Inside Animation

I talk with Lance Falk, an Animation Artist who specializes in prop design and has worked on such shows as Johnny Quest, Animaniacs, Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, and more. We talk about how props are different from character design and background design. In my "going back in time" segment we talk about Lance's influences growing up from Looney Tunes to the original Johnny Quest a...

I talk with Artist in Animation Shana Dixon, who is currently working on Minnie's Bow Toons (available on Disney+ and Disney Junior's YouTube Channel). We talk about the importance of color in animation and especially for kids shows how color, like many other aspects of animation, can tell a story. Also, we talk about how long it takes to work on a 3 minute animated episode and how Disney...

Adam chats with Lance Daniel, creator of the animated series "Carbuncle" about a wise cracking (but caring) attorney who guides oddball clients through crazy cases inspired by current headlines. You'll find out exactly what a Logline is, how "Carbuncle" was begun and continues through spite, and how to keep going when people tell you no as well as how much needs to be done...

I talk with Digital Cinematographer Gary H Lee, who has worked on Over the Hedge, The Life of Pi, Star Wars Episode 3, and many other films, all about Pre-Vis. You'll find out what pre-vis is and what it does for both live action and animated films. Plus, we talk about the difference between cinematography and digital cinematography and how they aren't that different. You'll also hear...

I chat with Anik Rosenblum, the director and founder of Dancing Line Productions, an animation studio that focuses on short form animation with an emphasis on commercials. We talk about the process of creating an animated commercial, how there's actually more room for creativity in commercials than you think, and how there's a surprising amount of VO in short form animation, at least, surprising t...

We talk with VO Agent Portia Scott with Coast to Coast Talent about the role an agent plays in the career of a voice actor. We cover the entire scope of an agent's job, from taking on new clients, to what auditions look like, and what happens when you book. Plus her interesting path to becoming an agent and advice for those who want to get started on their path to becoming an agent. For more infor...

In our 2nd episode of Season 3, we go to the Gotham of Latin America, Bogota Colombia (virtually of course), to chat with animation director and owner/founder of Lucy Animation Studios, Silvia Prietov. We chat about the state of animation in Latin American countries such as Colombia and how they're still far behind animation powerhouses like the US and even Europe, but they're certainly growing. W...

For our season opener, I talk with Animator, Supervising Director, and Executive Producer Mike Hollingsworth, who's worked on Bojack Horseman, Tuca and Bertie, Inside Job, and other animated series. We talk about how Aaron Paul earned his EP credit on Bojack, what exactly Executive Producers do (or don't do), as well as the job of a Supervising Director. Plus great advice for those who want to get...

This episode I talk with long time Voice Actor, Judith Smiley, who got her start doing commercial VO in New York where she and her husband started their own recording studio which became one of the most popular studios in the city. We talk about the process, hierarchy, and randomness of recording studios in the 70s and 80s as well as how agents were different vs today. We also talk advice and why...

Some times it takes a bit longer to reel in a bigger fish, and a bigger fish we have. Tom Bancroft, who has done animation for Disney and several other companies, is the CEO of Pencilish, a new animation studio being crowdfunded through StartEngine. We talk about what the day to day is like running an animation studio, the staggering of episodes, his 3 Phase plan for the company, plus advice for h...

Are you Cornholio? Do you need TP for your bunghole? If you recognized those last two questions, you'll love our next guest, who was a producer on Beavis and Butthead, as well as Daria and other shows. We talk about how he went from "Schoolhouse Rock" to "High School Dropouts" and the various jobs of a producer on an early cartoon show on MTV. We also discuss who had the brilliant idea to incorpor...

This episode I chat with high school orchestra member Noah Bruening about his recent experience with a longstanding Disney tradition where high school bands and orchestras are invited to Disneyland to perform. In his case, his orchestra was able to see how professional orchestras record music for animated films and series. We also talk about what drew him to music and the double bass in particular...

