Featured Artist of the Week: Big Hero 6 director Don Hall
1. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Glenwood, a small town in southwest Iowa. I attended the University of Iowa, where I got a B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting. I then attended Calarts, where I received another B.F.A. in Character Animation.
2. What inspired you to learn character animation?
I’ve loved drawing since..forever. The Disney animated films, the classic Warner Bros shorts, Marvel comics, as well as live action movies—-especially monster movies, inspired a love of storytelling. I was lucky to grow up in a small town, where I could walk to the local theater on Saturday afternoons. At some point, I decided I would work at Disney, and never really thought about doing anything else.
3. If you could do one thing differently on your journey to becoming an animator, what would it be?
I think, if I could do something different, I would have studied acting and cinematography more.
4. What was your first animation job and how did you get it? What other studios have you worked at?
During my sophmore year at Calarts, I did freelance layout/design for Chuck Jones. At the time, they were trying to start a shorts unit, like the old Termite Terrace unit. I was extremely lucky to become an apprentice of Maurice Noble—one of the best designers to work in animation. I stayed friends with Maurice for years until he passed. I also did a very brief stint at Dreamworks.
5. What is the most rewarding thing about having a career in animation at Disney ?
I think the most rewarding thing about working at Disney Animation is working alongside astonishingly talented artists to create something that hopefully will live on beyond a release date. The Disney legacy is important. It’s why we’re all here, and to be able to contribute to that legacy with a group of like-minded people is incredibly rewarding.
6. What is your favorite animated film, and why?
Peter Pan is my favorite Disney film. It’s beautiful, the animation is killer, and the mixture of adventure and comedy is fantastic. Still holds up.
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