Starting an Animation Career Later in Life: Mark Pullyblank’s Tips

Find Mark: / pullyblank
Learn 3D Animation: www.cgspectrum.com/career-pat...
Maxine interviews Mark Pullyblank, Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, to talk about his midlife career switch into animation from an entirely different industry -- live music. Mark tells us how he went from starting a new career in animation in his mid-30s with two young kids and zero income to getting headhunted to work on Avatar. He and Maxine discuss why your attitude matters so much, how failures lead to success, and the importance of falling in love with the process. This episode is not to be missed!
Mark Pullyblank spent much of the nineties working as a musician before beginning his animation career. He has been an Animation Supervisor at Rainmaker Digital and Frantic Films, a Senior Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks, and worked in various departments at Wētā FX. His film credits include Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, The Smurfs, Night at the Museum, and many others. Mark is currently the Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, co-founder of Theia Interactive, Director of Non-Stop Motion Virtual Productions, a Lecturer at a Californian university, and undertakes freelance and consulting work at film and game studios.
🔗 Episode notes: www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/an...
00:00 Intro
01:22 Mark’s background and switching into an entirely new career in animation
04:00 Why starting a new career was a hard sell
06:45 Doing things you’re bad at
10:14 Mark’s experience of going back to school as an animator at 33 with two kids and zero income
12:15 Closing the gap between beginner and skilled through practice
15:44 Falling in love with the process, and the work over the fantasy
20:28 The importance of stories and creating art
22:10 Equal enthusiasm for projects, from Dr. Doolittle 3 to Avatar
25:50 Mark’s mindfulness trick
28:30 Learning how to lose: how failure leads to success
34:38 Focus on the things you have control over
40:48 Building toward responsibility
44:02 Impostor Syndrome and setting healthy boundaries
51:50 What to do on your first day in a studio
56:50 How Mark was invited to work on Avatar
57:45 Where to find Mark
Connect on:
📍 / cgspectrum
📍 / cgspectrum
📍 / cgspectrum.film.and.ga...
📍 / cgspectrum
Mark:
📍 / pullyblank
📍 www.imdb.com/name/nm1603840/

[@ericsart6474]

This was great. I can totally relate. I went to art school at 32. I was newly married and we had a newborn baby. We even sold our house to pay for it. That was 20 years ago. I’ve been working in the vfx/ animation industry ever since.

[@Cgspectrum]

Love hearing about your story -- and how similar your path is compared to Mark's :) It's never too late to start something new!

[@Frenchy920206]

I'm 31 and considering a shift into animation as well. It was the perfect conversation to listen to. Thank you so much.

[@Cgspectrum]

Yes! Mark's story is so inspiring 💫 Glad to hear it was helpful for you and that you could relate ☺Let us know if you have any other specific questions about transitioning into an animation career and we'll try to get it answered!

[@samsil187]

This was such a great listen. I am a 33 year old in the midst of shifting careers towards art and 2D animation. Really appreciated hearing Marks outlook, attitude and perspective on life and work ethic! I look forward to the day I take some courses at CG spectrum. Thanks again for this podcast interview.

[@Cgspectrum]

Hi Samuel! We're so glad that this conversation resonated with you. Mark is really inspirational and has a great way of putting things in perspective. Happy to hear that this episode was helpful for you. Good luck in your career shift and we can't wait to meet you soon! ☺

[@TamilVolk]

Mark was one of my teacher. One of a kind human being. Glad there is finally an interview!

[@Cgspectrum]

He's really the best! And one-of-a-kind ☺

[@usmaanilyas8639]

Im 21 working on a computer science degree, but I always wanted to do animation. I thought that it wouldn’t be possible since I’m bad at drawing but this video helped me realize that I should just pick up the pencil and try it. Once I graduate and get a computer science degree I will consider going back to school to learn animation

[@Cgspectrum]

We're so glad to hear that. It's always worth pursuing your dreams, even just to try 🧡 When you're ready, check out our Career Pathways resource to learn more: www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/animation Hope to meet you someday :)

[@vaniafelix529]

this is such a good talk for all type of artists

[@Cgspectrum]

It's never too late!

[@garrywatinfineart7840]

I love this! I am in my mid 30's and work as an art teacher and traditional visual artist. And now a student in nuke compositing in CG Spectrum. I hope I will do well in this career pivot.

