SQUISH YOUR PUPPET

10 probing questions for Al Oldfield, aspiring animator and man of many parts.



At what age did you first think that you might be able to make a career out of animation?

Make a career?  Still waiting for that day, but got the bug during a year 10 media assignment where we had a go at some simple animation (so that’d make me about 15)


What steps have you taken so far towards achieving that goal?

Basically you become a sponge, same with anything you enjoy really.  Just try an absorb as much information as you can about every little aspect.  Talk to lots of people who know more than you and just build up your knowledge base till one day people are asking you how to do things.


Where would you like your animation career to lead?

I guess the dream job in the industry for me would be to work at Aardman Animation in Bristol, they’re at the top of the field these days.  But to be honest as long as someone is paying me to sit in a dark room and play with plasticine, I’m pretty content with that.



Animation demands incredible patience and persistence, do you find it difficult to devote so much time and effort to produce a few seconds of animated film?

Sometimes, I think I’m just used to knowing how long it takes.  It’s like going on a long flight, there’s nothing you can do to make the plain go faster so that’s the way it is and you get there when you get there.  It gets frustrating when you’re in the middle of a really good shot and you bump the camera or the puppet falls over.  Then you have to start again, when all you want to do is squish the puppet against the wall!


You are a renowned renaissance man, noted for your devotion to a wide range of interests, including knitting, movies, cartoons, swing-dancing, foosball, field-hockey and karaoke. Is it hard to find time to concentrate on your animation?

(Gold!)  It’s all a fine balancing act!  I guess I like keeping busy because I have to spend large amounts of time on my own with the puppets.  Think of it as a release to the patient, quiet time.  Of course, nobody sees that bit, just the knitting, karaoke etc.  But I really can be nice and quiet!


 What is your preferred medium of animation to work in, stop-motion, 2D or 3D computer-generated stuff?

Stop-motion, hands down.  There’s a brilliant organic look to it that just can’t be duplicated in any other medium.  I had a crack at 3D back at uni.  It was just too mathematical, all values and sin curves and key frames, ooooh...makes me shudder just thinking about it!  And I just can’t draw well enough for 2D.


You are still a relatively young man and yet you sported a full beard for many years. At what age did you first grow a full beard and why did you recently decide to shave it off in favour of the lamb-chop sideburns?

I’ve had the burns since the start of yr 12, then I just got lazy and stopped shaving.  That was until November last year… you had to start clean shaven for Mo-vember so I took the plunge and haven’t looked back since!



Is there a lot of animation going on in Australia that you admire?

Sure, Adam Elliot is obviously doing great things and so is Anthony Lucas but there are a large percentage of stop-motion ads on telly at the moment, most coming out of Anifex in Adelaide.  The Cadbury ads come out of a small studio in Richmond and Sydney’s got some great studio’s as well.  With the features that came out last year, there really is a rebirth to the medium and people are really getting behind it.


Is there a risk of being perceived as a geek or a dork (or at the very least an emotionally stunted man-child) if you are a professional animator?

Not really, you meet a lot of people with the usual, “Hi I’m Al, what do you do?” and you get the, “working at some firm, doing something or rather” or “just earning some money at a shitty job till this and this happens” and they’re not all that inspired by what they’re telling you. Then I step up and say “I get paid to play all day”. There’s something so fulfilling about not thinking of it as work. Having late nights not because something is due the next day, but because you can’t drag yourself away from it till you get this shot absolutely right or your puppets looks perfect.  Doesn’t sound so nerdy now does it…?



Have you seen any animation recently that inspires you?

Corpse Bride, The latest film by Tim Burton blew me away, because the animation was just gorgeous.  The new King Kong was also stunning, to get so much character into him was a real turning point in digital animation and we’re going to see some pretty amazing stuff in the near future.

To find out more about Al, or to get in contact with him, please note the details below. Alternatively, send an email to us via helpme@melbournepixel.com and we'll help you with your enquiry.

Al Oldfield
Melbourne, Victoria
truffle_hunter@hotmail.com


Interview by: Shona Whittington