Channel Frederator Blog

Recent animation graduate Bianca Beneduci’s film “Popped” features some slick traditional animation and cool, retro inspired backgrounds. Here she tells us about the artists she’s bonkers about, and the inspiration for her film.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Bianca Beneduci: I took the classical animation program at Vancouver Film School - graduated at the end of last month.

CF: Is there a particular teacher who really helped you with your work?

BB: Well, all of them helped a lot, they’re all really great. But I guess I have to point out one of them, Moose Pagan. He played a really big part during the whole process. Excellent mentor, I feel like I’m a very lucky student.

CF: What has influenced your style the most?

BB: If I had to pick just a few, I would have to start with Tex Avery, his animation drives me absolutely nuts. Plus I’m a huge fan of the whole 50’s graphic style, especially the UPA’s shorts, and amazing people like Mary Blair and Ward Kimball. Michael Dudok de Wit’s short “The Monk and the Fish” was definitely a big influence too. For the backgrounds on “Popped”, Cassandre’s posters were the main reference.

CF: Where did you get the idea for “Popped?”

BB: Well, the idea came from a Brazilian poem that describes this balloon floating away. Right away I felt like I really related to it, losing balloons. From there to the actual story, oh, it was a long and painful path of throwing away storyboards.

CF: Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?

BB: Right now there’s no specific project on the way. But I do plan on making more short films, I hope as soon as possible.

Thanks for the interview, Bianca!

You can check out her short film “Popped” right here on Channel Frederator!

-Bailee DesRocher