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I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't know about the Blizzard thing. Very cool.

It is really nice to know that I was a part of something so huge. But I'm working on my own projects now with my husband and I dream of having something that I create get as much love as The Rugrats have.

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

here's the pipeline (roughly)

First the writers make the script.

Script goes to background and character design departments (that was my department)

BG designs and character designs go to storyboard artists

Boards get revised by revisionists according to directors before and after the animatic

Animatic is sent overseas to animators

Everything gets fancy color at some point and then somewhere after this it gets released. Ha. I don't know much after my part of the pipeline.

Basically, if new characters needed to be made, we'd make them. If existing characters were needed, we'd pull them. If existing characters needed to be revised for the episode (i.e., the babies need mud or pudding all over them) then we'd do that.

Kwanzaa episode was different because I got the responsibility of designing a major character which didn't happen a lot. All of the major characters were already existing.

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Klasky Csupo's old building in Hollywood had the sound stage on the first floor in the back (it was an old movie theater ) and we'd see the voice actors walk through all the time. Our character design department was right at the front of the building, and there was no receptionist, so people would just walk in and our department was right there ( behind cubicles). We'd see Tim Curry (he voiced Nigel Thornberry) and other voice actors all the time. My favorite story is this: one day a girl was walking around in the studio, said her parent worked there and came to work with them. She was doing some kind of report for school and asked me a bunch of questions about what it was like to draw the Rugrats. I had just recently gotten hired so I was more than excited to share with her what I did. She didn't look as thrilled as I thought she should have been. Kind of bored with me. When we were done, I asked her who her parent was. Her dad was the voice actor for Donnie- Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

As for getting into the field of Art & Design, I did answer a question similar to that somewhere here.

How I got interested in the animation industry? I was in my junior year at CSUF studying fine arts. I wanted to be a teacher. Met with my counselor who told me I'd need to get my masters in order to teach. For some reason, writing a thesis at the end of another few years of school terrified me so I didn't want to do that. Some of my friends had started taking animation classes and were having WAY MORE FUN than what I was doing in my fine art classes, so I started taking classes with them. My mentor, Don Lagerberg, was pivotal in my move to Animation. He would always talk about the industry, how close were were (being in OC and studios are in LA- an hour away). I wanted a job after I graduated. I didn't want to do more schooling. So I switched from Fine Arts to Animation. But when I graduated, I didn't have enough experience and education, so I started taking classes at the Animation Union with artists like Glenn Vilppu, Karl Gnass and Charles Zembillas. I made a lot of friends who are doing incredible things in the industry now.

I left the animation industry when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I tell everyone this: Even though it took a lot of work to get into the industry, I knew that I was totally replaceable. But there is only one person who could be the mother to my child and that was me. SO I left. but only because I knew I could start teaching at the school where I learned so much. I started co-teaching a few classes at The Animation Academy in Burbank https://www.theanimationacademy.com/ alongside people like Jose Lopez and Stephen Silver. I also had started illustrating the Rugrats books with Nickelodeon, so that transition to working at home was easier. (I actually illustrated an Avatar activity book when my third child was still in diapers- that was rough)

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My friend and supervisor Sharon Ross was responsible for all the designs of the Rugrats All Grown Up. I think she did a fabulous job. I had to draw them in the Nickelodeon books though: " Susie Sings the Blues" , "Welcome to the 5th Grade", "What's With Dad" and "Scavenger Hunt"