[@Cgspectrum]

Hi Garry! Welcome onboard and congratulations on taking a big step toward your new career! We can't wait to see where you take it... you've got this! ☺

[@Kerokittycat]

Thank you so much for this talk, I was layed off in June from my mobile game company and I'm eyeing going into cartoons despite the lower pay because I feel like having a change. Mark's attitude and philosophy helps a lot, I'm nervous since I havent done traditional since I graduated 7 years ago but I'll prepare and apply!

[@Cgspectrum]

You've got this LuniqueKero! Best of luck on your journey! Mark's attitude is definitely inspiring for us too :) And, let us know if you have any questions about your application process that we could answer in our Ask Maxine career questions series!: kzbin.info/aero/PLwlTW6zhautg84JtQpackF-KxKz36ShbU

[@Kuuribro]

This is very useful to me Because I am going through something incredibly similar right now! I have wanted and tried to get into animation several times in my career but always been pulled in by other roles, TA and generalist roles, because the studios needed someone who could do that. Now that need isn't there and I don't have those 8 years of specialized experience on something to continue being a TA... but I do have a consistent thread of studying and supporting and trying animation that got me shifted internally to the motion team. I'm 34 and trying to do this in another language / culture in Japan to boot. (Video game industry, not handdrawn animation.) So this was incredibly helpful and inspiring to hear! Thank you!

[@Cgspectrum]

Hi! We're so glad to hear that Mark's story resonated with you. He's pretty inspirational. Good for you -- working in a new country and language (and industry) is not easy. You've got this! 🤗

[@jonosvlog9913]

Thank you so much for the talk. Very useful and very motivated! I am on the same boat. I am 35 and I am about to land my first ever intern position in this industry.

[@maxineschnepf923]

Amazing! Good luck Jono

[@Cgspectrum]

Congratulations Jono! You've got this! ☺

[@arupsan]

Best podcast with a subject which is very relevant..

[@Cgspectrum]

Thanks for tuning in! Mark is hosting another event around this topic in a few weeks. Sign up for our newsletter to get a registration link!: www.cgspectrum.com/newsletter

[@prestowitney6941]

ahhh Marky Marky Marky , this is a hour long but what about the uncut version lol , amazing tips like always , i am lucky enough to have mark as my mentor and has taught me so much and keeps me moving in the right direction while having fun in our Q&As 😁 , its always nice to hear about later careers changes i started mine in my 30s with family and kids too, very scary but amazing too

[@maxineschnepf923]

HA!! You know it was longer than 1hr!!!! 😂😂 We went on so many different tangents hahaha

[@prestowitney6941]

@@maxineschnepf923 sounds about right hahahaha

[@Cgspectrum]

Haha! If this comment gets 100 likes we'll release the director's cut 😎 But really -- you're an inspiration too! Thanks for sharing :)

[@trumpetplayer05]

Mark is such a awesome teacher, really inspiring at Chico when I was going!

[@YourBoyPeter]

Im in same position. I have great idea for 2d animation show but the only thing is holding me back is the voices. I have the scenes and characters but the voices are pulling me back its so frustrating i feel stuck.

[@trumpetplayer05]

Mark Pullyblank was my teacher in Chico its pretty awesome he such a down to earth person!

[@Cgspectrum]

Lucky you! 🤩You're so right - he's so down to earth, and humorous, and all-around great mentor!

[@trumpetplayer05]

Yeah! he really is, i wish i could done animation but its really a lot of skill to create a character, although mocap always wanted to learn about that@@Cgspectrum

[@Cgspectrum]

@@trumpetplayer05 It's never too late! Take Mark's story as inspiration ☺

[@trumpetplayer05]

very true, id like to work for him honestly ive been trying to send email to the company but hoping to at some point .@@Cgspectrum

[@kopikocartoon]

Tell me how to animate a growing small tree to growing big tree in 3D animation??, 😎

[@Cgspectrum]

Hi 3D Sikun! You can check out our 3D Animation tutorials playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLwlTW6zhautiQ1QmD3ZypByqttIHS8mX7 Thanks for the suggestion! 🌳We'll keep this in mind for a future stream! ☺

[@yokobyeol6255]

2:25 meanwhile my youngest sister, in a family of 3 sisters, has never even taken a spank from me, my other sister or my parents. On the other hand, i took way more spanks than i needed and i transferred them to my sister later on. But somehow, noone ever had the heart to even hit the youngest member of the family 😂

[@kopikocartoon]

First

[@Cgspectrum]

😎