Q: Hi Tom, can you give us a little background on your job ?
A: I work in computer animation for TV and Film and have done for the past 10 years. I work with all sorts of artists, modelers, animators, lighters, texture artists (to name just a few). I’ve most recently worked for Boulder Media on ‘My Little Pony’ – Ireland’s first computer-animated movie. A new, remote-friendly job has meant that I could change up where I worked and I chose the creative community here at The Tara Building.
Q: We asked Tom what challenges he has faced this year, here’s what he had to say:
A: As with everyone else, Covid has brought its challenges and advantages. Not being able to connect with teams can create ‘information silos’ and communication is a real challenge. A big problem with working remotely has been not being able to see a problem first hand, a flurry of team meetings are the new ways of digging. Animation has been luckier than Visual Effects (or Special Effects) as many movie studios have put filming on ice with Covid, animated shows have been in demand.
Q: And who or what does he turn to for inspiration?
A: Computer animation and special effects have never been so accessible than today, you can get and work with the software so easily these days, but watching the effects and techniques of the films of the 80s and 90s shows the amazing ingenuity past masters used to use when modern techniques were not available. I’ve been addicted to watching these film breakdowns recently!
