Fizzbuzz

#ICONManila Diaries

Fizzbuzz sent its dream team of designers, artists and animators to this year’s ICON Manila Entertainment Design Gathering last September 14 and 15.

ICON Manila is an annual event, organized in partnership with De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde and The Animation Council of the Philippines and held in the country’s capital. The event is a gathering of creative minds in animation, film, games, illustration, and visual effects.

Ready and steady.

 

This year’s speakers featured a prominent group of individuals in the design and entertainment industries namely:

• • AARON BLAISE – Co-Director of Brother Bear and supervising animator of Disney films
    such as Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and Aladdin
  • WOUTER TULP – World renowned animation character designer, illustrator, painter, and
    design mentor currently working at Sony Pictures Animation
  • JAMA JURABAEV – VR innovator, concept artist, illustrator, matte painter for movies
    and games. Currently at Lucasfilm Ltd.
  • JOE MATEO – Filipino American story artist for Disney movies and head of story for Big
    Hero 6.
  • ARMAND SERRANO – Filipino American visual development artist and production
    designer for animated movies and games. Some of his works include Zootopia, Big
    Hero 6, Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo And Stitch, Brother Bear, Surf’s Up, Cloudy With A Chance
    Of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, World of Warcraft.

Someone came along for the ride

Any opportunity to enrich and improve our craft is a welcome opportunity. And this is exactly the motivation on why Fizzbuzz jumped at the chance to send Ling, Debbie, Marvin, Kaye, and Ray-an to this year’s conference.

Fizzbuzz dream team with VR innovator and concept artist, Jama Jurabaev

 

Whee! Here we go!

 

Kaye lining up for the meet and greet

 

And how did it go for them? No one is better at telling that story than the dream team themselves:

“For a young creative professional like me, going to Icon Manila and meeting some experienced professionals in the industry was very inspiring. It kind of gives the exact same feeling you get when you’re a kid and your parents would let you buy all your favorite toys. That’s how it feels like! It was surreal and a dream come true!!!! The movies and characters they brought to life was the reason I had a great childhood. I was in awe the whole time listening to them. It feels like I was transported back to the theatre where I first saw the movies they created. I’m still Icon Manila hungover. I always wanted to attend Icon Manila but I just
never had to chance to because I had to choose between another art festival but now that I was able to attend Icon Manila, all I can say is It was all worth it! And I would definitely be coming back for the next Icon Manila. Kudos to all the Great Artists and never stop making art!”
-Kaye, 3D Generalist

 

Marvin tinkering with some nifty animation tools

 

Marvin meeting his hero, Armand Serrano

 

“At first I’m not really a type of guy who is a fan of Art Convention and Creative talk, since I believe I can get those in the internet and art books and I’m an introvert. One of the reason I was interested because of Armand Serrano, I am really fascinated on his work and the fact that he is also a Pinoy who works with big studios, it made me really proud. My experience in Icon Manila changed my point of view not just the new knowledge, tips, and inspiration but also the idea that you got to talk to other creative people who are in the same field of work. Also it is my first time to join a creative convention I realized it has an overwhelming feeling seeing these creative masters talking and answering all those questions personally. The event inspires to push my creativity, more! I want to make this a yearly event.”
-Marvin, Stop Motion Animator

 

Debbie with Woulter Tulp

 

“My experience at ICON Manila 2018 was nothing short of amazing. I learned so much in such a short span of time. Aaron Blaise taught us “photo bashing” and inspired us with his life experiences as “the animal guy” and how it all came full circle. How he persisted with his vision and his goals reassured me that I’m following the right path. Armand Serrano reminded us the importance of research in creating artworks and using references. Filipino story artist from Disney Joe Mateo gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the story development and storyboarding department at Disney Feature Animation studios. His comic works were great, too! Jama Jurabaev opened our eyes to the possibilities of Virtual Reality for artists and convinced me to try out a little bit of 3D which we can use as underdrawings. Wouter Tulp’s talk was the most educational and was a treasure trove of information. I really liked his character designs, his caricatures and his use of exaggeration and dynamic gestures. I got to ask a question which Armand and Wouter answered. When I met the speakers during the meet and greet, some of them remembered the question I asked. I got to thank them for sharing their wisdom and for taking their time to visit the Philippines even though the weather was having a mood.”
-Debbie, Stop Motion Animator

 

Ray-an the official paparazzi

 

Ling getting official merch signed by one of the event’s keynote speakers

 

Live 30-minute demo by Armand Serrano

 

Fizzbuzz represents at the Q&A

 

The ICON Manila 2018 experience brought so much insight and wealth of inspiration for Ling, Debbie, Marvin, Kaye, and Ray-an. They came home with a newfound fuel to their creative endeavours that they are eager to apply to their projects.

Working in an industry inundated with client requirements, projects, and deadlines, it is quite easy to get lost in all the hoopla and lose sight of that creative spark. Fizzbuzz recognizes this challenge and proactively works to balance the work demands with the human need for creative growth.

That being said, you’ll be seeing more of us in conferences and seminars — gleefully totting our pens and notebooks, with palpable excitement; ready to ignite and inspire creativity.

 

Bonus round: