The following piece originally ran as part of Matt’s “On the Job” column in The Boston Herald:
Animator
Right in our own backyard (that is, if you live in Watertown), we have one of the most decorated and pioneering animation studios in the world.
Creators of the highly-popular programs “Dr. Katz” and “Science Court,” Tom Snyder Productions is also the originator of Squigglevision®, a revolutionary process in which just a few frames of animation are alternated in such a way as to simulate motion.
So what does it take to work with such a time saving yet pleasantly convincing system?
Mark Hoffmann has been at Tom Snyder’s entertainment division, Soup to Nuts, since 2000.
“Essentially, all the animators here do everything from storyboarding to character design to full animation,” Hoffman says. “That is an oddity in our field. Most animators focus on one part of the job, but here we get to play around and get a complete feel for the process.”
And quite a process it is! From blocking out the basic action to creating the people and things that will carry it out to actually making them do it, there is a lot to know and it takes a lot of dedication and discipline.
“I’ve always wanted to be an artist,” Hoffman says. “I took some classes in the field early on and kept developing my skills, and when I found there were actual careers I could pursue, I dedicated myself to it.”
Having gotten his start as a freelance designer, Mark continues to work outside of work which, he says, is ok.
“We have a lot of people here who do other creative things like play in bands and stuff,” he says. “The company is so open to everything and we all work together.”
Though there are a few fluorescent lights in the shop, Mark says that his job is not like many others in the world.
“The best part is the freedom,” he says. “I have the ability to do everything and the environment here is supportive. It is not a cubicle job.”
And though the pay scale may be low, the job itself can often be its own reward.
“Everyone here is interesting and fun,” Mark says. “If it’s what you want to do, do it!”