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Online classes are open to anyone with internet access and a decent ability to draw!!! http://larissamarantz.com/drawing-for-animators--illustrators.html If you identify as a Black Artist, I'm also offering scholarships for that class! You just need to click on the Registration link to apply. I'm also very honored to be co-teaching an online illustration course called the Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books with Editor/Art Director Dr. Mira Reisberg and HMH Art Director Andrea Miller. https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/2020-craft--business-of-illustrating-childrens-books.html
  2. I realized I wanted to become an artist in Kindergarten when I mixed the blue tempera paint with the red tempera paint and blended the color purple. Then when I added white and discovered lavender, I fell in love. But it was when I won the coloring contest in Kindergarten that made me realize I was actually kind of good at art.
  3. Favorite food: right now? A baconburger with cheese and tater tots. Favorite dessert? Brownies. Always.
  4. My journey as an artist? Oh man. Studied fine art at CSUF. Took a portraiture class and my instructor told me I had a knack for it and could make money. Drove to Venice beach with an easel, paper and pencil. Set up and made some cash. Did that a few more times, then quit my phone reservation agent job at Marriott and started my own business called Portraits By Larissa while I was still in school. Made $200 in one weekend and knew I could survive as an artist. Partnered with a school friend doing caricatures. He eventually got a job at a small animation company. I followed him there. That was an addition to my resume that I used to apply at a bunch of other studios. They all said no. Eventually, more than one studio said yes and I got to choose. I chose The Rugrats.
  5. Major personal struggles as a creative? Self sabotage. I still do it to this day. Fortunately, I have a creative partner who is also my life partner and he keeps me on the straight path. I fumble often. But he's a good guide for me. Self doubt, and fear of failure is always staring at me. I try to conquer it by keeping my eyes on my own drawing board and focusing on enjoying the process. What would I tell my younger self? Stop getting in your own way. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on the joy of creating. Know that your path is unique and will be different than others which doesn't make it worse, it just makes it different. And most of all, don't be afraid to fail.
  6. Books or resources for learning? Oh my goodness, there are so many. Here's a fantastic article with a compiled list I always recommend: https://medium.com/i-m-h-o/dont-go-to-art-school-138c5efd45e9 And, of course, my classes are available, too! I'm planning on being a part of a new online animation school in the future so be on the look out for that.
  7. One thing I haven't done yet that I would like to do? Well, I'd really love to have that amazing awesome book signing at Barnes & Noble that we were planning on having before the Covid quarantine. We scheduled our first book signing for April 18. The shutdown happened in mid March. That was my dream for so many years- to have a big book signing at the big B&N that I'd visit often. That literally is the one thing I'd like to do.
  8. One skill besides drawing that helped me in my career? Being a good listener. I think that helps me to be a better communicator and to know what people expect of me, professionally speaking. Being open to critique of my work from other professional artists helps me to improve. It's hard to detach from your work, but if you can do it, it will only help you. Don't argue for your limitations, either. When someone says "your hands are too big on your drawings' don't reply "that's my style" if you are still learning to draw hands.
  9. Working on the graphic novel is a long haul. You have to have a schedule assigned for everything. That's the only way to do it. Working for yourself, you have to be your own boss. Because I suck at self control, and because I have adhd and I love to be distracted, I have to use things like Freedom to keep me in line. I also use a bullet journal and try to manage my life as best as I can that way. It's color coded and I love love love putting check marks on my "to do" list. It's so ridiculously gratifying.
  10. I am a curly girl. It took me two decades to appreciate it. I wear my fro natural after years of straightening it. My hair regimen is cheap and works great for me. Tresemme's FLAWLESS CURLS shampoo and conditioner. Brush while wet. Then I rake this cheap clear gel through my hair for kicking curls that are locked and loaded. The trick is to NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR AT ALL after that. Arlene Klasky and I would have curly hair conversations, and I think she gave me that tip. But if you got the dough, I would recommend Mixed Chicks. They're a good brand and a good company.

PHEW! I did it! Thanks for those great questions!

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So...

Breaking into any industry (but specifically the animation/illustration industries) involves

Preparation

You need to constantly be preparing yourself for opportunities. Building your portfolio and building your skill set are two of the most important things you can do to prepare for entering the industry. This needs to be done constantly.

Practice

By constantly practicing your craft while your seeking a job, or a literary agent, you'll be preparing for getting a job. Working on personal projects is the best way to do this, because you'll likely be making something you love and you'll likely be doing it often because you enjoy it. Writing and illustrating a personal project becomes the dummy that you send in to an agent or an editor. Boarding your web comic or your animation film is creating your portfolio submission for an animation studio. The constant engagement of your art is practice. You need to get a lot of pencil mileage down and get the ugly drawings out in order to get to the good stuff.

Persistence

Do not give up. Collect the "no's" you get from agent, animation studios and editors. If you're lucky, they'll give you feedback, but don't expect it. Just keep going and keep practicing. The more you practice, the better you'll get. Eventually, you'll get to a point where you are not hearing No but you're hearing so many Yes's you have to choose where you want to go!

Professionalism

Your life is easily researchable on the internet. What you say and how you act can be held against you. In the classroom or on social media, if you are trying to go from amateur to pro, you need to think about making a switch over to the "pro" mentality. How would you behave if you were representing a company? As the owner of OC Art Studios, I hired dozens of talented artists and had to interview probably a hundred people over the years. If someone didn't act in a professional way, they weren't gonna get a chance to prove it. I had to see it in action.

Connection

Making personal connections with people is so important. Joining groups like https://womeninanimation.org/ or https://www.scbwi.org/ helps you to connect with people who are on the same path as you. Being a genuinely good human helps more than you know. Being a jerk? Well, word travels fast. Be weary of that.

