Meet Amanda Rynda, Art Director for our new showĀ The Loud House! When Amandaās not overseeing all theĀ artistic elements needed to make The Loud House happen, you can find herĀ working on photography projects (Zombie Engagement PhotosĀ anyone?) and playing with her twin boys. Busy gal!
Read on to learn more about Amandaās background, influences and koala/dolphin conundrum.
1) Ā Ā What is your role here at NAS? How long have you worked here?Ā
Hey! Iām the Art Director on The Loud House. I started here at Nick about a year and half ago.
2) Ā Ā How did you get started in Animation?Ā
My path into animation was a bit of an organic one. I grew up drawing, painting, and involved in various creative outlets. I knew I wanted a life filled with art but at that time I really didnāt understand what that meant or what I would be doing. I spent some time at MICA painting, I spent some time studying graphic design, but eventually I ended up in the Character Animation program at CalArts for college. I got sucked into animation there. The love of the art form and the enthusiasm of the animation community was really inspiring to me at that time of my life - and still is! A student film I made at CalArts got some attention and I went on to animate for JibJab, and then worked for Disney TV on Gravity Falls and Star vs. the Forces of Evil before coming over to Nickelodeon.
3) Ā Ā What is your day-to-day like? Any interesting routines? Ā
Oh my gosh, my days can be very busy, but my week to week routine is pretty much the same. Ā The short answer is that I work with our crew to design and put together a blueprint of designed backgrounds, characters, props, effects, background paint and color (essentially all the elements that we see on screen for The Loud House) before sending them off to Canada to be animated. I review every visual element of the show at different stages throughout the creative process and make sure that as a team, we are all staying on course both visually and in terms of our scheduled timeline. Ā Most weeks I am working on at least 5 different episodes at a time. I often have to stop and remind myself which episode Iām looking at. It can be a little nutty, but itās really exciting to be so involved.
4) Ā Ā What continues to motivate you to be an artist and work in animation?Ā
The end result is so incredibly rewarding. I love seeing the teamās efforts all come together. But most of all, I love to see people react to the finished product. The feeling you get seeing people have genuine reactions to the art that youāve spent months or even years thinking about is unparalleled.
5) Ā Ā What are the favorite parts of your job?Ā
I love working together as a team. Everyone on our crew has a really unique perspective and their own enviable, artistic style that shines through in their work. I love seeing that all come together. Despite being able to distinguish each artistās hand in the designs, the heart of the show still beats true to what we are trying to communicate. I think that is so cool.
6) Ā Ā Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?Ā
This one for sure! But I think itās more personally significant. Chris Savino, the creator of The Loud House, really took a chance on me by asking me to art direct. I have never felt like someone who stands out in crowd, so I feel so fortunate that Chris noticed something in me that made him think I was the right person for this job. Art directing was a dream of mine that I thought might never come true, so I donāt take a single day for granted here at Nickelodeon.
7) Ā Ā What/who inspires you?Ā
This is a really tough one because as a true gemini, this will forever be changing. I am really inspired by photography, interior design, dance and music. More specifically, I find it awe-inspiring when someone sets out to do something incredible and actually does it! Itās easy to let negative thoughts get the best of you, but those who just throw those thoughts out the window and really go for it are the most inspiring to me.
8) Ā Ā What is your advice for aspiring artists or people interested in entering animation?Ā
Practice your drawing like you practice a musical instrument. Remember that you need to learn your scales before you can play a concerto. (My husband says that all the time and heās totally right!)
9) Ā Ā Who was your mentor and what advice did they give you that inspired you to continue pursing your dreams/career goals? Ā
My first mentor was my high school art teacher, Dr. Robert OāBoyle. He told me to believe in myself. And then he told me again, and again, and again.
10) Ā What are your favorite hobbies?Ā
A few years ago I took up photography and shot a zombie engagement photo session that went viral. Since then, there have been tons of copycats which is pretty awesome. I still do photo shoots occasionally. But my weekends are pretty much dedicated to my husband and my 3 year old twin boys. We spend a lot of time playing with trains. :)
11) Ā What is one of the most challenging aspects of your job?Ā
This job seriously tests my memory and my multi tasking skills. I am constantly jumping from one thing to the next.
12) Ā What is your Spirit Animal?Ā
Iām probably a koala but I wish I was dolphin.
13) Ā Favorite Nickelodeon Show?Ā
Definitely The Ren and Stimpy Show. Those gross out drawings will stick with me for life. And I canāt even tell you how many times Iāve sang the log song. Everyone wants a log, right? Everyone needs a log.
14) Ā Favorite Nickelodeon Quote or Catch Phase?Ā
Nick Nick Nick Nick na Nick Nick Nick Nickelodeon!
15) Ā Favorite SnackĀ
Milk tea with BOBA! And anything chocolate! Mmmmā¦
Check out Amandaās work here:
Tumblr: @amandarynda
Twitter:Ā @amandaryndaāĀ
Website:Ā http://www.amandarynda.comĀ
And make sure to watch the first episode of The Loud HouseĀ online right now!
