Rising Stars: Meet Maximus Pauson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maximus Pauson.

Hi Maximus, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in San Francisco. I didn’t realize until I was older what an unusual place SF is. I was in an extremely liberal bubble that didn’t reflect what the rest of America was like… Because of that; I experienced a bunch of things that would not be considered normal anywhere else in the world…but to me they were very normal! My local rec center had a circus, theater, and art classes. I attended a FREE PUBLIC Highschool that focused on drawing for half a day (there was no football team). We had three different recycling bins in our school cafeteria, and my teachers routinely told me I was supposed to hate George Bush.

I was raised by filthy hippies, left over from the backwash of the 1970s. I was told that the Grateful Dead was a great band (aka: child abuse).

My parents are both totally batshit crazy. They never married, and they wasted their twenties in a local Hindu cult known as “Sri Chinmoy”. The Cult sucked them dry of their youth and their money; and then spit them out in their 30s with zero life skills. I don’t talk to them, but I forgive them. They had their own traumatic backstories that lead them there.

I grew up mainly with my Mom. She is a compulsive hoarder (I’m talkin SEASON FINALE of TLC’s “Hoarders”). She never threw ANYTHING away EVER since the 80s. A gigantic pile of baby food bottles was stacked in the corner of the kitchen; there must have been 900 of them. They were there until I was in HIGHSCHOOL. And that’s only the tip of the Iceberg. I used to have to sneak bags of trash out without her knowing. If she ever found out I threw out as much as a plastic zip lock bag; she would explode into a month-long screaming tantrum; pausing only to sleep. BAT SHIT.

We had no electricity or running water when I was six years old; child protective services got involved. I began a ten-year journey of court cases, foster care, housing projects and homeless shelters until I was 15 and I permanently stopped living with her.

Two things saved my life:

#1) My therapist (assigned by the court when I was seven years old…I stayed with her until I was 18)

#2) Drawing

A lot of my motivation has been spite. Spite for my Mom, spite for the hypocrisy of San Francisco, Spite for the kid in my Kindergarten who could draw Power Rangers better than me (Micheal…?! Where the f*ck is he now? Does HE have any Emmys?!)

As I go into my 30s, I have relaxed a bit more; done more therapy, and have replaced most of the spite with LOVE. I love drawing, I love animation, I am inspired by movies and other amazing artists around me.

The sob story has benefits. The situation I grew up in was so OBVIOUSLY crazy that I can explore the trauma it caused without any guilt.

This differs from other people who grew up in “normal” households; where they would have a mixed cocktail of good and bad experiences; and feel like they are betraying their loving parents by examining their own traumatic scars.

I also have alot of perspective and gratitude.

When I was 18, I got a scholarship into the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, I was extremely motivated and when I graduated, I began my career in Animation. My resume includes Disney, Adult Swim, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon and many more. I have been working for the last 12 years.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Communication has been an issue. I didn’t grow up with normal communication. My therapist has helped alot with that. Anger is never anger; it’s feeling misunderstood.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in Animation. I am a designer. I put “professional” because I’m a corporate wh*r*. I love money, I serve a purpose. You need a design of a mailman? No problem. Here’s 10…on time and under budget.

Specifically, I’m a character designer, I design the characters that you see acting in any animated show. I draw them from every angle so the overseas animators can reference them. This is a really important job because you have to be a casting director, actor, hairstylist, fashion designer, wardrobe, creature designer and many more. The character is the face of the show. It’s the face on every piece of merch in Hot Topic. It needs to be appealing and help support the writing.

I’ve also recently found a niche of designing pitch bibles for writers pitching animated shows.

I also am very proud of my educational Youtube channel BAM ANIMATION; where I teach drawing with my Co-Host Brent Noll. Several of our videos have over 4 million views.

My cool credits include “Ten Year Old Tom”, “Harley Quinn”, “Disenchantment” and “Rick and Morty”.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Learning how to finish projects is the most important skill for any artist…not relying on the Muse to strike you. Mileage is better than quality any day. Steven King has 65 novels out, a lot of them are terrible; but a lot of them are also FANTASTIC. Luckily being able to finish something is a muscle you can work out. It’s all about how you frame it in your mind. Lower your standards, and become a Bad Art Machine. Eventually, something will be good.

Contact Info:

• Website: ArtofMaximus.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_of_maximus/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximus-pauson-85b818218/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaMAnimation/videos