Ingrid Clemeno

Modeling Supervisor, Sonic Prime, WildBrain/Netflix Age: 30

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta; moved to British Columbia about 10 years ago

School: Think Tank Training Center

First time I knew I wanted to work in animation: When I was little, I enjoyed watching behind-the-scenes of how animated movies were made, 2D and CG. I’ve always enjoyed video games and cartoons, but never really thought that I could make a career out of it. In Calgary, I went to university for biological science. While I was there, I just kept thinking about how cool it would be to work in animation. So, I applied to the Think Tank Training Center in BC, and the rest is history!

Favorite shows and movies growing up: Growing up, I watched a lot of anime like Sailor Moon and CardCaptors. I was also a really big fan of Studio Ghibli films, of course.

First job in animation: Modeling PA at Nerd Corps. I was given smaller props to start, like a party hat. Eventually the props led to building sets and bigger environments, like forests and cities.

What I love about my job: It’s fun; we get to make cartoons! I enjoy getting to work with all kinds of talented people and have made some really good friends. I know how much of an impact shows and movies made on me when I was younger. I remember when I first started, our team received some fan mail from kids saying how much they loved the show. I am very lucky to have a job that I am passionate about!

Biggest challenge: In production, things always come up. You have to be able to think outside the box and come up with different solutions.

Best career advice: Be your biggest advocate and to always keep challenging yourself.

Future plans: Modeling is where my heart is, and there’s still a lot for me to learn in CG. I’d like to deepen my knowledge of the different departments in the pipeline, and how each one works together to create an amazing show! Knowing what happens behind-thescenes can help you troubleshoot problems down the road. It makes you a better artist!