This episode, I talk with Animation Professor Walter Santucci about the process of teaching Animation in a modern world and how things changed during the COVID pandemic. We also talk about some of his successful students and how he feels their success is mostly their own (though he's fine with them making him look good). As always there's great advice and we talk about how easy it is to begin teac...

We now are entering a new phase of the Inside Animation Podcast. For one, we will no longer be putting out new episodes every single week, though to make up for previous weeks, this will be an extra long episode. Also, in this particular episode and potential future episodes, I don't interview someone directly involved in the Animation Industry.  In this episode I talk with former child actor...

This week, we talk with Delton Davis, Writer and Musician who is the creator of Dunner the Drummer, a children's book and animated series that takes you into the "world" of drumming. We talk about how writing for animation is like composing for an orchestra, you get to hear an awful drum joke, and talk about the merits of taking your animation directly to the consumer as opposed to pitching to net...

This week (after our holiday break) we continue our discussion on the short film Mila, which may not have been nominated for an Oscar, but has still won several festival awards and has a message compelling enough to bring together 350 different artists from 35 different countries. I talk with the Director and Creator, Cinzia Angelini, whose mother told her stories about her experiences as a little...

This episode begins a two-parter with the Producer and Director of Mila, an international short film that was a potential Oscar nominee. For this episode, we talk with Producer Andrea Emmes how she helped put together a team that spanned 35 countries and a short that took 10 years to finish, as well as the difficulties working on a low to no budget film and what kept her going. Plus we talk about...

For the opener to our Second Season, we begin by talking about a wonderful program that gives a voice to those on the Autism Spectrum to tell the stories they want to tell, including in an Animated fashion! Tawd talks about the program and how it came to be by building layer upon layer. If you are thinking about starting a program helping those who are differently abled, Tawd has some excellent ad...

In the Season 1 Finale, I visit Canada (well, virtually anyway) and chat with Medhat Hanbali, a composer who works on the popular Canadian stop-motion animation series Movement Deluxe. We talk about the differences between composing for a film versus a series and how there's much more pressure in the latter. Also, how writing songs in a series is a bit backwards and as usual, incredible advice inc...

In this episode, we talk with the current voice of Donald Duck, Daniel Ross! We talk about getting into the booth, the preparation it takes to be a professional voice actor in cartoons and video games, as well as great advice any aspiring voice actor should heed. And another "How we met" segment where my guest gives you the options to guess from! Don't worry, this time it's easy. Follow Daniel on...

This week I chat with Rebecca Swenson, aka Becka Bunss, an animator, 2D Rigger, and Jill-of-all-trades freelancer. We talk about 2D vs 3D rigging, how different artists have different styles and influences among other things. Plus if you've been listening to the podcast from the beginning, you'll find out that I lie in the first minute of this episode. Did you spot the lie? 

This week we delve into the realm of Cosplay. How long it takes to make a costume, how much it costs, and the incredible cosplay community. Also we talk about how Cosplay is the ultimate end of the animation process by creating characters so beloved that fans want to dress up as those characters. Also we return to the "How we met" segment where we find out how Julia and I knew each other before th...

This week I talk with Animation Producer Tom T. about what a producer in animation does and how that's different from live action. We also get into how he rose from an animator to become a producer on the Iron Man, Hulk, and Biker Mice from Mars cartoons. Plus great advice both for aspiring producers and voice actors! 

This week I talk with Pat Fraley, the voice of Krang in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles among many other voices, who is a Voice Acting Teacher or "Voice Trainer". We talk about how he started teaching, his methods, and Hollywood's stance on aging actors, even in the VO world. Plus we get into great advice and how we met! Want to have Pat as a teacher? Check out his website at www.patfral...

This week I talk with my friend Daniel Kahn, who is a Production Coordinator at Nickelodeon, about putting together a show like MiddleMost Post, the round-about way that he got into Animation, and what Disney movie inspired him to Keep Moving Forward.