Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Husband.
Hi Heidi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It wasn’t until a simple conversation with a stranger that I was able to pinpoint exactly what I wanted to do with my life. After one year in college with a general art degree, I found myself sitting by a pool on vacation next to Thomas Lennon’s father, a historical painting restoration artist at the time, Timothy Lennon. I had my sketchbook, and as grandfathers do, Timothy asked to look at it. He began asking me questions like, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” and “Where do you see yourself in five years?” – all of which I had vague and practiced responses for. He then went on to say, “You have a lot of movement in your drawings, have you ever considered being an animator?” And that was it. The gears started turning, and while he regaled me with stories of waiting in the Walt Disney Animation Studios lobby for his mom, who was a receptionist there, I vividly became aware of the fact that being an animator was a career path.
Up until that moment, animation was magic, it wasn’t a career. I had never even considered I could be a part of a medium I had spent my childhood loving. I quickly became aware of a gut feeling, and I realized I didn’t want to be an animator, I needed to be one. The thought today seems blatantly obvious. I went home and looked up every animation school I could find, which was relatively easy because there aren’t many. SCAD came up, I applied, and 30 days later, I found myself getting ready to deplane in the Savannah Hilton Head Airport. I remember the first animation department meeting, the chair said mysterious words like render, rig, and interpolation. I didn’t understand any of it, and I spent that first year learning things everyone else seemed to already know. My first animation class was Magic. Professor Troy Gustafuson, who marched around the room with a stopwatch, a cowboy hat, and keys in his pocket that sounded like spurs as he walked, reminded me of a drill sergeant. He sparked a passion in students unlike any professor I have ever encountered, and anyone who ever had the chance to meet him would tell you the same. In my second animation class with Professor James Crossley, I realized how a classroom was supposed to feel. He let us learn anything and everything we wanted.
Every day we went down rabbit holes with questions, and he jumped right into them with us, lighting the way. To this day, I learned more in that class than in any other. In my third, I met the person that would introduce me to the industry, Professor Benardo Warman. I took the remainder of my classes at SCAD with him, and I would not have as wide of knowledge of the industry if it weren’t for him. If the passion for animation brought me here, it’s the people that make me stay. Those in the animation industry are the most welcoming, selfless, and inspiring group of people I have ever met. After my first job at Taiko Animation Studios on “Miracle”, I was brought on for another contract as an animator for “Bidoof’s Big Stand”. I graduated beginning of June 2022 and was brought into DreamWorks Television as an Animation Artist by the end of the month. I have gotten very lucky in my career path, especially with timing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the encouragement and support of those within the animation industry, as well as the unconditional love and support of my family.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. I was not ready to make the decision of what I wanted to do for the rest of my life when I graduated high school. I struggled with depression, ADHD, and anxiety. I was not open about these for a very long time, and it was really hard to connect with people. I am so grateful that when I finally started voicing what it was I needed, I felt unending support from my parents. It wasn’t until I nurtured and pursued my passion that I felt I could connect and feel at home with others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in 3D character animation. I love figuring out how things move and work, and I also wanted to be an actor when I was younger. Animation allows you to pick apart every single second and then some of a performance. Growing up with both parents being veterinarians, I was exposed to a lot of cats and dogs. I am good at animating quadrupeds because of that exposure. I’ve learned that people are either good at animating quadrupeds or they aren’t, and it is difficult to learn if you aren’t. I am most proud of my ability to learn and work quickly. I started my career path later than I felt I should have and wrongly compared myself to my peers in college. I worked very hard to catch up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heidihusband.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tartsulli/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidihusband/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/heidihusband
Image Credits
“Kaghati” Directed by Amanda Jayapurna, Stanley Soendoro “Bidoof’s Big Stand” Taiko Animation Studios “Hex Limit” SCAD Animation Studios “Snowman” Heidi Husband “Kaghati”, Directed by Amanda Jayapurna, Stanley Soendoro
