Find Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pullyblank/
Learn 3D Animation: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/3d-animator
Maxine interviews Mark Pullyblank, Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, to talk about his midlife career switch into animation from an entirely different industry — live music. Mark tells us how he went from starting a new career in animation in his mid-30s with two young kids and zero income to getting headhunted to work on Avatar. He and Maxine discuss why your attitude matters so much, how failures lead to success, and the importance of falling in love with the process. This episode is not to be missed!
Mark Pullyblank spent much of the nineties working as a musician before beginning his animation career. He has been an Animation Supervisor at Rainmaker Digital and Frantic Films, a Senior Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks, and worked in various departments at Wētā FX. His film credits include Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, The Smurfs, Night at the Museum, and many others. Mark is currently the Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, co-founder of Theia Interactive, Director of Non-Stop Motion Virtual Productions, a Lecturer at a Californian university, and undertakes freelance and consulting work at film and game studios.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/animation-career-change-mark-pullybank
00:00 Intro
01:22 Mark’s background and switching into an entirely new career in animation
04:00 Why starting a new career was a hard sell
06:45 Doing things you’re bad at
10:14 Mark’s experience of going back to school as an animator at 33 with two kids and zero income
12:15 Closing the gap between beginner and skilled through practice
15:44 Falling in love with the process, and the work over the fantasy
20:28 The importance of stories and creating art
22:10 Equal enthusiasm for projects, from Dr. Doolittle 3 to Avatar
25:50 Mark’s mindfulness trick
28:30 Learning how to lose: how failure leads to success
34:38 Focus on the things you have control over
40:48 Building toward responsibility
44:02 Impostor Syndrome and setting healthy boundaries
51:50 What to do on your first day in a studio
56:50 How Mark was invited to work on Avatar
57:45 Where to find Mark
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Mark:
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/pullyblank/
📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1603840/
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First
Tell me how to animate a growing small tree to growing big tree in 3D animation??, 😎
ahhh Marky Marky Marky , this is a hour long but what about the uncut version lol , amazing tips like always , i am lucky enough to have mark as my mentor and has taught me so much and keeps me moving in the right direction while having fun in our Q&As 😁 , its always nice to hear about later careers changes i started mine in my 30s with family and kids too, very scary but amazing too
Thank you so much for the talk. Very useful and very motivated! I am on the same boat. I am 35 and I am about to land my first ever intern position in this industry.
Thank you so much for this talk, I was layed off in June from my mobile game company and I'm eyeing going into cartoons despite the lower pay because I feel like having a change. Mark's attitude and philosophy helps a lot, I'm nervous since I havent done traditional since I graduated 7 years ago but I'll prepare and apply!
This was such a great listen. I am a 33 year old in the midst of shifting careers towards art and 2D animation. Really appreciated hearing Marks outlook, attitude and perspective on life and work ethic! I look forward to the day I take some courses at CG spectrum. Thanks again for this podcast interview.
this is such a good talk for all type of artists <3 is never too late