Art

Mario Menjivar has been a professional animator for over 17 years. The Internet Movie Database website, the first film that Menjivar worked on was a critically panned adult live-actionanimated feature called Evil Toons all the way back in 1992. It seems like a rather rough start, but his career only went straight up from there the next item on his filmography is the Disney Classic Aladdin, in 1993. He spent most of his career as animator for the Walt Disney Feature Animation studio, his work featured in world-famous animated movies such as Tarzan, The Lion King, Pocahontas, among others. He was even the animator for the main characters of the movies Treasure Planet and Atlantis. He also worked for other studios on other films and projects, designed toys and merchandise, and even illustrated a couple of Scooby Doo covers for DC Comics. I can only work hard and hope that I have as long and successful a career in the animation industry as him.

Working as an animator for the Disney Animation studio in itself is impressive to me. That is not the kind of job that is a just for now or until I find something better job, right now it seems to me like the kind of job you get when you have already proven yourself, your skills, and your professionalism. Just like most people, I grew up watching classic Disney animated movies. The studio itself has been a major pioneer in the animation industry, producing the first full-length animated movie (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves), and one the first cartoons with sound (Steamboat Willie). Menjivar had the opportunity to work in that environment and helped create these characters that children and grown-ups all over the world could recognize instantly. In that line of work, you get a hand in creating some of peoples fondest memories it seems to me like such a humbling and empowering thing. When your kids and your grandchildren watch one of those movies and inevitably fall inlove with one of the characters, you can say, You know, I drew that. Menjivar can say that, and I want to be able to say that someday as well.

I looked through some of his drawings and sketches, they are not too stylistic and are rather simple, but the skill is in the fact that the drawings have so much personality going for them. Just by looking at a sketch you can tell what a character is doing, how heshe is feeling from the details like clothing or style you can tell quite a bit about the characters personality. A good animator can achieve these things. I actually watched Tarzan again not too long ago, before we saw Menjivar speak, and I vividly remember thinking about how instantly lovable and distinct the personality of Kala, Tarzans gorilla mother, was. It was only when I read Menjivars filmography though, that I learned that he was the animator for her. Kalas character is very sweet and loving, and though she does not say much in the movie, this personality is still conveyed well because she is very expressive. This is doubly impressive considering that her non-cartoonish gorilla features and movements were able to show very identifiably human emotions and expressions. I want to be able to do that also, to create characters that people will not only recognize, but also know and love because they seem to have personalities and lives of their own.

Lastly, when he was giving his talk, one thing I noticed was just how much he enjoyed his job I suppose you have to really love what you do to keep doing it for almost two decades. He does not even make it sound like a job really, more like something fun and creative that you get to do and get paid for doing. Not a lot of people get to make a successful career out of doing something they enjoy day in and day out Menjivars attitude really inspired me to aim for that, and be one of those few lucky people.