Joe Loftus, Animation Director
Joe Loftus is a filmmaker, writer and director with over nine years of experience in the Animation Industry. He has worked as an animator and director on shows for Disney, BBC, Hasbro and RTE. Although he is serious about creating personal stories and original, high-quality animation, he always works on a personal short film project. One of his recent short films, 'Girl and Robot', has played at many festivals and won worldwide awards. He is now working on his latest horror short, 'Still Up There'.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
It's very tough to pin one platform down as the favourite as they all have a specific appeal. I would mostly move between Twitter and Instagram, but LinkedIn is brilliant for connecting with other interested professionals.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I've worked in animation for the past nine years as an animator and director and I've always been making short films on the side. I love being part of a larger team and working together to create something that's a combined result of the passion of many. I think that's the big appeal of working professionally in animation, seeing the result on screen that isn't just the result of anyone person, it's the whole team that has their stamp on it.
I think the downside of any creative job that goes from nine to five is keeping that creative spark alive, and it's very difficult to maintain that alongside a regular schedule with all its demands. So, I have always been drawn to making my own stories on the side, completely detached from any studio system. This has been brilliant for keeping the artistic spark alive. It can be tough, though, as you are out on your own doing this project that may not work out, sometimes for over a year.
However, I have found that making these films has not only kept my skills sharp but also allowed me insight into all areas of animation production that I wouldn't otherwise experience. It has also opened the door to professional opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't have gotten. These professional opportunities levelled up my personal filmmaking, so the two went hand in hand.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love creating anything that can be imagined and then grounding it in a world that feels realistic and relatable to a viewer. That's the magic of animation. I love that animation frees a filmmaker from the limitations of the reality of filmmaking. All it takes, in my opinion, is time and effort and one person can make a film without cameras, sets, lighting etc.
You can do all this by drawing on paper or computers. You can also really focus on nailing the feel of sequences and action as you have control over each frame; this is a huge plus for animation as a film making medium.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I think the best advice probably isn't defined as advice, but more framing of what I was doing at the time. Before I started with animation, I was just dipping my toe into the art world in an art and design course after finishing school. I was working on a group project and really not knowing what I was doing, but every day I was there feeling around in the dark on this clay animation project.
The others in my group wouldn't always show up. One day, the lecturer came up to me and said something like, "you know, you aren't the most talented, and you're not the best draughts person, but you're here every day sticking with it, and that's how this project will get done". I think about that often. I guess it could be simplified into just keep going at what you are interested in every day, and you will find a way through.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Every so often in a film, book, or comic, you get to see a truly new perspective or new feeling, even a new way of saying something familiar. This always inspires me and leads me to aim for that same reaction in viewing some of my work. There's always a different point of view or perspective. And that means there's always a new story to experience and tell.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I'm proud of not letting too much negativity overtake me, I'm not positive every day or anything, but I'm proud of each day finding that spark to push forward into new projects and stories. It's very easy to numb out and not look around at why you are doing what you do, and I'm happy that I can now and again and still be happy with how it's going.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I prefer to meet people in person; it's always good to have face to face chats, so much can be lost in written conversations, so it's always better in person.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I'd say the dominant skill that's helped me is persistence. On long haul projects, it's easy to give up before you even start, when you can't even see a finish line, but when you do a little every day or even every week, you are at least one step closer than you were before.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
I suppose that everything would turn out alright; it would have saved a lot of unnecessary stressing about whether I was doing the right thing or being stupid. Just to go with the flow as opportunities arise and not worry so much about them.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Difficult to pin anyone down, but I would be a huge fan of both Satoshi Kon and Hayao Miyazaki, both Japanese anime directors. They really pushed at the edges of what animation can do and challenged the perception of animation as a lower art form or something just for kids. Of course, their films are amazing and hugely inspirational.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I really enjoy making comics; it's a great way to get ideas out visually, and also, it's a different challenge with a lot of animation overlap. So, one can help the other.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
While the pandemic has definitely been a tough time, it has opened some doors. Mostly in remote working. It freed up animation artists from living in cities or near the studios. It has allowed freedom in how they work. It shows that a lot of the process can work around the individual's lifestyle instead of the other way around. I think it allowed greater access to artists with other commitments, like family situations, too.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I've had a lot of people who I would consider mentors on my road through animation so far. So many animation leads and directors gave their time and patience and gave really candid advice at the right time in my career and life in general, so I try to do the same where I can.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Chance your arm! You don't need to be 100% confident in your ability when starting out, so don't wait until you are. Try to meet whoever is hiring face to face or drop them a personal message for advice. Show them you are willing to learn, and next time there is an opening, they may remember the enthusiastic person who messaged. Attitude is a huge part of getting hired, and there are loads of positions that allow you to train and upskill on the job. Keep trying.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
It's hard to say, really. I don't think people should fear failing anyway; it's definitely a huge part of 'success, but giving up could be caused by that feeling of looking too far ahead and thinking something is insurmountable, getting beat down by that and not giving it that little bit everyday approach.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
There's a line in the comedian Mike Birbiglia's special where he says, "You're right, but it's only hurting you" It's about not holding on to righteous anger if it's taking more than you get back. I think of that often.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I would take huge inspiration from a lot of smaller studios and creatives here in Ireland and across the world who are out there trying to push their creative visions and stories out into the world.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
I wouldn't try to define success for anybody else as it's difficult to not be bombarded by how you should feel, act and what you should define as success. I think each person is different, and when they listen to their own internal voice, they know what success means to them. For me, success is a pursuit of something, constantly making and creating; there's no real end goal or sense of final success for me, just the knowledge that I'm aiming towards a good story.