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Wayne Unten

Animator

Walt Disney Studios

Los Angeles, CA USA

“Sometimes, the job is stressful, but you'll find that there's a reason why you're doing what you're doing.”

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Wayne Unten

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01:09

Wayne Unten Highlight

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04:11

Interview

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00:44

Illusion of Life

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01:11

Making an Impact

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01:20

College Animation Club

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01:19

The Characters Are Your Children

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01:04

Sincere Storytelling

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02:09

Animation Supervisor

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.

Touts the value of taking a variety of classes in school; says that acting, 3-D design classes informed his animation down the line.

For some time, he'd work on a construction site during the day, then painstakingly animate his reel at night.

Even after he got his job at Disney, he became the best by working all day, then going home at night and studying new techniques.

Went through a period where he questioned what he was doing, why he was putting two years of work into a two-minute payoff.

Saw a video showing a soldier reuniting with his family and going to see an animated movie; his purpose became clear.

Says that although the "value" of his work has been questioned, making an audience laugh or cry is the best feeling in the world.

Knowing something he created has the potential to make such an impact is what keeps him going when he has to work long hours.

Says the characters he creates are like his children; making the most realistic, true characters possible is really a labor of love for him.

Education

High School

Bachelor
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
California State University-Fullerton

Career

Animator

I am an animator and creator bringing life to characters for Disney films like "Frozen" and "Tangled".

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Film

Technology

Being Creative

Day to Day

As a character animator, I help tell a story by way of creating a believable character performance and the illusion that the character I am animating has thoughts, feelings, and a personality. I work with a lot of modeling, rigging and animation techniques. As an animation supervisor, I work with the animation crew to help bring the directors’ vision of the characters to the screen.

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

Study traditional animation methods (pen & paper as opposed to digital) and try to make important connections in student clubs, organizations, etc. Read and study about 3-D modeling, rigging, and other practical construction methods. This will give you a better understanding of character mechanics and how everything works together.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for college students

When I was studying animation in college, at times I was scared at the thought that I wouldn't get the job I wanted, or no matter how hard I studied, there wouldn't be a job available for me. My advice is to follow your passion, because it's worth it. Have faith that the choices you make toward your goal will lead you closer to what you ultimately want to be professionally.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

"This isn't what I want to do, but it's to hard to change. "

I was originally a graphic design major and I knew I wanted to do something in the arts, but I quickly realized that this wasn't it. I had to work up a lot of courage to tell my parents that I not only wanted to switch my major, but I wanted to go to a different school as well. It was terrifying and I knew it was going to be hard, but I just did it because I knew deep down that it would work out. Switching to animation was the best decision.

Interviewed By

East Meets West

The East Coast born-and-bred road-trippers experience a totally foreign way of life-laidback and Californian-as they ride jet packs, talk to the creator of Frozen's Elsa in L.A., and venture north to Ventura where Patagonia designer John Rapp instructs them in the relaxed ways of West Coast work-life, finding what you love and digging in, and creating balance wherever you are.