Starting out in 2006 as an intern and mailroom clerk at DreamWorks Animation, Christopher Vigil’s animation career took off when Daniela Mazzucato and Makiko Wakita asked him to join the production team on the first Kung Fu Panda. Since then he’s worked as a modeling production coordinator, animation production coordinator, and visual development artist. He also creates t-shirts and pins for his online shop, We Are But Threads, and he’s now trying his hand at a new art form with his first picture book, Surf Dudes.
Tell us about the inspiration for Surf Dudes?
At the end of 2019, I was out with a few friends when I collapsed suddenly. My friend who rushed over to me said that it looked like all the life had been sucked from my body. Moments later I regained consciousness. The experience got me thinking: If that had been it for me, would my son even know what I was about? And perhaps even more importantly: Do I know what I’m about? What do I want to say while I’m on this planet?
Describe your process of writing and illustrating the book.
Surf Dudes had already been brewing in my mind for years. I had sketches and tons of notes, but when 2020 came, I felt/knew that it was time. To be honest, I was going through a deep depression, and creating Surf Dudes was something I just lost myself in completely. It gave me a feeling of hope to be a part of it. Some parts of the book I wrote first, while other parts I painted first. It was so liberating to be able to create however I wanted. To be completely free. I knew how I wanted it to feel. I had dreams about it. It was a catharsis for me.
What do you feel you can accomplish with a book that’s different from an animated project?
One of the things that I love most about the animation medium is how collaborative it is. A bunch of us, from all over the world, come together and create something bigger than all of us. That is a beautiful and amazing experience to be a part of. With a book, you’re pretty much getting Chris Vigil. You’re getting a piece of me. And all I want is for you to feel something. It can be anything. Just something.
How is the process of illustrating a book different from a TV show or movie?
In animation your work goes through many layers of approval. I believe first and foremost, you have to like it yourself, but you craft your work with the art director and production designer, which in turn is submitted for director and producer approval. Next, the approval of studio head executives, marketing, consumer products, the legal department, etc.
Also, on any animated project, you’re getting tons of notes. Many of them may contradict each other. But when you’re illustrating and writing a book on your own, you’re not getting notes from other people. I’m giving myself notes. I’m pushing myself because I have high standards for myself. With this book, I showed it to a select few people and did tweak a few things. Other than that, this was also an exercise in learning how to believe in myself, trust myself, and follow my heart.
What’s next for you? Another book?
The sky is the limit. I love making art, cartoons, movies, and telling stories. I now have five animated project concepts that I’ve been developing over the past decade. I’m not going to stop. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I’m just going to keep coming up with ideas and making stuff whether I’m getting paid or not. It’s who I am. (Seriously. Ask my mom, and she will show you kindergarten drawings with a corresponding story.)
I may do another book someday if it feels right. Or this may be the one and only. I haven’t decided yet. I would LOVE to get any of my animated projects off the ground. I would love to be able to give opportunities in the way that others have bestowed them upon me. That would truly be a dream come true.
Follow Vigil on Instagram: @we_are_but_threads
Purchase shirts and pins made by Vigil: WeAreButThreads.com
Purchase a copy of Surf Dudes.