Featuring Oscar-nominated Director in development at Disney,
@bobbypontillas . He directed the acclaimed short film “One Small Step” at Taiko Studios, and spent the better part of the last decade bringing beloved blockbusters to life - Frozen, Moana, Zootopia, Big Hero 6, etc.
A supreme honor for us to share a bit of his work and story. On a structural level, he’s also contributing to the betterment of the animation industry as cofounder of
@riseupanimation .
Swipe right through a gorgeous gallery of vignettes from Filipino childhood. Of fatherhood, first loves, family dinners and more.
INTERVIEW
FAV ARTISTS & STUDIOS
At one time this was an easy question for me to field, but nowadays I see value in so many artists from so many endeavors that it would be a disservice to just name a few. That said, what changed my life and inspired me to pursue animation as a career was Disney Animation.
Conversely, to highlight a few of the smaller studios I think
@studio_la_cachette and
@thelineanimation are doing amazing work!
ARTIST HISTORY
I’ve been fortunate to work in games, tv, and film as an animator, designer, art director, and director. Everything I know comes from the generosity of the many mentors I’ve had along the way and I’m currently developing projects for Disney Plus, Channel, and Junior.
THE DREAM
I believe my purpose is to direct a film or show-run a series inspired by Filipino culture - I’ll stop at nothing to make that happen. My aspirations for the animation industry are to help make it a more diverse and inclusive space for underrepresented voices.
My advice to students would be to surround yourself with positive, ambitious people who make you better - especially when you break into the industry. There can be a lot of negative conversation online - those opinions are valid and I don’t pretend this industry is perfect, but it will always serve your soul fighting to remain optimistic and tenacious in the face of adversity.
Love this human! Keep rockin, Bobby! ❤️ 🤘