INTERVIEW : Larry Bafia
Interview Via Vancouver Animation by Mario Pochat

Larry Bafia started his career in stop motion and Claymation with the Will Vinton Studios. At the studio.Larry worked on stop motion projects such as the California Raisins, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, The Globeheads and numerous commercial projects before moving into CGI. While part of the Vinton CG commercial group, Larry animated characters for Chips Ahoy! Raid and Fanta. During his seven year tenure as Commercial Animation Director at PDI/Dreamworks, Larry directed commercials for many top clients including Coca-Cola, Sega, Intel, Kraft, Target, Circle K, and Saturn.

While with PDI/Dreamworks, Larry was also Sequence Lead Animator on several hit films including Antz, Batman & Robin, A Simple Wish, and was on the effects team for Mission Impossible II, Forces of Nature & The Peacemaker. At Warner Brothers Larry served as Lead Animator for the Stop Motion Division on Tim Burton's feature Mars Attacks. From 2003 through 2008 Larry was Department Head of Animation and Visual Effects at the Vancouver Film School. In 2007 the program was ranked 5th in the world by 3D World magazine. In 2002, Larry founded his own animation company, Blam! Animation. As the company's Creative Director, Larry continues to develop commercials and short films with animated characters.

Where did you get your start?

My first animation gig was with a claymation studio in Chicago, Crocus Productions. We mainly did educational and industrial type films but I got plenty of animating time. The short film, "The Munchers" is floating around on some of the video sites.

What is your favorite part of your profession?

Seeing a story come alive with imagery. It is never exactly how the mind's eye perceives it so it can be "uncharted waters" at times.

Have you ever thought of Writing/Directing an Animated Feature Film?

I think most people have that dream/ambition. I usually find myself leaning towards shorter formats.

Who do you thank for helping you in the "biz"?

Will Vinton Studio gave me the opportunity to really become a polished animator. Barry Bruce was a great mentor. Marilyn Zornado got me my first directing gigs.

When did you decide to jump on Animation Education?

VFS had the Department Head position available and I had just spent a number of years at Dreamworks working with some animators that were just coming up. I liked seeing junior animators realize their potential.