YCSC Animation Panel

 

Animation Panel Draws a Crowd
10 November 2003

HOLLYWOOD HILLS - Our animation panelists discussed writing, voice acting, and 2D vs 3D in our Animation Panel, the sixth panel in our Yale in Hollywood series.

Our distinguished panelists:

  • Nancy Callaway, writer (Disney's Lizzie McGuire and Jumanji TV series), story editor on Married with Children, past Fox Production VP.
  • Phil LaMarr, voice actor (Green Lantern on The Justice League animiated series). Credits also include Scooby Doo, Animatrix, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, and Futurama. Video game credits include Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2) and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
  • Nicole Dubuc, writer for Disney's Kim Possible.
  • George Suhayda, Sony Imageworks, Senior Art Director, Polar Express (Contact, Sphere, etc.)
  • Bill Tessier, animator at Sony Imageworks, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Stuart Little 2, Early Bloomer, and The Matrix Revolutions.
  • Louise Nemschoff, moderator, entertainment attorney in animation and video games

The lively discussion covered a range of topics, from process-oriented to philosophical:

How Animation is Made: Concept to script, art direction, storyboard, voices, roughs, and final product.

Writing for children's animation: in children's animation, you can't write "shut up" and dragons can't breathe fire.

Creating a character's voice: Getting inspiration on how a cartoon character might sound - from looking at the character sketches to mimicking your sophomore year roommate

The role of the CGI animator with motion-capture images: Can CGI animators still animate and express their creativity or are they cleaning up the motion capture

Some of the panelists brought video clips of their work to demonstrate CGI development and voice acting.

At the end of the panel, MG Lord won the door prize: A Kim Possible T-shirt. Congratulations!

Thanks to our panelists and moderator for a very animated discussion, from organizers Kevin Winston and Michelle Gonzalez.

 
Nancy Callaway, writer Lizzie
 
 
Phil LaMarr, voice actor (Green Lantern)
 
 
Bill Tessier, animator (Stuart Little)
 
Nicole Dubuc, writer Kim Possible
 
George Suhayda, Sr Art Director (Polar Express)
 
Louis Nemschoff, entertainment attorney (moderator)
Copyright (c) 2003-2004, Yale Club of Southern California