Why do you like animation?
I love how animation blends some of my favorite forms of creative expression; writing, drawing, and yelling strange voices into a microphone. I love how one can use the elements of visuals, timing, and sound to tell a story, convey a mood, or just make someone laugh. Animation is a craft that’s uniquely rewarding in that it truly gives you what you’re willing to put into it. You just have to be crazy enough to endure. If you’re willing to take that time though, the rewards are endless.
Tell us about your short in this year’s festival.
At the Burger Buddy, you never know who might stop by for a burger & some fries. Written, voiced, and animated by Greg Bro, “Famous People. Fast Food.” debuted at the 2013 L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival.
Do you do other kinds of art that inform your animation work?
I love writing, humor, and storytelling, so they’re natural elements that feed into my animated work. I find I can’t even doodle now without thinking of them in the context of a fuller narrative.
Who are some of your favorite/inspirational animators?
Hard to say. It can truly vary from project to project. I find I am just as influenced by live action storytelling as I am by animated media. Visually though I tend to enjoy the richer visuals of children’s shows (Adventure Time, Regular Show, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends) and the writing/humor of the more adult oriented programming (South Park, Bob’s Burgers, Breaking Bad). If you make your brain available, there’s inspiration everywhere.
Is Minnesota a good place to do animation? And what do we need here to make it a better place for animation?
I believe the potential is there. The conduit between the creative and their audience is a little more challenging to find in MN, but the talent and the appetite for it is there. There needs to be more opportunities, like MinnAnimate, for artists to showcase their work and connect with an audience.
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