Where do you draw inspiration from?

From Inspiration to Animation  are stories from professional and aspiring animators about the inspiration that drove them to pursue their dream careers. Each month, we’ll feature a different animator, whose stories we hope will inspire you, too!

Enter below!

This month:

Like many aspiring animators, as a kid i wanted to pursue a career as an artist or illustrator, because when i drew it made other people joyous and so that made me happy. I never thought that there was ever courses for animation, especially in Australia since i thought that all cartoons or animated films were done in America. However, i still wanted to pursue that dream, and unintentionally led my dad on a false belief that i was going to take up law or something in the medical industry. I studied hard at school in order to get accepted into Griffith University(Queensland College of Art), one of the universities that provided an animation course. However, getting in provided that your end-of-school marks were high. My dad was disappointed to know that i took up an art course, as he called it, and was hoping that i could have impressed our relatives with a different career choice. I was disappointed as well to hear this from him, however, it didn't stop me from proving to him that animation as a career was just like any other career with their ups and downs. Actually i wanted to show him that it was a good career, one that was up there with other well paid careers. Recently, my dad has been able to learn much about my career path; knowing that my dad was willing to learn helped me feel assured and supported in my decisions. I know he is still unsure about my chosen path but coming from an Asian family has its own set of rules. I aim to work in the film industry, as it was with Disney films and Saturday morning cartoons that i grew up with and it molded part of my life. I always loved animation, even as i grew older. I still turn on the telly and watch the kids tv shows with my nephews and nieces, because animation never grows old. Every time i watched an episode of a particular cartoon, i would always find something new to learn, something that drew me into the film. It was one reason why i wanted to take up drawing as a professional career. I also loved stories and the way some could move you to tears, happiness and laughter. I read a lot growing up and still find the time to do it as well. I also write up my own stories, where I'm in charge of the characters and its story. It was from this that i realized that animation would be perfect for me, no matter what path i took, it would help me discover who i was. I have recently completed my first year of animation at Griffith, and have learnt a lot. I now have a habit of analyzing any animated film. Taking up animation has changed my life in a good way and i hope that one day i can become an Australian icon in the animation industry, or working in the industry is good enough. I should end it here since i have shared too much of my life story. My animation course has firstly brought a new love for drawing to me, secondly it brought me and my dad closer to each other, and thirdly it has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of animation and i can't thank anyone enough for this.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Tell us!

If your story is posted, you will win a limited edition Walt Stanchfield lithrograph “Mustard Seed” and be entered to win the grand prize, a set of Drawn to Life, Volumes 1 and 2 signed by Don Hahn along with a $200 Blick® Art Materials gift card. The grand prize winner will be chosen in December 2009.

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Featured story:

Anne Thao

2008 At the end of high school, Anne applied to Griffith University (Queensland, Australia) in pursuit of taking up animation and was accepted.

Previous stories

June- Don Hahn 

July- Leesa Dean

August- Alex Prose 

September - Tara Audibert 

October - Prince Jones 

November - Anthony Merola

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