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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