Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Hi! I’m a Texan in Los Angeles. My entry to animation was through Stan Lee and Marvel/Fox Kids back before it became the machine it is today. Blessed Marvel was such a small group in those days, and we had so much access to Stan. I learned a lot about story from him and all the great people I worked with.
There was a lot of mentorship, and we were encouraged to try doing different jobs. Character design, storyboards, directing, props, backgrounds, color … we got to do it all and figure out what our passions/strengths were. Most importantly, I got lifelong friends, many of whom I still work with to this day. Currently, I have my own development company called Monster Forge Productions, and we’re having a blast developing our own IP for TV/film/comics/games.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
The same as anyone who has been doing it long enough to see the difference between actual animation creatives running the studios and navigating the current corporate structure which is a very different vibe. Working hard to make it more creator-empowered rather than just sitting back and rolling with the punches.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
Tex Avery and Chuck Jones to Robert Valley and Peter Chung. Pixar, Studio Ghibli, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Anywhere I can learn something new. It’s amazing how many talented people there are in this business!
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist/writer in the animation industry?
Continually getting to use every skillset in my toolbox and making opportunities for people to break into this business (and excel) the way others did for me starting out.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
It’s an exciting time with so many talented people joining our industry. The sheer size of this group is so much bigger than it was a few decades ago that it’s a constant source of inspiration.
See more of Denton’s work on his website.
Follow him on Instagram at @shannonericdenton.
Follow him on Twitter at @ShannonDenton.
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