Show 21 Dale Baer

09/08/15 • 101 min

I’m still pinching myself, that this conversation happened... I’ve wanted to talk to Dale for as long as I can remember!
One of the most talented and endearing people in animation, Dale hardly needs an introduction. A student of the Nine Old Men, towards the end of the golden age of animation, his forty years the in the industry has seen him to supervise Yzma, in Emperor’s New Groove, Alameda Slim and Junior in Home on the Range, Wilbur in Meet the Robinson’s, and Owl, in Winnie the Pooh. The list of movies and commercials he has worked on, is the longest list of anyone’s I’ve seen!!

We discuss his career and the changes he has seen in the industry, including the change over from the Nine Old Men and the turn of films, from traditional animation to CG animation. For me, this chat was delightful and insightful. I hope it is for you too! Enjoy.

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Show 20 Shawn Kelly

Shawn inspired me to do things I never would have, my life would be so much less had I not listen. It’s truly an honour to have such a wonderful person on the show.
Shawn Kelly set his sights on working at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) at age five when he saw the movie Star Wars in the cinema with is father. After a seemly random thread of events he started studying under the tutelage of animators Bill Hennes and John Root, he studied drawing and computer software throughout high school, attended community college, and Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

A summer internship at ILM introduced Shawn to another influential mentor, animation director Wayne Gilbert. It was through Wayne that Shawn realized that he wasn’t learning what he needed at school. Shawn left the academy in 1996 for a job as a character animator at former video game and educational company Presage Software, and continued his studies with Gilbert twice a week. They became very close friends and remain so, today.

It took about two years but Shawn fulfilled his lifelong dream and landed a job at ILM in 1998 and since that time, he has worked on numerous films including War of the Worlds, for which he animated tripods and probes; Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, where he helped develop and animate the vulture droids and animated Yoda in a pivotal swordfight; and Rango, where he was the Lead Animator for both the Mayor of Dirt and the Spirit of the West. He also worked as Lead Animator on all three Transformers movies. Kelly’s credits feature 23 films including Hulk, the Star Wars prequels, AI: Artificial Intelligence, and The Avengers.

Not to forget, he’s also co founder of Animation Mentor, the first on line animation school.

So as you can see we had lots to talk about and Shawn was incredibly generous with his time. I’m so grateful to have him on the show.

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Show 22 Bruce Smith

Bruce is one of the most talented and charismatic animators you’ll find in the industry, what a pleasure to talk with him!
A graduate of Cal Arts, Bruce broke into the industry working with Bill Mendez on one of my childhood favourites, the Garfield specials. He also worked with Dale Bear at Bear animation working on Who Framed Rodger Rabbit. Later animating on Space Jam at Warner’s, Supervising at Disney on Kurchak as well as the Baboons & Baby Baboons, in Tarzan Pacha, in Emperor’s New Groove, Pearl in Home on The Range, Dr. Facilier in Princes and the Frog, Kanga, Roo and Piglet in Winnie the Pooh ... the list goes on :) He directed Bebe’s Kids (Character based off Robin Harris’ stand up act), and co-created and directed the tv show Proud Family. He’s currently directing at Paramount Pictures.
Bruce’s personality makes him instantly likeable, unafraid to be himself and proud of his background and cutler which to me, makes him all the more admirable. I clearly had a wonderful time talking with Bruce, I hope you have a wonderful time listening.

Bruce’s Piglet Test on the Pencil Test Depot

More pencil tests on the Living Lines blog