NOTE: This post originally appeared on my Smudge Animation site on March 13th, 2012.
For this year's Women in Animation posts, I'll be presenting the story of two animators: one at the beginning of her career and one at the middle of her career; one who is working within the industry and one who has taken lessons learned from industry and is applying them to her own independent animated films.
As you read about Angie Hauch and Lynn Dana Wilton, you'll see one animator looking at her future with cautious optimism and a cagey sense of realism about her profession, and the other animator as a veteran with a world of hard-won experience and wisdom. Many of the lessons that they will share are applicable to anyone who wants to pursue a career in animation, but it is my hope that girls will read their interviews and be encouraged that women can succeed in the 'boys club' that exists in the animation industry.
Men have a unique perspective that tends to dominate animated film due to the large number of men working in the industry (in my not so humble opinion). But women have their own unique perspective and voice that needs to be brought to the screen in order for the art form to mature and live up to its potential.
Everyone has a story that needs to be told. You can read Lynn's and Angie's at the following links:
