Students and professors gathered Monday, April 3 at the student center to know more about adult animations. The panel was called Cartoonistic where SCAD alumni spoke about animating in the real world.
Adult animations have been around for a while and have a significant fan base. Laura Apteka, BFA Film and Television 2013 and assistant editor for “Rick and Morty,” kicked off the night and talked about the role of dialogue in a show. Apteka discussed how she edits the voice dialogue and looks for the best match after each recording is taken.
The episode later goes to the dialogue editor and is put under the charge of someone like Erica Hayes, who was also present at the panel. Apteka mentioned she was also lead editor for “Tarantula,” another adult animation set to air on TBS next year.
Apteka is currently working on a secret project with Matt Groening, creator of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama.”
Christopher Nance, BFA Sequential Art 2012, talked about storyboarding for “Bob’s Burgers,” “Bojack Horseman” and “F is for Family.” Nance emphasized that each show and network has a certain style they like. “Fox is a nazi on character design,” she said.
“In LA that is where all the animation people are,” Nance said, encouraging students to strengthen their professional connections. “There’s lots of networking events you can go to, there’s life drawing sessions at studios. The best way to get a job is networking with people you already know.”
Erica Hayes, BFA Sequential Art 2012, is a storyboard artist for “Rick and Morty” and Amazon’s new series “Little Big Awesome.” Hayes focused on how you need to have a variety of a portfolio. Both Hayes and Nance believe that you need three different storyboards and recommend showing diversity with an action storyboard, a comedy board and a family friendly board. In addition to those three boards each need to have a dramatically different style.
“You don’t have to know everything right off the bat,” Hayes said. “You will learn so much on the job from the director and your fellow employees. Everyone in the animation industry is so nice.”
Questions and answers took place after the panel, where first-year students wanted to know how to pursue a career in animation. The panel believed that using the resources SCAD offers to find an internship and learning Storyboard Pro is step one.
“Your first job is your most important job,” Hayes said. “Just nail it. Because that is what you’re there for, and you want to make that great first impression.”
For aspiring animators, a permanent move to Los Angeles usually follows the internship. The speakers emphasized that you may have to live on a friend’s couch and work outside of your dream career, but since you are in Los Angeles you can be called for an immediate interview, where the studio is looking to hire someone on the spot.
Use your SCAD connections with your fellow students to get your name out there, and to prepare for the industry. Apteka said, “Make an impression that will last, convey the director’s opinion not your own, and do not have a big ego and your job will payout.”
