Interview Questions

Below are possible questions posed to professionally working animators to gain insight into their methodologies and work methods in animating emotion.

Background:

• Where did you study animation?
• What are your top 3 favorite animation DVD's? And what reasons do you have to make them the top of your list?
  
• Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny? If neither, who?
• What is your primary animation platform?
• What toys do you have around your work area?

Influence:

• How long have you been animating and where do you currently work now?
• Do you have a favorite animator that you continually draw inspiration from?
• In learning animation, did you have a favorite animation exercise? Please describe.

Industry Questions:

• Do you specialize in a particular type of animation (i.e. character, realistic, inanimate objects, animals)?
• How much footage do you choose to work on at any one time, and how long do you give yourself to work on this footage?
• Before you jump on to the computer to animate, and realizing that you have approved storyboards, what type of personal planning do you do to prepare before animating?
• Animation is a complex process, what types of questions do you ask yourself in order to clarify what you are about to animate?
• Describe your animation process?
• Is there a feature inherent in the software that you are using that you just love and that you cannot live without? What does it do?
• In what ways do you see the animation industry changing?
• What is the most difficult part of animation?
• What do you love most about what you do?
  

Animating Emotion:

• How important is emotion to your animations?
• Describe the process you would take to get the best results?
• Have you ever animated something, only to find that people felt something else other than what you had originally intended?

Advice to Students:

• What is the biggest downfall students make when it comes to presenting their portfolio/demo reel?
• What type of advice would you give students currently entering the animation industry?
• The animation process is long and tedious, and its not unusual for the mind to wander. What do you do stay awake, sharp and focused on your work?