STORYBOTS ANSWER TIME

I was Animation Director for all 3 seasons of Netflix’s StoryBots Answer Time. As Animation Director, my responsibilities included:

  • Setting animation and design standards through animation guides like this one

  • Overseeing the creation of custom Harmony Rigs

  • Holding Animation kickoff meetings

  • Presenting animation tutorials to external animation studio

  • Reviewing all animation deliveries

  • Sending detailed animation retake notes, drawovers, and reference videos

  • Calling out shots to "plus" internally

  • Managing the internal animation team

  • Reviewing all final episode cuts with showrunner and director

  • Approving all animation shots

ASK THE STORYBOTS

I joined Ask the StoryBots during season 1, and quickly rose to CG Animation Lead. During the break between seasons, I pitched the idea of an overhaul of the CG characters to make them more appealing, and easier to animate. The show creator was hesitant… but I persisted, and in the end we all agreed it was well worth the time and effort. My work included:

  • All-new character models that better matched the 2D counterparts.

  • Custom animation controls - from an intuitive facial GUI to unique arm contour handles.

  • Specific Dos and Don’ts guidelines so everyone was held to the same standard

  • Appeal, Appeal, Appeal

  • Efficient animation strategies to animate more with less

  • New shaders and textures to marry the characters with their environments.