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Member Mondays • Spring 2022

Michael Camacho

Character, prop, and background designer Michael Camacho shares the support that encouraged him to pursue animation, the challenge of imposter syndrome, and his appreciation for how the Union fights for members' rights.

Cartoon of pipe-smoking tortoise and white rabbits All artwork by Michael Camacho.
Photo of man in backwards baseball cap

Tell us a little about yourself and your career. 

I’ve been working in the animation industry for eight years now, and the journey it took me to get here has been a blessing! As a child I was a ward of the court and had little guidance, so shows like Bobby’s World, Toy Story, A Goofy Movie, The Wizard of Oz, Family Matters, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air kept me grounded. These shows would later become my main inspirations for choosing a career in animation. However, in ninth grade I was discouraged by a Career Day instructor. I was encouraged to choose another path, mostly because she knew that I had no family that could support me as I pursued an animation career. At age 15, I stopped drawing because I felt it wasn’t realistic to work in this industry.

Artwork of frogs

A few years after I graduated high school, I met my beautiful wife. My wife and her loving family encouraged me to give up my new dream of becoming a tire shop manager and pursue my passion to work in animation. So, at the age of 21, I took my first art class and fell in love with art again. I knew this was my final chance to realize my passion, and I did whatever was needed to improve my skills and achieve my goals. Fast-forward eight years later, and I’ve been blessed to work on shows for Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., and Netflix. I can’t wait for what the future holds. 

What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation? 

Early on in my career, I struggled to prove to myself that I was worthy of working in this industry. I frequently battled with “imposter syndrome,” which I feel is common in people who come from my background. However, the animation industry is such a welcoming environment that I have created long-lasting relationships with people who have become a second family. Now, during the pandemic, as a husband and father of twin toddlers, some of the challenges have been trying to separate work life from home life. 

Who are your inspirations in the field of animation? 

I could fill pages with artists who have inspired me in animation. However, one person I give all the credit to for encouraging me and keeping me going in this field is Sheldon Borenstein. After My first year of junior college, I was so discouraged because I was barely getting Bs on my assignments. So, I went to Google and searched “how to improve figure drawing,” and Sheldon’s name came up. In one 10-minute video of his instruction, I learned more than I had in that first year of junior college. He really simplified drawing in a way I could understand, and to this day I am proud to still have him as a mentor and a friend. 

What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?

Since my first year in the industry, I’ve been going to “career day” at the school where I was discouraged from pursuing animation. I hope to encourage students to pursue their dreams no matter their background or economic status. Also, I grew up in a house that was built over a morgue, so you could imagine the amount of memories that I have. I would love to one day have a show based on these experiences. 

What does being in the Union mean to you? 

It means a lot being in the Union. I love that there’s a group of people who will fight for your rights, even sometimes for things that you didn’t know you needed. Also, it’s great having other artists that I can reach out to who have similar values.

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Tags: background design • character design • Member Monday • Michael Camacho • prop designer • Sheldon Borenstein

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