James Lopez: The Journey of An Animation Master
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
Host Mike Rosado sits down with veteran animator James Lopez, celebrating his 35+ years in animation. Lopez shares stories from his illustrious career at top studios like Disney and DreamWorks, touching upon classics like ‘The Lion King’ and ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ He dives into his advocacy for 2D animation, details the creation of his independent steampunk project ‘Hullabaloo,’ and offers a glimpse into his mentorship efforts and future aspirations. This episode is a treasure trove for animation enthusiasts, revealing Lopez’s passion, struggles, and undying commitment to...
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Studio Muti - The illustrative journey of the Cape Town creative shop.
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado talks with Clint Campbell, Miné Jonker, and Brad Hodgkiss from the renowned Cape Town-based illustration studio, Studio Muti. The discussion covers the studio’s origins, creative processes, and the team dynamics that make them successful. Founded in 2011, Studio Muti has become a powerhouse in global design, collaborating with brands like Apple, Nike, and Google. The trio shares insights into their journey, the importance of adaptability, and their foray into animation. They also touch on challenges, maintaining a positive...
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Armando ‘Mondo’ Roque - Toy Designer & Creative Director
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
Welcome to The Pencil Pushers Podcast. In this episode, I chat with the multitalented Armando “Mondo” Roque about his incredible journey from childhood robot doodles to designing iconic toys.Mondo takes us back to the ’80s, reminiscing about sketching RoboTech battles as a kid and getting his start as a caricature artist at Knott’s Berry Farm. He shares his winding educational path through multiple art schools and how he eventually made the leap from corporate graphic design to a creative role at By George Inc., where he helped develop standout projects like the animatronic Hero Droid...
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Seth Kearsley - Animation Director & Writer
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode, I sit down with Seth Kearsley, a veteran animation director, writer, and producer, to explore his incredible career. With over three decades in the industry, Seth has worked on fan-favorite shows like The Maxx, The Simpsons, and Dilbert, and directed Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights. We talk about his beginnings, discovering pencil and paper in his dad’s truck, and the path that led him to major animation projects.From wild CalArts parties to life advice from Dustin Hoffman, Seth shares stories that are both hilarious and inspiring. He also opens up...
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Looney Tunes Talks with Jonathan Graves
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado dives deep into the world of Looney Tunes with Jonathan Graves, the passionate host of ‘This Means Podcast.’ Covering everything from Bugs Bunny to Daffy Duck, they discuss the artists, animators, and history of the beloved cartoon series. Jonathan shares his journey from a childhood filled with Saturday morning cartoons to his efforts in creating and celebrating Looney Tunes through his podcast. Both fans of classic animation, they explore their favorite shorts, influential animators, and the importance of hand-drawn art in a...
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Artistic Adventures and Real World Reckonings: With Judd Winnick
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews Judd Winick, a celebrated comic creator known for the Hilo series. The conversation covers Judd’s diverse career in comics, animation, and reality TV. He reflects on his experience as a cast member of MTV’s The Real World, the impact of his late friend Pedro Zamora, and his subsequent memoir ‘Pedro and Me.’ Judd shares insights on his education, work with DC Comics, and how his career evolved into creating the successful Hilo book series. The discussion also touches on his extensive work illustrating for the...
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Motion Design and the Art of Hustle: How Two Neighbors Made ‘Dash’ a Reality
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
Mack Garrison, co-founder and director of Content at Dash Studio, a high-end motion design studio based in North Carolina. The discussion covers Mack’s origins in Raleigh, his creative childhood, the founding of Dash Studio with his partner Corey Livengood, and their journey to working with major clients like JP Morgan and Coinbase. Mack emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration in their growth, the challenges of managing large projects, and their approach to business and creativity. They also delve into the impact of AI on the creative industry, the significance of...
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Animating Legendary Tales: A Conversation with Alain Seguin
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado sits down with Canadian animator Alain Seguin, who has been in the animation industry for over 27 years. Seguin discusses his early influences, such as watching Looney Tunes and Aladdin, and how these childhood inspirations led him to pursue a career in animation. He shares his extensive experience working on commercials for 17 years before transitioning to feature films and TV shows, including Space Jam: A New Legacy, Enchanted, and HBO Max’s Looney Tunes series. Seguin also offers insights into his role as a senior animator on...
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We Bought a Farm: The Printed Peanut’s Louise Lockhart moves to the country.
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado reconnects with illustrator Louise Lockhart, founder of The Printed Peanut. Since her last appearance in 2019, Louise has undergone significant life changes, including relocating with her family from city life to a farm in Monmouthshire, Wales. Mike and Louise discuss how this move has impacted her creative process, business, and personal life. Louise shares her experiences of balancing motherhood, managing her business, and staying creatively inspired. She emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and making decisions that...
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The Luminous Life and Times of Graphic Artist, Lauren Griffin
The Pencil Pusher's Podcast
In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews local designer and illustrator Lauren Griffin. Lauren shares her journey, from growing up in multiple cities to settling in Durham, North Carolina. With an impressive portfolio that includes work for Helms Workshop and Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lauren discusses her passion for creating playful yet sophisticated illustrations and brand identity design. She also talks about her newfound love for neon design, featuring pieces in the Museum of Neon Art in Los Angeles, as well as her preparations for her first solo show in...
info_outlineWelcome folks to the pencil pushers podcast, where I, your humble host, Mike Rosado talk to some of the movers and shakers in the hand drawn arts about their craft, their careers and then some. Today we speak with uber talented Eisner Award nominated independent comic book artist, Matt Lesniewski. Listen in as we talk about his brand spanking new graphic novel, STATIC, which I got an early copy of in advance of our chat and let me tell you - it does not disappoint. We also talk about what it’s like to work as an indie comic artist, tips on how to stay motivated, how he approaches his craft and even got deep about what it’s like living the life of an artist in todays world. It’s something we all know about way to well, so it was great to connect so openly about it. Matt was a blast to chat with and I’m already looking forward to our next hang. So, without further ado, do yourself a favor: find him NOW on instagram @mattdrawscomics while you sit back, relax and listen in on our chat with Matt.
The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more.
- Mike Rosado https://www.instagram.com/ekimodasor/
Produced and edited by Trujillo Media
Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound