Interview with Blaine Toderian Via Vancouver Animation       

Mario Pochat : hy did you get into animation?

Blaine Todorian : Special effects, (especially those in Jurassic Park,) were a huge influence on me. During the reveal of the brachiosaurus I was awed; those were living breathing creatures on the screen!

It was amazing to see something that was crafted by someone come to life... It was magical, mystifying and mysterious... And it left me astounded; "How did they do that?" Which eventually led me to; "How do I do that?"

M.P : What was your big break into the industry?

B.T. : I was lucky enough to arrive at Nitrogen Studio's recently. It's been a great place for me because they take a full feature animation approach and apply it to television animation. I've been pushed to get the quality of animation as good as I possibly can, and still to it in a timely manner. It's been a boon having more experienced animators around me; it has allowed me to grow in ways that wouldn't be possible in other television productions.

M.P. : What would you consider to be a big motivator in your animation career?

B.T. : Animation is one of the most complicated undertakings I can think of... We attempt to replicate life on a flickering screen! My motivation for doing this hasn't really changed since my initial interest; I'm still trying to give something inert the spark of life, (much like those brachiosaurs possessed.)

M.P : How do you find the Vancouver Animation Industry?

B.T. : While I'm appreciating more and more how familiar the animation community is here, it's hard to ignore that commercialized animation in Vancouver can be very harsh. Especially for those young animators starting out. It's a sad trend that young talent is often prayed upon by companies trying to save money. And unless you work hard at improving your own skill sets, and keep your chin up in the hard times, it can be difficult to keep your motivation, and stay afloat in the competition.

M.P. : Is there anything else you would like to add?

B.T. I'd like to express appreciation for Vancouver Animation, and its ilk. It's great to have a locally based internet presence to provide a bit of inspiration to folks here. Along with the many fantastic animation blogs out there, discovering animation stimulus is becoming easier. It's something I think is tremendously important, as it's too easy to burn out working late hours, or stressing over deadlines. If you don't enjoy the art, it becomes a job.

Bio:
"I left Alberta to animate my first bouncing ball at Vanarts, in 2003. I graduated in 2004 with a degree in Computer Animation. Inspired by equal parts fervour and adventure, I left immediately to India to work on a conceptual project. It was a blast, and I loved it. In time, I made my way back to Vancouver, and worked on a few children's shows: an assistant animation director on Jibber Jabber, and then onto Thomas and Friends as an animator. I've had a chance to animate on a few other projects in the meantime, and currently, I'm at Nitrogen Studios as a lead animator on the new season of Thomas and Friends."




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