Animated film artist to speak at SAU in March
MAGNOLIA, Ark.—Story artist Mark Walton, who has worked on more than 27 animated films, will share insights from his career at 7 p.m. Monday, March 11 at Southern Arkansas University’s Reynolds Center Foundation Hall.
Being socially awkward and no good at sports as a child, Walton spent many hours inside, alone, drawing and watching cartoons on TV, where he wouldn’t have to deal with other children or get hurt. He attended Utah State University, where he did a comic strip for the school newspaper with his brother, Paul, and earned a bachelor of science degree. On a lark, he submitted some drawings to the Disney Studios. He ended up working for 12 different studios, including Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Blue Sky Studios and Warner Animation Group. Those films include “Tarzan,” “Home on the Range,” “Chicken Little,” “Meet the Robinsons,” “Duck Duck Goose,” “NextGen” and the upcoming “Playmobil Movie” and “Animal League.” He has taught basic drawing, storyboarding, gesture drawing and color & design theory at Cal Arts, Academy of Art, Westwood and Utah Valley University and is currently teaching at CGMA. He also has been the voice of a few animated characters, including Rhino the Hamster in Disney’s “Bolt.”
Walton lives and works from home, not far from where he grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. He still spends many hours inside, alone, drawing, occasionally watching cartoons, but he receives frequent visits from his wife, daughter, along with his cat and dog.
The presentation is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by SAU’s Department of Art and Design.