Interview with 2D Artist Jed

Summers

What have you done to get where you are today?

I studied the Bachelor of Creative Arts Digital Media degree (now called VEED). I started my degree in 2017 and graduated in 2021. After spending a few years freelancing in the live action film industry as a videographer and camera operator/assistant, I decided that it wasn’t the right fit for me.

I’d always loved drawing and 2D animation was something I had always wanted to learn. When I made the decision to study animation, Flinders had just paired up with the art school CDW so for me that sealed the deal that this was the degree I needed to study. Now, I’m working full time as a 2D Animator at a studio in Adelaide.

What do you think have been your greatest achievements since completing your degree?

I was fortunate enough to get to work as an animator on the series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur for Disney TVA. It had always been a bucket list goal of mine to work for Disney in some capacity. It was also the first time I saw gifs and memes, made by fans, from scenes that I had worked on, which makes me super happy.

What would you do differently after just completing your degree and trying to find a job in your area of study?

I was in the fortunate position where I gained full-time employment as a junior Animator midway through the second year of my degree. When I was offered this job, I remember struggling to decide if I should accept the offer or complete my studies first. I wondered if I was ready or not.

I’m so grateful to have had the support of my course coordinators, Shane Bevin and Katie Cavanagh, who encouraged me to accept the job, as opportunities like this are quite rare in the animation industry. In hindsight, I’m glad I decided to accept the job and delay my studies because it gave me my start in the industry and is the reason I’ve had consistent work ever since.

What do you like most about what you do?

I remember as a kid watching movies like The Lion King or The Little Mermaid, knowing that the characters were just drawings done by hand, but not understanding how they were moving and so full of life. It felt like some kind of magic to me. Being able to do this now, I still get a buzz when I hit play on my animation timeline and see my drawings come to life and give a performance that feels genuine and natural.

What advice do you have for students who are just starting their degree at Flinders?

This advice probably applies mostly to those who are studying in the creative field… don’t underestimate how long things can take. For example, a piece of artwork, animation or video, whatever it is, go at your own pace, but keep in mind that it’s going to require a lot of time and effort, and be okay with that. In most creative industries there isn’t one set path that will get you a job, and every professional will have a different story about how they got to where they are, so it isn’t helpful to compare yourself to others. Be patient, work hard, and make the right connections.

What’s next for you?

It’s always been a goal of mine to work on a feature length 2D animated film, so I’m aiming to be able to do that one day.

Around these pages are some awesome stills that Jed has worked on!

Lego Monkie Kid can be seen on Binge, and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur can be seen on Disney+

One in a hundred, that is the chanceTo be watched, uncontrolled, The need to give into the hunch. Hyperactivity then the regret

I feel the invisible, An urge to forget, As the children lay pointing, Across the roller top desks.

Bright white lightA clock ticks and I tick back.

I am the architect, Stuck in a straitjacket.

Genteel and burning red, Compulsions stuck in my head Spoken words never intended to be said, Locked together as chains on a fence.

My hands are restless, tense, My heart bleeds a humiliating beat, But I am small and cannot comprehend, That this is just who I am.

One day I shall rise and never fall down again, Make peace with your misery Or fail to see the celebration of