Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
I’ve been working in animation in various roles for about 16 years now—and have been a TAG member for 14 or 15 of those years, I think! I started out animating in Flash, spent a few years as a character designer before getting into storyboards, and then just last year I directed two holiday specials.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
I had the less than ideal situation of realizing my last gig would be up in December, during the slow season, and I was five/six months pregnant. So I knew I’d be taking a couple months off by March the next year. Job hunting while pregnant is just no fun because you’re constantly second-guessing how you are being perceived by those who are looking to hire. Especially when I only had a month or two available before needing to go on family leave (rather than say, six or eight). So I ultimately decided to keep my pregnancy professionally on the down-low.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
My first inspirations were Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, and Tex Avery. Dan Haskett’s character designs from Tiny Toon and Animaniacs, and then Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s hilarity from Clone High. I was a late bloomer to anime, but I really love Akira Toriyama’s designs and story in the original Dragon Ball series. Not to mention the many amazingly talented co-workers I’ve been lucky to work with throughout the years!
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I feel pretty content with what I’ve been able to accomplish so far in my career. The next thing I’d be interested in doing is to create a series. That and putting in enough years for that sweet, sweet pension, lol!
What does being in the Union mean to you?
The Union really helps focus the membership on supporting each other. Between the TAG Discord and all of the committees that have formed over the past few years, it’s easier than ever to ask for help and get some answers. I joined the FAM Committee when I had tons of questions about job hunting while pregnant, and it was nice having a space where I could be heard and get advice.
Learn more about Jojo at her website and follow her on Instagram.
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