![Life with a small animation studio](https://cdn.magzter.com/1398687120/1717481790/articles/byruRNcbl1720763295132/LIFE-WITH-A-SMALL-ANIMATION-STUDIO.jpg)
Working at a big studio certainly has its perks. Larger studios have luxurious facilities, and the projects you'll work on often have bigger, better budgets.
But sometimes less really is more; a stint at a smaller company where you have to work within tighter constraints can boost creativity and make you a smarter, faster animator. You also might get the chance to work across a variety of roles on different kinds of projects, and experience more of the pipeline than you would working at a bigger organisation.
A director and storyboard artist, Kelsey Norden has spent time working at large studios such as Disney Television Animation and Warner Bros. Animation, as well as smaller outfits such as Six Point Harness, OddBot and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios. She explains that if you've only ever worked at a big studio, there's valuable perspective to be gained from taking on a job at a company with a lower headcount.
BIG JOB, SMALL BOX
"Smaller studios tend to have smaller budgets, so it forces the artist to do creative problem-solving to make a big ask from a client fit into a small box," Kelsey tells ImagineFX. "You'll miss the nicer office chairs, the big standing desk, and the fancy kitchen with fresh fruit, but you'll gain a new bag of tricks to take with you to any future project."
Her roles at smaller organisations all taught her ways to squeeze the most out of every single frame. Kelsey adds: "Titmouse, before they grew to the size they are now, taught me how to get a lot of character out of a little animation. OddBot taught me how to make a CG show on a budget; what parts of the show are most expensive, such as new characters, fur, and props; and how it's built differently in storyboards when compared with a 2D show, as camera moves are cheaper than new shots, which can be the opposite in 2D.
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av ImagineFX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av ImagineFX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Raquel M. Varela](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/2DIARUCQg1724763339305/RAQUEL-M-VARELA.jpg)
Raquel M. Varela
Raquel is inspired by magic, fantasy and fairy tales. She loves designing female characters from distant worlds. \"My greatest reference is Loish's art, thanks to her I learned to draw the movement and fluidity I like to convey.\"
![Estrela Lourenço](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/kTesB3MCo1724763260241/ESTRELA-LOURENO.jpg)
Estrela Lourenço
Estrela is a children's book author and illustrator. Her work is influenced by her background in character animation and storyboards for clients such as Cartoon Network, and she channels comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes.
![Daria Widermanska](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/WMHKYLwGI1724763175378/DARIA-WIDERMANSKA.jpg)
Daria Widermanska
Daria, also known as Anako, has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Inspired by Disney and classic anime, she loves creating new characters and often finds that a single sketch can spark a unique story.
![Allen Douglas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/bcKoxsl6K1724762979403/ALLEN-DOUGLAS.jpg)
Allen Douglas
Allen has been painting professionally since 1994 for the publishing and gaming industries. Inspired by folklore, he distorts the size, relationships and environments of animals, and calls his paintings 'unusual wildlife'.
![Thaddeus Robeck](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/k1KQtyt0w1724762819563/THADDEUS-ROBECK.jpg)
Thaddeus Robeck
Thaddeus has been drawing from the moment he could hold a pencil, but it was the 2020 lockdowns that gave him the time to focus on honing his skills.
![DRAW FASCINATING SYMBOLIC ARTWORK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/p6nFLu3Wg1724762363876/DRAW-FASCINATING-SYMBOLIC-ARTWORK.jpg)
DRAW FASCINATING SYMBOLIC ARTWORK
Learn how JULIÁN DE LA MOTA creates a composition from his imagination with a focus on crafting figures, volumetric modelling, and light and shadow
![First Impressions](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/dqVYNxPpI1724762244078/FIRST-IMPRESSIONS.jpg)
First Impressions
The artist talks about his journey into the mythological world
![CREATIVE STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/eLRc02rfB1724761862687/CREATIVE-STRENGTH-IN-COMMUNITY.jpg)
CREATIVE STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY
Co-founder and creative force André Luís talks about the ethos and evolution of Trojan Horse Was A Unicorn
![Gigi Murakami](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/RU5CqYC3T1724761479601/GIGI-MURAKAMI.jpg)
Gigi Murakami
Shock and terror! Step into the world of the American horror manga artist, where her tastes are on full display
![The path to the top at a video games company](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6242/1812479/A_pP8dqA41724760737226/THE-PATH-TO-THE-TOP-AT-A-VIDEO-GAMES-COMPANY.jpg)
The path to the top at a video games company
No cheat codes required Tanya Combrinck finds out exactly what it takes to make the leap from burgeoning student to game-shaping art director