Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Fontecchio.
Kali, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been working in animation for over ten years. Currently employed at Warner Bros. as a character designer on the upcoming Looney Tunes shorts. I started off working for the Ren & Stimpy creator and progressed from there to work for every major and most minor studios in Los Angeles.
Received two Emmy’s for working on the Mickey Mouse shorts, and was the color supervisor on the pilot of Rick & Morty. I’ve created concept art for film, like Lego Movie 2 and others. I’m known for a classic cartoon style design-wise, but have worked with and created many different looks for different projects.
Concurrently, I’ve pursued making music as Kali Kazoo, first as a solo act, but more recently with a full band. I have released two albums digitally and on vinyl independently through Sweatband Records, and have a third album produced by Toshi Kasai forthcoming.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Animation can be tricky at times, jobs don’t always line up the way you would like them to, so I have had a few spells of unemployment where I had to do other freelance and art jobs to make ends meet. Usually, when it rains, it pours, after a period of little work, I’ll then have to turn down a bunch of jobs all at once.
With music, my electric guitar was stolen when I was a teenager, so I switched gears to acoustic and didn’t release an album until later on with the help of The Manx frontman Tommy Meehan. There’s still the fact that it costs a good deal of money to produce a professional sound, but luckily I’ve had two successfully funded Kickstarter campaigns to aid in their creation.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
As a character designer, I am either creating the looks of the characters, designing new characters in the style of the show, or drawing the acting of pre-existing characters that are acting specific and different from the main models. I specialize in an old school aesthetic to design, with a modern twist. Other than being known for working on classic cartoon properties (Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Looney Tunes, etc.) I’ve carved out my own voice with my personal art online and in print. I’ve created comics for Vice and Yo! Gabba Gabba, as well as featured comic covers for popular titles, and as of late have been working on my own comics for my Instagram page. With my personal art, I have been attempting to push my art to be intense in its emotion or off-kilter cute. That probably describes my art overall, honestly.
With my music it is not much different from the way I approach drawing, I start with satire and irreverence, and let intensity, and the visceral takeover. The more experience I acquire, the closer I get to the product I originally envisioned. It’s important, I think, to be driven to get better with every song or drawing that is produced. Restlessness has its benefits in moving forward creatively; I like what I’m doing now more than what I’ve done previously.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I constantly look to those I admire for guidance and have had the great honor to work alongside many of them. Director Rob Schrab, who I’ve worked for on several of his animated projects is a source of great inspiration for me, as he is the ultimate Renaissance man of art and filmmaking.
The amazing artist Paul Rudish gave me an amazing insight into his design theories and supported my artistic endeavors at Disney and beyond.
Tommy Meehan and Myke Chilian of The Manx both propelled me into album making and touring after years of musical stagnation, with intense encouragement and technical aid.
Filmmaker Kate Freund has given me creative confidence and immense support as the ultimate cheerleader (I’d prefer to think of her as a general in a war against listlessness).
Comic artist Johnny Ryan has offered me a ton of valuable comic advice, and encouragement to pursue making my own comics.
Director Stu Livingston has given me so much help with storytelling, and methodical planning, and rallying me against self-doubt.
Abed Gheith and Eric Bauza both boost my ego and inspire me comedically.
Constantly learning from the people around me has been one of the most important things I can think of in terms of having longevity in a creative field, and I have been extremely fortunate to know and work with these people and many more.
Contact Info:
- Website: kalikazoo.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/kalikazoo/
- Twitter: twitter.com/kalikazoo
- Other: kalifontecchio.etsy.com
Image Credit:
Dillon Vaughn
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