What Does a Decade of Pursuing a Career in Animation Really Look Like?
When I think about this past decade, I can’t help but think of all the characters I had created and worked with each year… whether it was for school, work or personal projects, I always seemed to tie each year to the character I had on my mind.
With the end of a decade and the start of the new one, I began to reflect on my journey in animation and how far it has taken me. In 2010, I was drawing comics for my school newspaper for $10 a comic… dreaming about someday seeing my characters move, being able to animate and potentially work in television and share my art with everyone. Over this past decade, I’ve been able to see and enjoy the fruits of my labor and be able to work in the industry. I tried to boil down my journey through the years with all the highs and lows below:
2010 - Taking Animation Seriously & Comics
Looking through books at The Schulz Library, White River Junction, VT
Workshop at the Center For Cartoon Studies
My first published comic strip “Scrappy Happy“ in The Sentinal (Kennesaw State’s weekly newspaper)
I started getting into art classes at Kennesaw State University and decided I wanted to pursue animation. I believed that it was possible to someday work in television and to see my work and my name on TV
I changed my concentration from Art Education to Graphic Design.
I started a comic strip called “Scrappy Happy“ for the weekly newspaper at KSU and got $10 per comic (24,000 copies were published every Tuesday). Getting the paper was the highlight of my week.
I went to Vermont to take a week-long workshop at the Center for Cartoon Studies to try to study something related to animation (since KSU had no art classes for this).
I started emailing people in the industry to ask how they got their jobs and researched behind the scenes on productions and at different studios.
2011 - Transferred From KSU to SCAD-ATL
Painting an oil still life for class at KSU
Opening my acceptance letter for SCAD - ATL
I switched my concentration at KSU from Graphic Design to Drawing & Painting.
I was drawing my weekly comics but I wasn’t satisfied with just seeing them on paper… I wanted to see them move and come alive.
I realized I was going to have to transfer schools if I wanted to learn animation.
I used the comic strips as part of my application process for transferring and tried to take as many gen-ed classes at KSU (because they were way cheaper there and would transfer)
I was able to get scholarships and grants based off my art, grades and financial needs.
I was accepted and transferred to The Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta and started school in the fall quarter.
2012 - All-Nighters & A Business Minor
Learning hand-drawn animation at SCAD
My first visit to LA included a Nick tour of course
Our sleep-deprived team after completing SCAD’s 24 hr challenge “Generate”
My weekend job at Painting with a Twist
I took all the classes to learn the programs and how to animate and pulled PLENTY of all-nighters.
I started working on the weekends teaching painting classes at Painting with a Twist
I took my first trip to LA to visit a friend and see the studios (however I thought I’d never move there).
I took on a business minor to help balance out my studio work load so I could stay at full-time status and maintain my requirements for my scholarships/grants. (Plus my dad was like, “You might as well learn how the world works“).
2013 - Started My Senior Film
My friends and I in SCAD’s Digital Media Center after an all-nighter (so many all-nighters there)
Here’s my final I submitted for our Professional Development class - again… another all-nighter
Here I’m starting to assemble my backgrounds for my film
My first published illustration in the AJC
I got an art piece from class published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).
I started creating assets for my backgrounds and animating on my senior film.
I met Tyler (my future husband at the time and one of the biggest supporters of my art).
2014 -Graduation, 1st Animation Job & My LLC
I drank plenty of coffee to get me through animating
My booth for SCAD’s Out 2 Launch show
Graduating with my SCAD pals
My first try at crowdfunding for my animated short called “Taco Tension“
Finished my senior film “Slice & Dice“ and graduated with a major in Animation and a Minor in Business Management.
Got a job as an animator for Great Parents Academy - however I was let go with a bunch of people after 3 months because of budget cuts.
Bought an iMac and a Cintiq for a home studio.
Launched a Kickstarter for my first independent short “Taco Tension“ - Ended up not reaching my goal so it was unsuccessful.
Started my business Melon Head Productions, LLC so I could freelance and work on developing my own shorts.
2015 - Crowdfunding, Freelancing & My 2nd Short
My table at Atlanta’s Zine Fest
My 2nd try at crowdfunding my animated short
Accepting my award for “Slice & Dice” at the Treasure Coast Film Festival
Installation Design at the America’s Mart
I tried crowdfunding again but using Indiegogo instead - I only reached 28% of my goal so I was only able to buy Storyboard Pro and ToonBoom Harmony (in addition to perks).
I started working on my short film - ran into issues with animating it how I originally wanted and ultimately decided to go with a 2D design.
I got collaborators and self-published a Zine to sell at the Atlanta Zine fest.
