Chris Mayne | Animator
To start, tell us a bit about you, how did you get into this industry and what are your personal career highlights?
Animating is not what I ever envisioned myself doing. I actually graduated with a degree in marketing back in 1999, and that was only after changing my major a few times in college. I originally started in accounting, and after a few twists and turns, I ended up in marketing. Exciting, right? So, I really wasn’t happy with what I was doing in the various jobs I held after graduating. Around that time, I was really loving the animated movies that had been coming out over the years, especially The Incredibles. A lightbulb flickered over my head, and I thought, why can’t I do that? So after a few years of more school, which definitely had some bumps along the way as well, I graduated again (this time in 2008). I picked up my first gig in Kansas City a few months after graduating, and I’ve been here since.
I have some pretty fun memories and highlights in my career. Getting an Emmy is probably one of the coolest ones. It’s still kind of crazy to just see an Emmy statue in my living room. To be honest, as cheesy as it sounds, the friends I’ve made in this industry are what I cherish the most though. Those relationships are what I’ll always hold closest.
Name some of the projects you’ve worked on over the last few years
I have a hard time remembering what I did yesterday! I had to consult my LinkedIn profile to figure this one out. Some highlights included working with Superseed Studios on a holiday special for Big City Greens ‘Virtually Christmas’ (see video below) as well as The Portal series, which ended up winning a sports Emmy. I’ve worked on various commercials for Hornet and Framestore. Lastly, I got to work with Lucan Studio on the “Moremi” episode of the Disney+ series “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” (see video below).
Many people have been affected by the strikes and general unrest within the industry. How has it affected you?
This year has been the hardest for sure. I’ve been used to the ups and downs that the industry produces, but trying to navigate this wave has been challenging. I really was digging deep into my contact list to try and find any bit of work that may have been out there. Many of the responses were the same in regards to not having any projects or only having just enough work for the in-house staff.
How do you feel about the industry right now?
I still do my best to hold a bit of optimism for the future, but it can be extremely difficult. Some days I think about how to pivot out of the industry, but then there are those other days I get reminded why I love being a part of it too. This year (and going back to last year) has been pretty taxing. I haven’t been able to be as picky about potential gigs so sometimes what I take on may not be very fulfilling. It’s just another job to pay the bills.
Have there been any (however small) silver linings? What are your hopes for the future?
Recently it does seem like there’s been a small uptick in work out there. I’ve seen a good number of people posting they got a new job or I’ve heard from other friends that they landed something. I hope this momentum carries through the end of the year and starts 2025 on a higher note.
You started a wonderful initiative to share the job vacancies spreadsheet you originally created for yourself. Talk us through your thought process and what you expected to happen compared to what has happened
When I started to share the spreadsheet, I really thought it would just be a pretty small endeavour. I’d put animator jobs on it because that’s what I was searching for anyway. It seemed pretty simple and something I could easily keep up with. Well, as others started to share it, I would occasionally get asked if I could add something like layout positions. It seemed doable for sure. Next thing I knew, more and more positions were getting thrown on there as requests kept coming in. I had no idea that the spreadsheet was getting shared as much as it was. And now a few years later, it has grown far beyond what I originally envisioned. I think I’ve gone so far down this rabbit hole that there’s no way out now!!
Click the button below to go to Chris’ sheet (takes you to Google Docs).
Has anyone been in touch to say they found a role after using your spreadsheet?
Yes!!! This does happen from time to time, and it’s always wonderful to hear these stories. I sincerely hope there are many others out there that have benefitted from seeing an opportunity on the sheet as well.
Has anything else evolved through this e.g. any studios or recruiters reaching out directly?
I have had a fair amount of companies, big and small, reach out to put jobs on the sheet. One of my hopes when putting this together was that I would get leads directly from the studios. Some of these places have reached out multiple times. I’ve met some amazing people through this and established relationships that I don’t think would have ever materialised if it wasn’t for the sheet.
Do you have any advice or words for anyone feeling deflated by the state of the industry right now?
Take care of yourself!!! Talk to others. Go for a walk. Enjoy those other hobbies you have or have always wanted to explore. You don’t have to only do your craft. It’s okay to get away from it. Ensure you’re making yourself the #1 priority.
You’ve done a great job of bringing people together through your spreadsheet. What other positive initiatives have you seen out there so far that helps people, even a little?
It’s been awesome to see the people in the industry coming together as best as they can to help those that have been impacted by studio closures and layoffs. I’m on LinkedIn a ton, and just the number of people that are trying to share jobs or recommend people for work is astounding. There are also those willing to just talk to you or lend an ear if you need it. And believe me, a small chat goes a long way to help mentally.
Who is your ‘VFX Hero’?
I’m going back to when I first started learning animation. This has to be Kenny Roy. He was one of my mentors during school, and he is still to this day always open to a chat. I even got to work for him when I first started freelancing, which was like going to school all over again. He helped me push to be the best animator I could be and taught me some great lessons along the way that I still hold close. I never feel like I could repay him for all that he’s done for me in my career.