general enhancement of special effects, such as explosions, monsters,
cloud formations, weaponry fire, and so on. For example: if footage of a
spaceship and a blank sky have been shot separately and combined, the
effects animator might be called upon to create the ship's shadows, or to
add stars to a night sky.
Special Skills and Education:
The ability to draw, coupled with knowledge and skill with computer
animation programs.
Advice for Someone Seeking This Job
An internship at places like Class-Key Chew-Po Commercials and
other animation houses is a good way to get into the business. Find a
freelance effects animator who is willing to teach you in exchange for
your free services. "Branch out and get a couple of different skills
down--don't limit yourself just to animation," says effects animator
Harry Moreau. "Learn some software packages and be versatile."
Professional Profile:
Harry Moreau, Animator
and Effect Animator
"I always wanted to draw
cartoons. I loved the Disney
stuff. Warner Bros. was great
too, but Disney was my
favorite," says Harry Moreau,
who grew up in Alhambra,
California, not far from Disney
Studios. Fresh out of high
school at age 19, he landed a
job as a driver, delivering film
for the Haboush Company.
Owner Victor Haboush had worked as an animator on such Disney clas-
sics as Pinocchio and Fantasia. One of his animators, John Kimball, was the
son of Ward Kimball, another legendary Disney animator. Moreau felt
inspired just being around these men whose work he admired.
One day when extra help was needed to hand paint cels, Moreau vol-
unteered. When it was discovered he could draw, he was hired as John
Kimball's assistant, where he continued to hone his timing and technical
skills. He enrolled at University of Southern California (USC), but eventu-
ally quit when he realized that he was learning more on the job.
What do you love
most about your job?
"I love it all. I really do.
I've gotten into doing a
lot of compositing and
I really, really like that--
it's a lot of computer
work. I'm still into the traditional type ani-
mation, but the computer is kind of new for
me. Animation has been my first love, but
now I can combine the computer, which is
a nice little addition."--Harry Moreau
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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