Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1475854
F E AT U R E What If …? images @Marvel Studios 2021 WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES WHAT IF ...? UNIQUE? I'm excited that it is geared towards a more adult audi- ence. It is edgy, cool, and gritty. What excited me about What If …? initially was that we could finally make bold-looking concept art and not be afraid for it to be too scary or too dark. Everything was about the story, and whatever the story needed. Our design team really pushed the look on what it could be. Coming from a feature animation background that was primarily for a younger audience—there were limits on what you can design and how dark you can take it, which is under- standable! It was just a nice break for me to finally be able to do a show at this level and for an older audience. WHAT WAS THE BEST PART ABOUT WORKING ON THE NOMINATED EPISODE, AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT RESONATED WITH VIEWERS? What I loved about the Doctor Strange episode was that it felt real. If you had the power to bring back your loved ones from the dead, you would probably do it. Also, my favorite part of that episode was that they left Doctor Strange's storyline to be a tragedy. What people are used to seeing in Marvel movies are characters being redeemed at some point in the story. I think to a lot of people it was shocking, that they just left it there with him destroying the world. And that is the part that I think makes this episode special. WHAT ANIMATED SHOWS INSPIRED YOUR CAREER? I definitely was inspired by old Disney animation. I watched Pinocchio and The Lion King a million times, because those were the only VHS tapes we owned in Ukraine. There are too many more to name because I think all of the animation movies that I have watched so far have contributed in some way. However, I don't think I was just inspired by animation. I love live- action movies, as well, and love the cinematic look and feel. Things started shifting for me when I saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for the first time. I was like: "You can make animation like this?!" I think that was the turning point for me when I realized that I wanted to do more, and therefore I am thrilled to be working at Marvel. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LEGACY OF WHAT IF ...? WILL BE? I am hoping it will inspire other studios to create more adult animated shows and also give more opportunities for artists like me to be able to work on a variety of animation styles. KRISTINA VARDAZARYAN ART DIRECTOR What If …? "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" Marvel Studios 30 KEYFRAME