move the way I hoped my own body could. I was living in San Francisco in the late 80's when independent animation was flourishing in the Bay Area; there was a constant stream of small animation festivals in addition to the major festivals that still play here. At one of these festivals, I saw the work of Maya Derren, Erica Russell, Kathy Rose and Susan Young: all dancers who eventually found themselves at the animation table or working in film. I was invigorated! Here was a medium that used all aspects of my eclectic creative background. I began hanging out at the San Francisco Film Arts Foundation and began animating with clay and a super 8mm camera on my kitchen table. I got a job as a receptionist at Western Images, a post production facility that worked with all the commercial houses at the time (Collosal Pictures, ILM, PDI, even Pixar back when they were still doing commercials.) It was such an exciting and inspiring time watching animation and effects production. I made friends with some of the animators who were an amazing inspiration and helped me as I began making my own animation.
Animation Mentor:
Who would you consider your mentor to be in animation?
Luci Napier:
I have been so incredibly blessed in this department! In the very beginning of my path to becoming an animator, Stephen Buckley (at the time a stop-motion animator in San Francisco) was so kind and patient with me when I pestered him with my beginner questions and invited me to the sets of his gigs to check out how it's done properly. At CalArts, I was incredibly lucky to have Jules Engel as a mentor. He pushed me to think about myself as a film maker, always as an artist and showed me a whole world of experimental film and animation that continues to inspire me and open my mind to what is possible in animation. Eric Leighton and Mike Belzer at Disney were amazing mentors as I made the transition from Stop-Mo to computer. Man! Those guys pushed me hard! As a result, my animation grew to a whole different level and I will always be so grateful for their patience and generosity in sharing their genius with me.
Animation Mentor:
What was your favorite project?
Luci Napier:
Well, each project has something special, you know? You learn something new on each one and can't imagine how you could have learned those particular things without having worked on it. I have to say that on a very personal level, my favorite project was "Spirit." I was raised by a father who was a fanatic about Westerns and I grew up seeing all the greats. Working on Spirit gave me a special connection with my father...I was working on a project that in so many ways paid homage to the unique film language of the great films of the Western genre. Animation-wise, Spirit was a fantastic project! I learned so much about posing and acting with quadrapeds. I would stay late and study the shots in progress by the DreamWorks greats like James Baxter and Dan Wagner...it was so inspiring!
Animation Mentor:
What projects would you like to do?
Luci Napier:
My own short film! I make up stories and songs all the time just for the fun of it; recently, I came across an idea that I'm just chomping at the bit to make into a short film. Hopefully, my infant son and I can strike up a deal to schedule some time for it (lol!).
Animation Mentor:
Do you have any advice for aspiring animators?
Luci Napier:
Never lose your hunger to learn and grow as an artist.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite character that you've animated and why?
Luci Napier:
Oh! That's a tough one! I think I would say "Donkey" from Shrek2. Donkey is such a great character! I love his loyalty, his buoyant optimism mixed with a bit of naiveté' that would always get him into trouble and fun...it's great fun to put his energy into a shot. Eddie Murphy can't be beat for a great voice actor...that guy consistently comes through with great takes to animate with. Donkey was such a pleasure for me 'cause, at the end of the day, I think I'm just a sucker for the 4-legged critters!
Animation Mentor:
How has the Animation Mentor experience been for you so far?
Luci Napier:
This is a fantastic program! I wish I had had it when I was starting off! Beyond the great training in the program, I can't get over the level of technology and innovation that is bringing together students and mentors from all over the world. I feel so lucky to participate in such a culturally diverse group and I am eager to see how the student's unique backgrounds will influence their own work and, ultimately, the field of animation as they bring stories and characters from other parts of the world to the big screen as professionals.