Prize-Winning Comic Author and Animator

Current occupation?

I am a fulltime comic author for the daily newspaper Metro, also I create graphic novels, animations for TV and film, and illustrations for children’s books.

What expertise did you gain at WdKA?

I’ve learned to make animated films from the first draft to the final product, including storyboarding, script writing, drawing, sound design, direction, and working in a team. We focused on different types of animation, like stop motion, motion graphics, 2D, 3D and character animation in particular.

What is the future of your profession in your opinion?

I started out as a 2D animator, because I was in love with the old Disney cartoons. But animation has evolved so much since those days. Nowadays animation is used in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, but also for commercials and infographics, in order to explain complicated processes. I have used animation to illustrate stories, which otherwise would have been too boring to hear. And that’s just 2D animation. I think the possibilities in 3D are even bigger – it is a business that will keep on growing through the use of social media, computers and websites like YouTube and Vimeo.

You never leave your house without..? Besides your laptop or smartphone?

My sketchbook! Whenever something funny happens, I need to make a comic about it, right away.

Any words of advice to future students?

Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Negative emotions, like failure or disappointment, are disastrous for creativity. Always be motivated and inspired. If people or companies are bringing you down, get out of there.

Name your favourite recent project

‘Behind the Telescopes’ is a 71-minute hand drawn animated film that I made, which took about a year to create. The film is played only with a live performance by harpist Lavinia Meijer and sound designer Arthur Antoine. We have had several great shows in the Netherlands, and in 2018 we will be touring through China.