The Animation Guild blog is now posting a series of audio interviews with members. The latest features old friend Dan Haskett, character designer and animator extraordinaire. (And here is part 2.) I first met Dan in New York in the 1970s, where he was one of the most prominent young bloods anxious to restore animation to the glories of the past. For those too young to remember, animation was at a real low point then. Dan has contributed to many major features and TV specials over the course of his career.Earlier interviews are with Ruben Aquino, Bruce Smith (part 1, part 2), Ed Gombert (part 1, part 2), and Robert Alvarez (part 1, part 2). Thanks to the Guild adding labels, a quick link to all the interviews can be found here.
I really value interviews with animation artists as the mainstream media (and some recent documentaries) spend too much time focusing on management and not enough on the people who actually create the films. Now that The Animation Podcast seems to be dormant, I'm glad to see The Animation Guild taking up the slack.
Mark, have you started listening to Speaking of Animation or Spline Doctors? They fill the void left by Animation Podcast too.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a good interview. I can't wait to hear the rest. I'm especially interested in the political climate at Disney during the late seventies and early eighties. It's fascinating to think about the different factions who were vying for control.
ReplyDeleteIt was a time of transition, but it remains a very dark time as far as I'm concern. All the the politics and factions fighting for control of Walt's animation unit. I'm glad I got out of there.
ReplyDeleteDan's interview is fascinating, however.