Exclusive: Spire Animation Studios has hired a pair of Pixar alums for key roles, with Ricky Nierva joining as Production Designer and Michal Makarewicz now serving as Head of Character Animation.
In their time at Spire, Nierva and Makarewicz will work closely with Creative Directors, Animation and Story Shawn Krause and Michael Surrey, Creative Directors of Development, Ted Mathot and Karen Disher, story artist Sharon Bridgeman and co-founder and Cco Brad Lewis, first turning their attention to the studio’s first animated feature Trouble that it’s developing with Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures, as previously announced.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Ricky and Michal,” said Lewis and co-founder P.J. Gunsagar in a joint statement. “Both bring a wealth of creative experience from working at Pixar on many of the studio’s most beloved movies.
In their time at Spire, Nierva and Makarewicz will work closely with Creative Directors, Animation and Story Shawn Krause and Michael Surrey, Creative Directors of Development, Ted Mathot and Karen Disher, story artist Sharon Bridgeman and co-founder and Cco Brad Lewis, first turning their attention to the studio’s first animated feature Trouble that it’s developing with Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures, as previously announced.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Ricky and Michal,” said Lewis and co-founder P.J. Gunsagar in a joint statement. “Both bring a wealth of creative experience from working at Pixar on many of the studio’s most beloved movies.
- 2/24/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Spire Animation Studios, the newly formed feature animation studio co-founded by award-winning producer Brad Lewis (“Ratatouille”) and industry entrepreneur P.J. Gunsagar has tapped animation pioneers from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks and Blue Sky Studios to join its team.
Among the creative team are Shawn Krause, Creative Director of Animation and Story, Michael Surrey, Creative Director, Story and Animation, Ted Mathot, Creative Director of Development and Karen Disher, Creative Director of Development.
Lewis said, “We have been trying to get a team together from a variety of places where I’ve worked with to do something creatively special.” He adds, “What gets me up in the morning is ‘let’s do something with a team that is really enthusiastic and behind it.’”
Spire Animation hopes to spearhead original and culturally relevant stories that resonate with audiences worldwide, rather than offer reboots. For Lewis, that means partnering with both best-in-class talent and emerging creatives to tell those stories.
Among the creative team are Shawn Krause, Creative Director of Animation and Story, Michael Surrey, Creative Director, Story and Animation, Ted Mathot, Creative Director of Development and Karen Disher, Creative Director of Development.
Lewis said, “We have been trying to get a team together from a variety of places where I’ve worked with to do something creatively special.” He adds, “What gets me up in the morning is ‘let’s do something with a team that is really enthusiastic and behind it.’”
Spire Animation hopes to spearhead original and culturally relevant stories that resonate with audiences worldwide, rather than offer reboots. For Lewis, that means partnering with both best-in-class talent and emerging creatives to tell those stories.
- 8/23/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Recently DaniElle DeLaite traveled to Emeryville in California to Pixar, to talk with the storytelling geniuses behind the likes of Toy Story, Up, Finding Nemo (& Dory), Cars, Inside Out and, of course, The Incredibles. To celebrate the launch of The Incredible 2 on Blu-ray and DVD we talked with Auntie Edna short film director Ted Mathot and producer Marc Sondheimer.
They talk about why Edna Mode is everyone’s favourite Incredibles character,how the tough, smart and funny character provides a sharp contrast to the superheroes she deals with. We also try and find out who Edna Mode is based on (there’s probably a little bit of Edith Head in there). And could we see an Edna Mode prequel film? The filmmakers aren’t saying, but given that we see Edna far more in this film the question is now out there and there’s a lot more to explore.
They talk about why Edna Mode is everyone’s favourite Incredibles character,how the tough, smart and funny character provides a sharp contrast to the superheroes she deals with. We also try and find out who Edna Mode is based on (there’s probably a little bit of Edith Head in there). And could we see an Edna Mode prequel film? The filmmakers aren’t saying, but given that we see Edna far more in this film the question is now out there and there’s a lot more to explore.
- 11/14/2018
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Early on in in Brad Bird’s “Incredibles 2,” Holly Hunter’s Helen/Elastigirl must stop a runaway train on her new Elasticycle. Through her unique abilities — stretching, catapulting, somersaulting, and splitting — with the cycle aiding as an extension of her form and function, she saves the train and its passengers. It’s a thrilling set piece that both establishes the need for the Supers to be reinstated as the protectors of Municiberg and elevates Helen/Elastigirl as the protagonist, with husband Bob/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) as a stay-at-home dad.
Read More: Incredibles 2’ Sneak Peek: Brad Bird Remains Ahead of the Superhero Curve with his Pixar Sequel
Balancing the Super and the Mundane
“Helen proves her case by somersaulting over the police cars and getting on the case,” said Ted Mathot, story supervisor, during a recent sequence breakdown at Pixar’s Emeryville campus. “What makes ‘The Incredibles...
Read More: Incredibles 2’ Sneak Peek: Brad Bird Remains Ahead of the Superhero Curve with his Pixar Sequel
Balancing the Super and the Mundane
“Helen proves her case by somersaulting over the police cars and getting on the case,” said Ted Mathot, story supervisor, during a recent sequence breakdown at Pixar’s Emeryville campus. “What makes ‘The Incredibles...
- 5/31/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Tired of watching the Hollywood machine engulf the San Diego Comic-Con, two Pixar artists have taken matters into their own hands and opened Trickster, an enclave for comic book fans, right across the street from the convention center.
Whatever you do, don't call them Slamdance for Comic-Con.
After years of watching the Hollywood machine slowly engulf the San Diego Comic-Con, Pixar story artists Scott Morse and Ted Mathot this year have staked out a creators' enclave across the street from the convention center.
Trickster is a combination bar/store/gallery/symposia happening through Sunday at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, offering creator-owned products and a hangout for fans to more intimately engage with comic writers and artists about their craft.
"People created Slamdance because they couldn't get into Sundance," says Morse, also an Eisner-winning graphic novelist currently promoting Crime & Terror, published through his imprint, Red Window. "We're very much a part of Comic-Con.
Whatever you do, don't call them Slamdance for Comic-Con.
After years of watching the Hollywood machine slowly engulf the San Diego Comic-Con, Pixar story artists Scott Morse and Ted Mathot this year have staked out a creators' enclave across the street from the convention center.
Trickster is a combination bar/store/gallery/symposia happening through Sunday at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, offering creator-owned products and a hangout for fans to more intimately engage with comic writers and artists about their craft.
"People created Slamdance because they couldn't get into Sundance," says Morse, also an Eisner-winning graphic novelist currently promoting Crime & Terror, published through his imprint, Red Window. "We're very much a part of Comic-Con.
- 7/21/2011
- by Susan Karlin
- Fast Company
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