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Creative ID: 357

Art form(s): Animation, Community arts, Design, Digital arts, Film, Game design, Ngā Toi Māori, Pacific arts, Visual arts
Language(s): English, Māori
Based in: Auckland
Where I'm available:
Auckland
When I'm available: Currently I am free Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9am to 3pm.

My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)

For the past 5 years I have been delivering an art, design and animation programme. This programme was delivered exclusively to a Kura kaupapa located in West Auckland. The first group of 12 tauira I worked with were aged between 11 and 13 when they began the program. Several of these students have since left school and have begun working full time in our animation studio. The course is delivered by myself and other animation veterans, all with 20 years plus experience in the industry.

I began my career in animation 30 years ago, and have worked for studios around the globe, Asia, Europe and the United States. I have worked in almost every department in animation production, starting as an animator, then moving into directing, development, writing and producing. The programme I have developed is based on my own personal experience and growth as an artist and animator. I have incorporated the lessons I have learned while working around the globe, adopting proven methods and ideologies in teaching and delivering artistic and animation training. The global animation market is largely focused on CG/3D animation. This has left a gap in the traditional animation market, including a shortage of traditionally skilled animators both abroad and locally.

I have had many opportunities to bring international studio contracts to be serviced locally. However, the lack of traditionally trained animators based here has been the main reason for missing out on these contracts. Unfortunately, all animation training programmes currently delivering in Aotearoa are also focused on CG/3D animation, with little to no lesson in traditional animation. Our programme focuses on delivering traditional animation skills before moving on to digital animation. Working in partnership with a kura kaupapa, the kurawaka program is delivered with tikanga Māori mindset. We have begun developing a style of animation unique to Aotearoa.

My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with

I have worked in animation for 30 years, working for studios including Walt Disney, Warner Brothers and Sony. I have worked extensively around the world, in Asia, Europe and the United States of America. I have written, directed and produced a number of feature films, television and gaming productions.  Since returning to Aotearoa, I have been delivering my Kurawaka Animation programme to a kura kaupapa. A number of the first lot of trainees have since left high school and taken up employment with my studio. The majority of the projects my team of trainees have worked on have been educational based productions, telling our stories, about our people, both in te reo Māori and English.

Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes

Since 2015, I have been working with the tauira of a kura kaupapa. The initial group of 12 trainees were aged between 11 and 13 years when they began the programme. I am a strong believer that artistic talents need to be nurtured and guided from an early age. Having come from a traditional animation background myself, we initially deliver the training traditionally, using pencil and paper, before students move into digital training. We teach students basic fundamentals of drawing and design, before delivering lessons in animation skills. 

Overseas, budding artists are taught fundamental skills from an early age, this is something we emulate with our programme. A number of the tamariki I have worked with have previously struggled with their traditional schoolwork. The Kurawaka program has provided an outlet for these children to express themselves and enjoy learning. Art/Animation is a perfect outlet for some children to express themselves and showcase what they are capable of, outside traditional subjects.

Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice

Having successfully delivered our programme and put several of the initial trainees into employment, we now wish to expand the program to the greater Tāmaki makau rau. We have developed several animation projects which we hope will attain funding. If successful, we will require a number of skilled animators to work on these productions; the best source of the type of animators we require is to train them ourselves. All animation training programmes currently delivering in the country are focused on CG/3D animation, with little to no lessons in traditional animation. This limits the skills of these animation graduates; our programme is focused on delivering traditional animation skills before moving on to digital skills. By imparting these skills on to young artists, we are sowing the seeds of a future generation of young artists and animators.

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