Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
My name is Fury, and I’m a queer non-binary trans woman. I was raised in Italy, but L.A. has been my home for a long time. I’m an ArtCenter alumnus. I originally went to school for illustration. I hadn’t planned to work in animation. I found myself on this path after much meandering in different industries. I’ve done advertising, video games, industrial design, and graphic design in the past, but none of it really appealed to me until I started working in animation. I’ve worked on a number of CG TV shows for DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon. I’m currently a design supervisor at Nickelodeon, wrapping up Season 1 for the new Rugrats revival.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I grew up with ‘70s and ‘80s anime. For me, my animation idols are Katsuhiro Otomo and Peter Chung, just to name a few. I love when animation is on par with filmmaking. I think that a lot of people dismiss the medium as something “for kids,” but it can be so much more. My inspiration comes from everywhere, though, be it photography, art, fashion, industrial design, or music. I strongly believe that I need to keep my eyes and ears open because anything can inform my work.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
I think the two biggest challenges that I’ve had to contend with have been continuous employment, which is a sad reality of our industry nowadays. Secondly is being taken seriously as a designer, as a lead, and as a human being. I’ve had plenty of people doubt my ability over the years, but I’ve found a good team that believes in me now, and it feels good to be trusted and relied on.
How has the animation industry helped give you representation, and how can it improve?
To be frank, the industry hasn’t helped give me representation. I’ve had to basically force the issue with people. It’s very hard to push for visibility, primarily because there’s a profound lack of understanding and education about LGBTQ+ issues and history. I’m doing my best to push for that within my sphere of influence, and it’s an uphill battle. I think that this can improve if more queer creators are given a platform to express themselves in an uncensored and candid way. However, there’s a lot of work to do to get there.
What words of wisdom would you give to people in your community who would like to get into animation?
You’re going to have to work twice as hard as everyone else, and you’re going to need to be your own advocate. There are positive steps that have been happening in the industry, but they are not enough. It is also up to you to educate people about LGBTQ+ as much as possible. I know that is counter to conventional wisdom, but people don’t learn unless you talk to them and show them who you are and what your experiences are like. Networking is your main way of getting in, but never dismiss a connection and always be aware of how you come across. It’s a small industry.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I want to be able to give voice to people like me who didn’t have role models that were visible growing up. I don’t want young queer people to grow up thinking that they are alone and voiceless—and if someone like me can do it, so can they. That’s ultimately my goal.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
I’m a strong believer in socialism and workers’ rights. It is a no-brainer that unions are an integral and necessary part of society. I’m not naive to think that without a union we would be better off, now more than ever. We’ve witnessed what happens when there are no safeguards for workers, especially after this last year. I think that the only way we can progress as a society is with a strong, organized workforce that keeps in check the powers that be.
Learn more about Galluzzi’s work at her website.
Follow Galluzzi on Instagram at furygalluzzi.
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