Sunday 3 July 2016

Character Design Internship @ DreamWorks Animation



This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to be a character design intern at DreamWorks Feature for the Creative Development and Design team in Glendale. It was quite a humbling experience and the best summer of my life, literally.. A really beautiful campus with lakes, ducks and greenery, hanging out with some of the best artists in the WORLD, topped with ice-cream and free food for everyone. I couldn't have asked for more. Having lunch with greats like Joe Moshier and Marcos Mateu Mestre was a dream I couldn't even afford to dream.
I made a lot of new friends, both interns and experienced artists, and learned a lot in the three months I was there. 
Got to spend some time with the amazing James Baxter and Kristof Serrand, such amazing and humble artists for even willing to spend time with me..and so many more including Simon Otto, Nico Marlet, Christophe Lautrette, Rodolphe Guenoden, Dean DeBlois,  POV, Dominique Louis, and so many many more. Many thanks to them for being patient with me.
I made some amazing friends who worked with me and in other departments - Courtney, Zilai, Celine Kim and Brian Wang, who gave me a great birthday treat too! Great times, would love to work with such amazing people again, hopefully soon!

When I saw a DreamWorks logo printed on my table, I simply had to use it to make up my name haha


The real moon right next to the DreamWorks moon in the same orientation. How many times can you see that? 

 the dancing fish that loved all the animated films from DreamWorks too


The real deal
 The first time I had the pho (pronounced fuh)

A birthday card from The great Jeffrey Katzenberg  

 Beautiful Dreamworks at night
 We got invited to the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences. AMPAS. Where they hand you the OSCARS. Well :O

With the Legend James Baxter. Many many thanks to him for all the help he gave me. Still unbelievable how humble he is.  


 Director extraordinaire Dean DeBlois agreed to spend some time with me looking over my work. Such an honor. Thanked him for making Lilo and Stitch. 


 The Einstein of Animation - Kristof Serrand - Subtle animation at its best. Learned so much from evening breaks with Kristof. 


 The CDD team with art directors Zoro Rodriguez and Joe Vance, my partner Courtney, production coordinator extraordinaire David Joyner, Melissa Kim, Mariko Yamashin and me


What a great ending to such a great internship. Mango Mousse cake from a place called Porto's. Loved it. 
 


Thank you DreamWorks for such a wonderful experience I won't forget for a long long time.