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Animation Mentor:
What inspired you to become an animator?
Elliot Bour:
When I was a kid, my parents took me to see Disney’s Pinocchio when it was re-released in theaters and I fell in love with it. Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed with animation. When I was in college, I saw The Little Mermaid, and it was then that I knew I wanted to work for Disney. Fortunately, Disney came to my school to recruit for their new studio they were opening in Florida, and I was hired right out of college to work on their next movie, Beauty and the Beast.
Animation Mentor:
What was your first animation job?
Elliot Bour:
My first animation job was as a 2D clean-up artist on Beauty and the Beast. I worked on the character Belle, and had one of the best experiences of my life. Even though I wasn’t animating yet, I was working on a great character in a great movie and living my dream of working in animation.
Animation Mentor:
If you could do one thing differently on your journey to becoming an animator, what would it be?
Elliot Bour:
The school I went to had a weak animation program. I ended up majoring in Illustration, and if I could do one thing differently, I would have gone to a school that emphasizes animation, like Cal Arts. I struggled with animating while I was at Disney, and I think that getting a solid foundation in animating at college would have helped me immensely.
Animation Mentor:
Who would you consider your mentor to be in animation?
Elliot Bour:
I have always considered the amazing Glen Keane to be my inspiration as an animator. His work in The Little Mermaid is what made me not only fall in love with her, but with the potential an artist could reach with hand-drawn animation. Now, as a director, my inspiration is John Lasseter, and I aspire to follow his model for not only story-telling, but the entire process of making a movie.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite character that you've animated and why?
Elliot Bour:
My favorite character I’ve animated is Mulan. I got a chance to work with the amazing Mark Henn and I had such a good time animating on that movie. Mulan is a funny, but strong character with a lot of heart and a fairly simple design. Her animation could be cartoony when it needed to be and subtle and dramatic when the story called for it. I learned so much animating her… not just about animating, per se, but also about myself as an artist.
Animation Mentor:
How has the Animation Mentor experience been for you so far?
Elliot Bour:
I have completely enjoyed my experience here at Animation Mentor. I have an incredible group of students who I not only get the pleasure of inspiring, but who inspire me, in turn. Our Q&A’s are always fun and the work and commitment these students show is incredible. I’m so glad that Animation Mentor exists – I think it’s a genius idea that I wish I came up with! What a great time we live in where people from all around the world can learn remotely and not be bound by distance!
Animation Mentor:
What is your favorite Animation Mentor tool?
Elliot Bour:
I love the live Q&A’s. I love the interaction that it brings. I’m not as comfortable looking into the camera with no one to respond to. It’s like looking at Hal from 2001! Our Q&A’s always go over time because they’re so fun and I spend as much time as it takes to answer each and every one of my students’ questions.
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