
Joshua Taback is a veteran Director, Animator, and Character Layout Artist. He worked for many years on The Simpsons television show, as well as Family Guy. Josh was also a Director on Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja for Disney. Currently he is directing for Dreamworks TV on Spirit. He began seriously drawing at the age of 13 taking classes at the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Art and went on to receive a BFA in Animation/Film from University of the Arts. His thesis film “It’s a Wanderful Life” helped him win the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences internship and 2nd place in the student Emmy awards.
We start off with Carlos’ woes with his new Wacom. We discuss the technology, updates, drivers and competitors. What is going on? Have you noticed a decline? We find out what technology actually does and doesn’t do to help the industry and artists on a larger scale.

Josh talks about how he got his start in a career path search to merge his love of drawing and his dream to become an actor. After doing his first animation and realizing that he can not only direct motion, act through his drawings but also just draw he went to art school. He landed an apprenticeship and before he knew it was working on The Simpsons at Film Roman.
“You know you have discovered your talent when you get energized from doing it, rather than getting worn out. ” -Josh Taback on teaching and mentoring
After working as everything from character layout, revisionist, assistant directing and now directing. Josh has found an additional new passion for education and mentoring. He teaches art techniques, drawing, animation and skills on his webpage and blog but he also now mentors individuals and finds that he gets very energized from mentoring and teaching.
We talk about how great information and education is now and how readily available it is. Josh shares his favorite teachers and artists and what makes a good mentor.

“If the right people with the right project keep asking, I’ll keep saying yes. ” -Josh Taback on career switching
We jump back to technology and talk about how technology harshly diverged and opened up new ideas, tools and shortcuts as compared to traditional mediums. But then again, it almost appears that many aspects of technology are now coming full circle and emulating traditional motion and devices. Will computer technology find a singularity and merge with physical human motions and methodology?
Mentioned Show Links:
Aaron Blaze Tutorials: https://creatureartteacher.com/
Claire Wendling http://clairewendlingblog.tumblr.com/archive
AMB Animation Academy: https://www.youtube.com/user/eubasaban
Pascal Blanche: https://www.artstation.com/artist/pascalblanche
Artist Spotlight
Chris Georgenes: http://keyframer.com/
TB Choi https://www.artstation.com/artist/tbchoi
Joshua Taback – http://joshuataback.com/ Twitter: @joshtbck
Sketch Zone – http://www.sketch.zone Twitter: @SketchZone
Carlos R. Gomez – http://www.carlosrgomez.com Twitter: @CoconutJustice
Jack Kasprzak – http://www.sketchbookjack.com/ Twitter: @SketchbookJack
Charlie B. Williams III – http://www.cargocollective.com/charliebwilliams Twitter: @CBW3
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