Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
I’m Katya Bowser! Currently a storyboard director at Atomic Cartoons. I’m originally from Jacksonville, Fla. I went to Ringling College in Florida a while back to study computer animation. After graduating I came out to Los Angeles to start the job search. I freelanced around for a few years before starting at Nickelodeon on Shimmer and Shine as a storyboard revisionist in 2017. After that I moved to Wild Canary animation where I worked as a storyboard artist on The Rocketeer and Mira, Royal Detective, and bounced around a couple other shows there.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Landing the first job was a big challenge. I worked with the typical difficulties of navigating the industry as a newcomer along with being a mom. I had my daughter in 2016, before I had really entered the industry. I didn’t know many other mothers of young children in animation at the time, so it was scary not knowing what to expect. Thankfully I have since been able to connect to others with similar fears and have found many women to look up to for guidance.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
There are so many! My peers constantly inspire me. Seeing your coworkers and friends overcoming hurdles and celebrating victories together is constantly inspiring. I also look up to many artists who offer their own unique brand of storytelling, such as Elizabeth Ito, Rebecca Sugar, Lisa Hanawalt, Pete Docter, and so many more.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I hope to connect with the audience with my work. I love working on stories and moments where people can see themselves and relate. Making work that finds the humor in everyday life to connect with folks who need that chill happy space to rest.
What does being a part of the union mean to you?
To me, being part of a union is knowing that you have a community of people with similar experiences, struggles, and joys, to come together and have each other’s backs. Together as a group we can work to help each other!
More of Bowser’s artwork can be found at her website and on Instagram at @katyabowserart.
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