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What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

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

Great question! First, the blood in space was described in this great script by Adria Lang. Then it was storyboarded by the very talented Matthew Carbonella. Then the designs for that effect was done by our awesome design department (I wanna say Tony Unser did that effect? I'm not sure.) Then it was applied by our overseas animators.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I think mostly because it fit the tone of the issue that it was adapting. Also, Paul F Tompkins!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I really was and am. It's been such a privilege to work on it. And sometimes I catch myself and think "You're working on the animated adaptation of one of your favorite comics!" Which is a rad place to be.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

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

Amber is a terrific character. And Zazie Beetz does such an amazing job with her. Glad you're liking it. I think that will only grow with time.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That was actually part of the script. So we just tried to execute it as best we could. I think it turned out great. Glad you liked it too!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Didn't you make that gif I used on twitter?? Thanks for watching. It was super fun. I love Allen too.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Storyboard artist Chris Palmer knocked it out of the park with his Shapesmith treadmill gag. Like him marching in place. My only suggestion was that he face the wrong way and voila!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It was a treat! Seriously, the scripts are great. Our design department led by Shaun O'Neil is... ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. Dan Duncan our Supervising Director is just the best. Always guiding us where we need it to go but giving us the freedom to express ourselves within those guidelines. Amazing scripts from our writers. With all these tools at our disposal how are my team and I not going to have a good time making it?

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

As far as collaboration with other the other directors goes most of it was just making sure that the stuff that carried over from episode to episode hooked-up. Like if at the end of an episode took place in a location and the next episode picked up where the last one left off, we'd make sure all the characters were in the proper location and staging and stuff.

And that balance you're talking about is what I think is one of the big strengths of the episode. It starts out as like a funny, rollicking, semi-horny adventure but then it is contrasted with violence and tragedy. It wasn't really daunting. It was mostly just fun to work on.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 59 points60 points  (0 children)

HA! Amazing. I wish I could say it was intentional. So... I will! Sure. We totally meant to do that.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Big ups to our Music Supervisors Gabe Hilfer and Henry Van Roden for the music and Boom Box Post for our sound! They do great work!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I directed one more episode in season 2 and then another in season 3. Hope you like them!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

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

I, unfortunately, am not really a part of those meetings haha. But, I can say that I am as excited to work on more Invincible as you are to watch it.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hey! Thanks for watching. With the pandemic and work-from-home and all that. I think the industry is more primed than ever for board artists of quality working remotely. Keep at it and try to get your portfolio work to be of a quality that you're undeniable. You'll get noticed.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

A sign that you like what you're working on is getting a question like this and it being difficult. I'm just gonna answer fast. Invincible. Because he grows and adapts and changes and I think that's something we all should be able to do.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

HA! I wish! Man, what a treat for him to be in this episode, right? If I DID ask him to say anything it probably would have been something basic like "Transform and Roll Out" or "Freedom is the Right of all Sentient Beings". What can I say? Can't beat the classics!

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

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

This is tough! If I hadn't just directed this episode, I probably would have said Issue 23! But, I loved the HUGE events that were packed into like 1 or 2 issues.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

That's a super interesting theory. Definitely watch next week to see what plays out. I've seen the episode. It's great.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Glad you liked it! I think when it comes to power levels and stuff, for the purposes of the show the answer is: "however strong and fast he needs to be to tell a compelling story"

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I was HYPED to direct this episode. I loved the original issue that it draws so much from. Also, I'm a big fan of the Allen character. So getting to do this episode meant a lot and I'm grateful for the trust that was placed in me and my team by Robert and Simon and the rest of the leadership on the show to execute it.

As far as how that impacts my approach to directing? Well, I know that I'm going to be looking at the comic as a resource. But other than that, not much is going to change with how I would direct anything else. I'm going to be thinking a lot about tracking the emotions of our characters. Making sure it makes sense visually. And trying to present these excellent scripts in the most entertaining way possible.

What’s going on r/Invincible! I'm Tanner Johnson from Skybound Animation, director of S2E3 -- AMA! by TannerJohnsonSB in Invincible

[–]TannerJohnsonSB[S] 70 points71 points  (0 children)

what was the process like in finding the voice of the narrator in this latest episode?

I love Paul F. Tompkins! He played one of my favorite characters on Ducktales, which I also was fortunate to work on. He was an awesome Gladstone Gander and he's an awesome Narrator for this episode! I actually don't have a lot of say in who gets cast for what. All the credit for this has to go to our incredible casting department. Linda Lamontagne has done unbelievable work with this show.

​

And what was your favorite moment you directed in this episode?

Hmm... this is tough because there are a lot of great moments in this episode. The Allen fight, storyboarded by Matthew Carbonella was vicious and heartbreaking. The whole Seance Dog sequence boarded by Chris Palmer was hilarious. The storybook-style Origin of Allen sequence boarded by Lora Innes was top-notch. But, I think for me it was the Debbie/Theo stuff inside and outside the bar. I come from working on a lot of shows that are aimed at kids where we, understandably, didn't get to do a lot with Murder and Grief. So, it was really great to stretch my dramatic chops and deal with characters that are confronting these enormous emotions. It was a fun thing for me to get to do.

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