An award-winning film-maker and animator surveys the field of commercial animation and shares the advice of more than 100 animation. Readers will get insider's tips on beginning a career, creating portfolio or reel, meeting local communities of animators, keeping job skills marketable, networking effectively, making the leap from working for others to pitching and selling one's own work. The book offers the advice of more than 100 top animation artists, discussing such topics as beginning a career, creating a portfolio or reel, meeting local communities of animators, keeping job skills marketable, networking effectively, starting a business, and more. Interview subjects include top names in the animation field: Teddy Newton, character designer for "The Incredibles"; Steven Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants; John R. Dilworth, creator of Courage, the Cowardly Dog; executives from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, the CartoonNetwork; and many others. This guide gives aspiring and practicing animators the tips they need for starting and maintaining a successful career in the field.

Author Biography

David B. Levy is an award-winning independent filmmaker and animation director for the Blue's Clues at Nickelodeon Animation. His animation has been seen on HBO and NBC's Saturday Night Live, and he is currently directing a new animated series for MTV Networks. He has lectured and taught at Parsons School of Design and School of Visual Arts and is president of the New York chapter of Association International du Film d'Animation.