Animation News | #3 | Helen Piercy

Autumn is here and the animation course first term is in full swing. My first year students are currently getting to grips with the fundamentals of animation, practicing timing and spacing with pendulum swings and bouncing balls.

Last week, they have had to step up to the challenge of…. WALK CYCLES. A notoriously tricky task for first time animators – but an absolutely crucial one to master.

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✨Our First Year students are learning walk cycles skills in today's lecture 🚶🚶🚶#animationfundamentals #WeAreNua #norwichuniversityofthearts

A post shared by NUA Animation & VFX (@nuaanimation_vfx) on Oct 9, 2017 at 3:38am PDT

While I’m not teaching on the Animation Course here at NUA, my focus is on promoting all things female related within the Animation and VFX industry. So far this month, I’ve discovered a fantastic comic detailing the realities of working in the LA animation industry (something my students definitely need to read) and an inspiring book on Disney heroines.

Animated Women inspiration…

1. Natalie Nourigat – ‘I moved to Los Angeles to work in Animation’

Natalie Nourigat creates storyboards, comics, concept art, character designs, and animation in Los Angeles, and has been kind enough to share her experiences with us in the form of 70-page autobio comic.

‘I moved to Los Angeles to work in Animation’ tells of Natalie’s ups and downs of trying to get her first break in the animation industry. The comic is a wonderfully honest account of the realities artists face when chasing the job of their dreams. It’s a great read with solid advice for those pursuing a similar career in animation, and not just in LA.

Download ‘I moved to Los Angeles to work in Animation’ from Natalie’s website – (a steal at $10.)

2. Cartoon Brew – Moms In The Hollywood Animation Industry Speak Out

Tünde Vollenbroek (co-founder of Studio Pupil / Lead programmer at KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival) has written an excellent article for Cartoon Brew on one of the many challenges faced by women working in the animation industry – namely motherhood.

Speaking to eight American women in creative leadership positions, topics covered include the difficulties working mums face, including work-life balance, parenthood equality and support from management and colleagues.

Articles like this are crucial to giving women a much needed voice in the industry. Read the interviews here.

3. Ink and Paint – ‘The Women of Walt Disney’ by Mindy Johnson

Mindy Johnson is not only an award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, educator and musician, she’s also a leading expert on women’s roles in animation and film history. Her latest project, Ink & Paint – the Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, examines the unsung women artists whose contributions defined the legendary animated classics of our time.

Discover the detailed accounts of the lesser-reported workers at Disney, who helped create the classics in the legendary Ink & Paint Department. I can not wait to get my copy!