Interviews with animators from DreamWorks

I did some googling on Dreamworks Animation("my company") animator interviews.

One of them (Ethan Hurd) mentioned that animators at DreamWorks animates all the characters in a shot, not just one, which is new information to me.[1] I always imagined there were character supervisors, with their own team of animators, dedicated to a specific character.

In another interview with a DreamWorks animator [2], Simon Otto says "Fancy equipment and a great campus doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a successful career", which is very true and could be a valuable tip for any animator. Also he says: "All the top 2D animators at DreamWorks are still some of the best animators at the studio.". I don't know why this is the case. It could be more experience, or that mastering drawing means you have an eye for weight and posture.

Ron Williams, animator on Kung Fu Panda, confirms this theory in an interview: "Draw a lot, every chance you get. Keep pursuing art in general. Even if you want to just do animation, I would still study a broad range of art. Don't get too specific right away".

References:

• [1] American Chronicle - Interview with Shrek Animator
• [2] AOKIstudio Animation Blog - Simon Otto interview
• [3] Associated Content - AC Interview: Animator Ron Williams Kicks Back with "Kung Fu Panda"