My student film screened at a couple of film festivals - I was able to attend a festival in Florida (Treasure Coast Film Festival and won Best Animation in show)
I tabled at a few holiday markets.
I worked seasonally at the America’s Mart doing installation design for products in the Gifts Mart… along with other random jobs that year.
2016 - Full-Time Job Outside the Field
Here’s a Barry card I illustrated for Cabins For YOU
I got to use 360 photography in some of the cabins and all around Gatlinburg, TN
I reworked the look of my short and change the title from “Taco Tension“ to “Shelf Life“.
I started my Youtube Channel so I could post my shorts, tutorials and behind the scenes.
I got a full time job at Cabins for YOU (a cabin rental company) working on graphic design, illustration, animation and marketing projects.
I finished my short “Shelf Life“ and release it online.
I got engaged to Tyler!
2017 - Engagement, Wedding & Rebranded Myself
Celebrating my engagement
Illustration I did for our wedding save-the-dates
Here’s the announcement illustration I created for when I rebranded my LLC
I continued working full-time at CFY and planning my wedding so I didn’t do any personal artwork before I got married (on August 25th).
I rebranded my LLC and changed the name from Melon Head Productions to Hello Kathy Jo - partly because it rolled off the tongue better and also because I lost my last name when I got married… I wanted to make sure people knew me as the same Kathy Jo.
2018 - More Freelance, Taking a Chance, Getting My 1st TV Job & Moving to LA
Here’s a shot of me in my home studio where I did most of my freelancing
This pretty much illustrates most of my 2018 year
Arriving at LAX with 8 bags to start our new lives in LA
I parted ways with Cabins for YOU to work on my own business doing freelancing (even though the money wasn’t consistent).
I supplemented income by catering and bartending on the weekends through Adriane’s Delectables (my mother-in-law’s company).
Revamped my website to help focus my work for the types of jobs I wanted to get.
Tried applying for animation jobs locally and remotely - nothing panned out. After a breakdown in a Costco parking lot, Tyler encouraged me to apply for studio jobs in LA.
I decided to focus on storyboarding and character design and build up my portfolio so I had recent works to show when I was applying.
We decided to move forward and sell our house so we could move (whether we had jobs lined up or not). I couldn’t have done that without the support of my husband.
I tested for a show and got rejected. Later on I tested for Let’s Go Luna and moved forward in the interview process.
All within a week, we sold the house and I was offered the storyboarding job on Let’s Go Luna with a start date 2 weeks out.
We got rid of the rest of our stuff, enjoyed the holidays with our families, hopped on a plane and moved across the country to started over in Glendale, California.
2019 - Storyboarding on Let’s Go Luna
My decorated desk in our LA office
Our LA crew celebrating Luccy becoming a mom
Ben Fosselman and I working hard
My boss Joe raffled off production work from Rocko’s Modern Life - I got some character sheets along with other cool pieces of history :)
I hit the ground running at the end of Season 1 and then went on hiatus for a month.
I used my hiatus to get settled into our apartment and explore LA.
Started Season 2 and continued to improve my boarding/pitching skills.
Over the course of the year, I had the pleasure of working with 3 different partners who all taught me something different. I got to know the characters on our show better and had a blast telling stories with them.
Because I was drawing most of my days, I only did one real personal project outside of work and participated in the Inktober challenge ( well I did most of it…still a work in progress to be finished in 2020).
2020 - A 2010 Dream Becomes a 2020 Reality
My first time seeing an episode I boarded on Luna… and it was the same episode I started on when I joined Luna exactly one year ago that day.
Yesterday (January 7th) was my 1 year anniversary of starting my job on Luna. It was also my first time seeing an episode that I boarded completely finished (it was the board I started with exactly 1 year prior). A surreal experience to see it all come together and my name in the credits… I’m so proud of it.
The episodes I boarded from Season 1 will air on PBS Kids (early 2020)!
This is the year that my 2010 self would be crying and freaking out about if I ever knew I would be here… that I’ve been able to work in television and will finally see my work and my name on TV.
My journey has been a decade in the making and looking back I’ve been thankful for every step of the way. If I’ve learned anything from this past decade, it’s that good things don’t happen overnight, life is never linear, work with heart and enjoy the journey. I’ve walked with God through my highs and lows and have prayed that He would use my work to bless peoples’ lives. I believe He puts dreams in our hearts and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to see the fruits of my labor since I started pursuing animation.
If there’s anyone reading this that wants to pursue art and is just beginning to dream, or if life has taken you through some detours and you’re not sure if you’ll get back into the game, I hope this post encourages you to not give up and enjoy your journey… everyone’s pace and time looks different and that’s ok.
Anything is possible and life is short, so dream big. You never know where your dreams may take you and what they could do for the people and the world around you.
