Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
My name is Carl Edward—I’m a storyteller and party clown making my way through everyone’s favorite oversized parking lot: Los Angeles!
I got my start through [the recent] Nickelodeon Artists Program, creating media for the program and working on The Patrick Star Show as a trainee. I’m very fortunate to have been mentored by Dave Cunningham, a supervising director in the SpongeBob SquarePants universe. His kindness and wisdom are invaluable to me, and his teaching helped me land a position as storyboard revisionist on Kamp Koral. Before this, I worked for a non-profit during college in Oakland, Calif., creating pediatric videos and resources designed to inform and reassure children about an array of medical conditions/procedures.
Coming from a theater and improv background, I find myself inclined towards interesting characters with room for me to explore and grow them along their journeys. This also means I’m bad at whispering. I’m passionate about sharing stories, I decorate for Halloween way too early, and I once ate 81 Ghirardelli chocolate squares in under an hour, contracting severe pancreatitis … It’s very nice to meet you!
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
There have been some interesting challenges while trying to break into animation. The art school I went to wasn’t entirely forward in critique, so there was often a gap in thinking you were on the right track versus actually being on the right track. That challenge was also a blessing, as it meant I had to take my education into my own hands, sometimes creating new classes to make sure I was learning what I wanted. There were a number of “close calls” too, unpaid storyboard tests and internship interviews that started well, then faded to ghosting.
The longest pervading challenge has been prioritizing art over self. I can become paranoid when I’m not dedicating every waking moment to improving my craft. I’ll be standing in line at the grocery store buying the cookie dough I don’t plan on baking, frustrated that I’m not holding a pencil. We’re making progress there, though! Mindfulness is key. I’m building interests outside of making animation, like exercising.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
My earliest and longest-lasting animation inspirations are Tim Burton and Henry Selick. Stop-motion animation made animation production appear as a tangible career for me. Their direction and design inclinations helped me embrace a lot of the kooky sensibilities I have.
People who are currently inspiring me include Niki López, Jorge R. Gutiérrez, Dana Terrace, and John Trabbic III.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I want to create something from my own mind: a show, a movie. I chose my path based on that adage: “Do something you love so work only feels like work a little bit.” That’s how that goes, right?
As a queer, Latin kid who grew up Catholic, there were a lot of things I wasn’t supposed to say or do. Creating stories in animation gives me a way to “unleash my inhibitions, feel the rain on my skin.” Seriously though, I’m excited to just give in to my mania and create something from my heart and my experiences. I hope to run a show or direct a film. All in due time!
As a professional working in animation, I want to help give access to underrepresented and marginalized groups. A lot of getting that first gig is good luck, and it’s always nice to spread a little more of that around. I’d like to be a part of as many volunteer opportunities as I can manage!
What does being in the Union mean to you?
The Union inherently means we are not alone. We have each others’ backs in the face of growing corporations that seek to save a buck anywhere they can. For me, it’s another opportunity to lift others around us in our growing industry, locally and beyond. The Guild helps level this continuously shifting playing field, so we can maintain a positive quality of life for us and our loved ones.
Discover more of Mongan’s artwork at his website.
Follow him on Instagram at @cemosity.