What kind of education did it take to get you where you are today? So it was a lot of work to really make the characters act and feel like they were in a real world that could exist. They were really going for a live action film feel but we still wanted to give it the charm and feel of an animated film. "Dragons" was a good challenge as well, but because of the style of animation. And these shots could take us over a month to do for something that lasts on screen for only 5 seconds. We were doing shots that had 16 or more characters in each shot. It's not like the first film where there are usually only a couple of characters in a shot. Kung Fu Panda 2 because of the amount of characters in the film.
DREAMWORKS 2D ANIMATION HOW TO
My most challenging projects would definitely have to be Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to Train your Dragon. What were your most challenging projects, and why? Use it as a stepping stone and keep pushing yourself to get where you want to be.
Don't get comfortable in a job that you don't like. A lot of people and parents will advise against it saying "there's no money in that (which is not true)" or "do something more stable" but I honestly believe if you want to be happy in your job you HAVE to do what you enjoy doing. My advice for aspiring animators is to keep fighting and working for what you want to do for a living. What advice would you give to aspiring animators? As for my animation and what I've contributed I think I am most proud of my work on Surf's Up.
DREAMWORKS 2D ANIMATION MOVIE
I didn't have that much work to show on that movie but I am still overly grateful and proud to have had a chance to work on what a lot of people consider one of the best animated movies ever. I say it's strange because I only came on board that project about half way through. It's strange but among my accomplishments I am probably most proud of being a part of How to Train Your Dragon. We'll work on a movie for over a year and only have contributed about 1 or 2 minutes of the film.Īmong your achievements, which one(s) are you the most proud of? The worst part of working in animation is definitely how long it takes to see the fruits of your labour. Hearing people laugh or cry at not only the lines being read but from something you specifically decided to put into your animation. The best part of working in animation has and always will be experiencing the response from a public audience on opening night. What are the best and worst aspects about working in the animation field? So I have to make every moment and every shot as unique as possible.įill in the blank: The future of animation is_.ĭiscovering unique styles and ideas from independent animators I try to remember that once my shot is done, it'll be in the movie forever and people will continue to watch it for years.
There are always default ways or cliche ways of animating that I try to avoid.
My focus within animation is to make every shot I work on something special.
What is your focus within animation and what led you to choose this focus on this one? David contributed to two major upcoming releases from Dreamworks-Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots.įun fact: David's facial expressions are so animated (read: goofy) that he is often used by his colleagues to act out scenes and characters.Īnimation Career Review was lucky enough to steal a few moments from David-where he offered up some solid advice for our aspiring animators. He was later stolen away by Sony Pictures Imageworks, only to later be scooped up by Dreamworks-where he became their Senior Character Animator.ĭavid has been lucky-and talented-enough to work on hugely successful films, including Open Season, I Am Legend, and Surfs Up. After cutting the chains and graduating from Canada's most prestigious animation program David was initially recruited by Nelvana in Toronto. I have had the pleasure of knowing David Stodolny since he was chained up in the catacombs of Sheridan College.