Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Over the course of my animation career, I have worked as a Storyboard Artist, Animator, and Director, most recently at Titmouse. Originally from New Jersey, it was always a dream of mine to work in animation. I was fascinated by how animated shows and movies were made and knew I wanted to be a part of it. Television shows like The Simpsons, Regular Show, Flapjack, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Ed, Edd n Eddy heavily influenced me. My favorite animated films are Akira, The Triplets of Belleville, and Princess Mononoke.
Knowing I wanted to pursue storyboarding, I moved to California 10 years ago. I attended school at Laguna College of Art + Design where I studied animation and creative writing. While I was there, I landed an internship on Craig of the Creek at Cartoon Network. That experience helped me see how a professional pipeline was run and what pitch sessions looked like. The team was incredibly welcoming, and I was inspired not only by their talent but also by the love they had for what they were creating.
After finishing up my internship, I landed my first storyboard job while still in school. The projects I helped out on were non-union, but I was able to work closely with well-known creators. Actually making shows and collaborating with teams is exactly what I wanted to be doing, and I’m so grateful that has continued for me up to this point.
I eventually broke into union work as a Storyboard Revisionist on Big Mouth Season 6 at Titmouse. I worked on the series and its spinoff until it eventually ended. Getting to work on that show with that team will forever be one of my career highlights. Everyone encouraged each other to do their absolute best. A lot of love and humor went into creating it. I walked away a stronger and more confident artist. Eventually, Titmouse promoted me to Storyboard Artist where I’ve had the opportunity to work on three different shows, the most recent one being Haunted Hotel.
In my career, I hope to continue working on projects that are exciting, humorous, and cinematic, but mainly I hope to continue working alongside passionate teams. I’ve had the opportunity to direct a few times and would love to do more, and I also would love to work on a feature film.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
The biggest challenge has been constantly trying to figure out what’s next. Runs have been shorter, and seasons have larger gaps between them. I’d rather just be focusing on the actual craft rather than the job hunt.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I’m a sucker for 2D hand-drawn animation. Sylvain Chomet and Hayao Miyazaki are some of my go-tos. Brad Bird is a big one for storyboarding.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
In my animation career, I hope to work on a feature film, and directing more is definitely a goal I’m striving for. The big dream is to sell a show, of course; I’ve been working on some ideas and would love to pitch around at some point. Supervising and seeing the pipeline through more of the pipeline would also be something I’d love to do.
What does being in the union mean to you?
The union has meant community for me. Being a transplant in L.A., it’s so nice to have people with similar interests to me going through a similar experience.
You can learn more about Tyler on his website.
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