Visiting Lecturer Bianca Ansems (notes)

Freelance animator, storyboard artist for amazing world of gumball.
Bianca is very flexible in her design and adjust to the brief accordingly. She talked about how flip flopping between what you want to do isn't necessarily bad because eventually adds up. The thing she loves about working in a studio is the factor of team work and on a team you achieve more than you would alone.
Bianca mentioned how sound design can help aid the story in so many ways as
She also talked about what isn't like coming from an unsupportive background. It was very inspiring to hear how she overcame the stigma of artists in her family being discouraged from art. She ran away from her home and sewed her parent when she was 18 then got into arts school. She failed her first year but her tutors supported her through it. She was very inspired by Disney and was motivated to reach that level. She strongly recommend to get into internships because it helped her understand how to work in a team and studio. Bianca emphasized the importance of sound design, she didn't understand the importance of it until she saw how sound design aids building a story as well as color. Color is not just a single selected color on photoshop, it's more lively if it is a mixture of other colors.
When being a freelancer it is important to be your own boss as well as an employee. Take care of your self negotiate good terms and be careful about set budgets because you end up working more than you should. "do good work (be consistent), be good to work with, and meet deadlines". Hire an accountant!! It will save you loads of money in the bottom line. Keep in mind that your dayrate is tax included. Don't take a free job, because exposure is not a payment.
Gumball-
It is a privilege to work with a director that can draw because it makes it a lot easier to communicate design ideas. Gumball was originally supposed to be 3d.
She showed us videos of the studio, writers and how story boards are pitched. The animatic is important because it has to already make a reaction when you show it to other people. It is important not to take yourself too seriously. Also it is important to bounce of each others feedback, it's never personal. Layout is like a door from pre  production to production. Animators work.on top of the layout.
She showed us loads of designs and animatics and told as loads about the animation pipeline.
She advised not to go out there looking how you can get something from someone. Talk to people you actually enjoy talking to, build relationships with people you like.
There is five factors to consider when taking a job:
Money
Satisfaction
Is it a good addition to the portfolio
If it's worth it (deadline/ money)

Never underestimate the deadline you can deliver, always give yourself more time. If the deadline is impossible don't take it.