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 NationWayne Unten
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
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.
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. "
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.