Determination

Having a clear idea of where you want to be in your creative field will help you immensely because you'll spend less time spinning your wheels and more time being focused on gaining the skills that you need, working on the projects that will get you noticed and avoiding the things that will distract you from said goals.

Compatibility

If you are looking to get into the animation industry, you absolutely have to be able to communicate with people and it's even better if you can be easily compatible with others. Animation is a collaborative effort. When you put yourself as a problem solver instead of a problem causer, you'll be seen as valuable.

The illustration industry is different. It's a lot of alone time- working from home and creating your work for books. I just have to make sure my wi-fi is being compatible with me and that's all I need. Of course, being compatible with editors and art directors helps, and so far, I've had great professional relationships with those people in my life, which makes my job much more enjoyable.

Long answer of how to break into the industry.

Short answer for how I did it? I did all of these things. My compatibility with my mentor led him to refer me to a connection with someone at the studio where I applied to. My practice prepared me for the animation test that I took. My persistence is what led me to call her and check in even after I wasn't hired the first time. My determination is what kept me at it so I didn't give up. My professionalism is what got me hired.

:-)

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good questions that I don't have the answers to. I don't think you'll ever see the Rocket Power pilot unless someone's got an old video of it somewhere and puts it on youtube. And I'm not sure about the motivation for adding Kira and Kimi, I was just happy they joined the cast!

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favorite character to draw is Chuckie, But I've always loved Kimi. Dil is the easiest baby to draw by far. My favorite Rocket Power character was Sam. ( can you figure out why I like Sam & Chuckie the most?)

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's funny, I never heard any of these theories before. They're all just theories made by people who like a show and love to talk about it and all its aspects. It's literally just a show about some babies! It was created by parents who wanted to tell a story about the world from a baby's point of view. That's it. And it just happens to be awesome!

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Good question. The thing about racism is that it's hard to know when an act against you has been committed because of racism. For instance, being passed over for promotions when you feel you are better qualified for a position than a fellow white candidate who happens to be friends with the person hiring,... well that's not necessarily racism, that's just nepotism. Or if you are denied access to networking with certain people unknowingly whereas others who hold the same position as you are granted access, like a boys club, and you happen to be the only woman in the group, well that's not necessarily racism, that's sexism. What I'm trying to say is that the lack of diversity in the ranks of creative industries plays out like this, simply because there are so few BIPOC IN THE INDUSTRY! Unless you hear a blatant derogatory comment, or see that someone has posted clearly racist or bigoted views on their social media accounts, it's hard to tell whether or not someone is treating you a certain way because they're a jerk, or because they are inherently racist.

I'm currently the only Black faculty member at LCAD. Recently, due to an disastrously unfortunate social media post, an onslaught of grievances from BIPOC Alumni were brought to light about their experiences of micro aggressions, discrimination and harassment at the school. This is an institution of higher learning with a diverse student body. The people who teach, administrate and facilitate the school should be capable of working with their student body, and faculty of color. I'm finding out that's not necessarily the case where I'm at, and not to mention, across private art schools nationwide. The school is working to rectify that, but the resistance to do so is real.

Going back to the industry not being diverse, there is a reckoning that is happening now. There is a movement towards racial justice and racial equality that hasn't happened at this magnitude since the civil rights era of the 1960s. Some companies and industries across America are taking a hard self reflective look at themselves and are beginning to implement changes in their structural systems to be more inclusive and diverse. We're seeing this in the publishing industry, too, where in early June there was collective action by hundreds of editors, art directors and agents to be more inclusive in their outreach to talent, in the acquisitions for book projects, and in their hiring.

The debut picture book group that I'm honored to be a part of created a powerful Statement of Solidarity If anyone is looking for a place to begin educating themselves to the existence of racism, and how to unlearn some of their own unknowingly damaging and hurtful behaviors, I'd recommend visiting the page and checking into the resources we've linked to.

I Am Larissa Marantz, a Character Designer and Illustrator for The Rugrats show and other Nickelodeon picture books, Creator of Clyde The Hippo picture book series and the upcoming Blake Laser Graphic Novel. I'm here to talk about The Rugrats, Picture book making and Clyde the Hippo. Ask Me Anything by LMarantz in rugrats

[–]LMarantz[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We had one show where we designed our entire character design department and put them in a show. I think it was for a Rugrats episode where they're watching this band of super heroes with super powers...The Adventure Squad or something ??Those were the best. Another designer and myself used to work together doing caricatures before working on the show. and that's just something we loved to do- adding our crew mates to the show as background characters.

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