In this episode of Animated Conversations, Andy Williams sits down with Wesley Louis, the co-founder of The Line, an incredible animation studio based in London (think of them as 'The Beastie Boys of British Animation' - irreverent, individual, and always following their own creative instincts). Andy and Wes discuss the power of personal projects and how they can help animators grow their skills, develop their voice, and land new clients. Wesley shares his experience producing personal projects with The Line and why he likes to think of them as 'Soul Projects'. Through their conversation, Andy and Wesley offer valuable insights and advice for animators looking to carve their own path. 

Welcome to Animated Conversations, a podcast series which delves into the world of animation through the eyes of the people who create it. In this episode, we sit down with Andy Blazdell, CEO of Celaction, the animation software used to produce hits shows like Bluey and Peppa Pig.

Andy takes us through his journey starting the company and how it was forged through the close collaboration with animators and producers like Astley Baker Davies, really tailoring the software to the specific production needs of the people making the shows. He shares how Celaction differs from other software on the market and how crucial effective communication is between software programmers, animators, and producers.

Furthermore, Andy emphasises the importance of maximising productivity and efficiency without compromising creativity. He also shares his insights on supporting emerging talent and enabling younger generations to grow and become the creators of the next big hit like Bluey.

Join your host Andy Williams for a fascinating conversation with Fraser Maclean, a renowned teacher and writer on the art of layout in animation. With years of experience working on blockbuster animated films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Disney's Tarzan, Fraser shares his insights on the importance of layout and why cutting back on this is a false economy.

We delve into the state of the animation industry and the challenges of education in this field. Fraser sheds light on the principles of layout animation and how it can enhance the storytelling process in Animation.

Whether you're a seasoned animator or just starting, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in animation. Join us for an animated conversation with one of the industry's leading experts.

In this episode, we sit down with producer Andrew Baker to discuss the ins and outs of putting together a successful team, raising funds, and navigating distribution markets in the world of low to medium budget animated feature films. Andrew shares his expert insights on the importance of collaboration, communication, and building a strong team. It's all about finding the 'business' in 'show'.

Takeaways

1. The person you're trying to convince to fund your movie has a bingo scorecard. As a producer, your job is to tick as many of the boxes on that scorecard as is needed to give them the confidence to back your movie, Which might be original IP, co-production partners, voice talent, etc.
2. Animated Film Producers make feature films for family audiences, whereas series producer makes their shows for a more targeted and narrow audience, e.g. preschool. For Andrew, the joy of features is being able to make the movie for himself and the rest of the audience because he is part of that audience. 
3. The UK's animation and creative industry underestimates the potential of feature films. There is a demand for new content out there. 

In this episode, we are thrilled to sit down with Dave Ingham, a rock-star animation writer and Showrunner with decades of experience working in the industry. He looks back at the start of his career and some notable figures and mentors he's worked with and talks about his exciting slate of new projects.

Dave generously shares his insights on the creative process behind animation writing, from working as a freelance writer to running a writing team as a Showrunner. He also gives some valuable tips for aspiring writers starting and shares the best creative note he ever received. Join us for an inspiring and informative conversation with one of animation's most talented and experienced writers.

In this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by an animation legend; join us as we sit down with seasoned director Tim Searle to uncover the secrets behind great comedic animated storytelling. Fresh off of wrapping up production on a new show, Toad & Friends, Tim shares his insights from decades of working at the cross-section of animation and comedy. He takes us behind the scenes of his experience producing animated with everyone from George Michael to Rowan Atkinson on the animated Mr Bean series.

Join host Andy Williams as he chats with the talented music composer Gareth Davies to discuss the process of writing music for animated series. Gareth talks about how he works with producers and directors to create music that brings characters to life. He shares his insights on responding to an initial brief, capturing the musical essence of a character, and expressing the theme of a story. This interview is a must-listen for animation fans and music enthusiasts alike. #music #animation #composing #interview #podcast #artistry #entertainment

Host Andy Williams talks to Kyle Webster, Artist, Illustrator and Design Evangelist at Adobe. In a wide ranging chat they discuss his career journey, how he helped adobe to develop the digital painting and drawing app Fresco, and what the rise of AI and generative image engines means for visual artists.