Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1446450
ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 23 2020s ALEX ANDERSON KENNE Y Anderson Kenney has been in the animation industry for six years. Her work tends to be animation-centered, often with a fun problem-solving component. After working as an animator at indie studio Explosm out of Texas, she moved to DreamWorks TV, where she's been a Digital Animator for the last two-and- a-half years. Now moving into a different CG role, she's looking forward to the new challenges. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY? When I was in high school, a friend introduced me to the recobbled cut of The Thief and the Cobbler. Seeing it, I was hit by the realization: "Oh wow, someone MADE this!" I had known I wanted to be an artist, but seeing that film sealed the deal for me, and I knew I had to be an animator. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY? Seeing other people enjoying something you've made is one of the best feelings in the world. My most recent work was on a preschool show, and when friends and family send videos of their kids watching it, I get so excited. It makes the hard work worth it. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT YOU'VE WORKED ON IN YOUR CAREER? That's a pretty tough choice, I've been very lucky to work with really great teams on fun projects. I'm going to give it to Madagascar: A Little Wild because there were very few days where I came to work and wasn't laughing. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE TODAY. We're in a bit of a unique spot right now. Most of us have spent the past two years working remotely. We have worked hard to provide entertainment to folks that need it, especially in the face of the pandemic. The industry these days is very global, with most productions being made through the collaborative efforts of teams spanning different states and even different countries. HOW HAS THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED? Even in the short time I've been here, we've been through a lot of changes. Streaming media has risen to prominence in the last few years. Perhaps as a direct result of that, we're seeing a lot of really unique shows being made. I'm especially excited about the growth and variety we've seen in adult animation. (from top left): Joanna Romersa with Bill Hanna, Eugene Salandra at his pegboard at Disney TVA, the What a Cartoon! directors at Hanna- Barbera, the crew of Close Enough, and Robert Alvarez bowls with the Capitol Critters crew and spouses. HOW HAS THE UNION IMPACTED THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY WHILE YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER? The Animation Guild has had a big impact on the industry. We've seen the formation of the first non-U. S. animation union with our sibling Local 938 in Canada, and we just saw the expansion of our Guild outside of California through the addition of our friends at Titmouse New York. It's an exciting time, and I can't wait to see what's coming next.