Channel Frederator Blog

Sam Niemann

“Ruby Rocket: Private Detective” co-creator/director/animator Sam Niemann gives Channel Frederator the lowdown on why he’s got no problem with being a “late bloomer” to animation and why his arch-nemesis shall not be named…

Channel Frederator: Where did you study animation?

Sam Niemann: I came to animation later in life. I studied painting at the Kansas City Art Institute and graduated with a BFA in 1991. About 7 years after graduating, I got a job doing digital cell painting at a software company, and within the year I was a lead animator there. Though it wasn’t actually an animation program, my training at art school seems to have prepared me well for animation.

CF: Who or what has influenced your work the most?

SN: Growing up, I loved Warner Bros cartoons and Disney features. Chuck Jones was probably the first name in animation I could identify by just seeing some of the cartoon. The Jungle Book was always my favorite Disney film. [Read more…]