Rising Stars: Meet Caleb Patchen of Orange

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Patchen.

Hi Caleb, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was younger I would draw everyday in class. My homework, my notes, my tests, quizzes, any paper I could get a hold of, I wanted to draw and it was the only thing I wanted to focus on. Some teachers hated this, and some embraced it. I started taking it more seriously when I was in middle school and built up my skills from there. My cousin was one of the main people who got me into animation though. She drew a lot of wolves and animals and when I got to see her, she showed me Youtubers that did “Animation memes” or Warrior Cats content. This sent me down the rabbit hole of wanting to follow in her footsteps and it made me create characters of my own to make animations of. As I grew up, I watched a lot of anime, Minecraft Youtubers, and became really active in fandom spaces online (specifically the fanart side). I feel like this was the main thing that helped me improve, because I was drawing so much more than before and creating so much content. I then went to Cal State Fullerton and was set on getting into their BFA Entertainment Art / Animation track with the portfolio I had built up throughout the years. I got in the first time I applied and was able to finally take real classes for something I was really interested in. In my Principles of Animation class, my professor, Kirby Allen shared some class examples to critique for the assignments and two students had walked in and sat down to watch because they wanted to say hi to Kirby. These two were Jason Belleza and Hans Gabrielle Repotente! They were two of the head people behind a student Indie Animation Studio called “Pending Animations.” Fast forward to that semester’s Film Festival, the two approached me about what programs I used, my animation experience, etc, and had asked if I was interested in being an animator for their short film “Love Bats” because they liked what they had saw in Kirby’s class. I really feel like my friends that I met through this studio have been such a motivator for me. They are now some of my best friends. That short film allowed me to work with so many skilled and talented people in the art department and it helped solidified that animation was something that I knew was really important in my life. I was such a shy person and I initially didn’t know anyone in Fullerton, but my time at that school really allowed me to come out of my shell. After Love Bats, I helped people with their short films for their Production Classes, became one of The Pencil Mileage Club’s Advertisers, I finished my own short film, and helped work on Pending’s new film “Double Date,” The short film was probably the hardest thing I’ve done, because it was done all my myself minus the composing. Post grad, I am a Lead Animator for another indie studio called “Studio 105!”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I got a lot of family support for my art passion, which I am really grateful for! I know some aren’t that lucky, so I am always so appreciative for my family and friends that want me to keep going towards my passion. I think something that had been rough for me though, is knowing that while animation is something I am passionate about, I think I really need to pivot to storyboarding since 2d animation is usually overseas and I don’t think I want to move that far out anytime soon. I still love storyboarding though and I still want to improve in both! I just wish that 2d animation in tv specifically had more jobs around me when I’m lucky enough to be close to LA. Who knows what can happen though? I want to have my options available though for my portfolio, so I don’t think pivoting has to be a bad thing at all. It’s just expanding your skill set.

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 do 2d animation, storyboarding, and 2d illustration! I specialize in 2d animation and am working towards being a storyboard artist. I am most proud of my short film “Pocket Pooch” that I made in my Production class at Cal State Fullerton! I feel like some people know me as the person that made their short film by themselves, because they would see me constantly in the computer lab working on it haha.

What makes you happy?
Definitely my friends and media I find comforting. I’ve had a hard time feeling like being in a place where I really belong in friend groups and at Fullerton I was able to have that and still have it. As for media, definitely rewatching Adventure Time. I love how silly that show is and its characters. It’s always been such a comfort for me growing up because as the series goes on, you grow with the characters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://calebpatchen.wixsite.com/portfolio/animation-2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebstired
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@calebstired8539