Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Pontillas.
Hi Bobby, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Bobby Pontillas and I am a Filipino-American animation director. I’ve been drawing since I was a wee lad, became obsessed with animation in art school, and since have been fortunate to work as an animator, designer, and director for games, television, and film industries.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh, nothing in my career path has come easily. It still continues to be a daily challenge, but I honestly wouldn’t want it any other way.
My biggest struggles have always come from jumping outside of my comfort zone and throwing myself into something completely unfamiliar (i.e., a job title change). With that comes a lot of initial rejection and failure. It’s difficult to go through but that’s the only way I learn to become a better artist. The struggle is worth it 100-fold!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When I discovered animation as a career, it gave my life direction and a purpose. I’ll never take for granted that I was lucky enough to work as a Disney Animator – my dream job.
I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from so many people I’ve looked up to my whole career. Now that I’ve got a few years under my belt, my future ambitions are to make animated projects inspired by Southeast Asian and specifically Filipino culture.
Other than my personal and professional work, I couldn’t be more proud of Rise Up Animation, an organization that my colleagues Trent Correy, Frank Abney, and Monica Lago-Kaytis founded in the beginning of quarantine in 2020. Our mission is to provide resources, education, and community to BIPOC around the world aspiring to be a part of the animation industry.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The most impactful lesson I learned was the importance of providing community through Rise Up Animation, especially for those aspiring artists who feel like they’re on the outside looking in.
At the start of the pandemic, I spent most of my time in solitude like many others. When we founded our organization, I got to virtually connect with people around the world. Those special relationships are what got me through the quarantine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bobby-pontillas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbypontillas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RiseUpAnimationRUA
Image Credits
IAcademy.jpg : I-Academy
