Interview with 2D Artist Jed Summers
INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY RACHELLE SUMMERS, 2023 ET EDITOR.
What was your degree at Flinders Uni, what year did you graduate, and why did you choose to study it?
I studied the Bachelor of Creative Arts Digital Media degree (now called VEED). I started my degree in 2017 and I did my last year and a half part time finishing in 2021. After spending a few years freelancing in the live action film industry as a videographer and camera operator/assistant I decided that it wasn’t the right fit for me. I’d always loved drawing and 2D animation was something I had always wanted to learn. When I made the decision to study animation, Flinders had just paired up with the art school CDW so for me that sealed the deal that this was the degree I needed to study.
What do you do now?
I’m working full time as a 2D Animator at a studio in Adelaide.
So far, what do you think have been your greatest achievement/s since completing your degree?
It had been a bucket list goal of mine to work for Disney in some capacity and I was fortunate enough to get to work as an animator on the series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur for Disney TVA. Also the first time I saw gifs and memes made by fans from scenes that I had worked on made me super happy.
If there is anything— what would you do differently after just completing your degree and trying to find a job in your area of study?
I was in the fortunate position where I gained full-time employment as a junior Animator midway through the second year of my degree. When I was offered this job I remember struggling to decide if I should accept the offer or to complete my studies first, wondering if I was ready or not. I’m so grateful to have had the support of my course coordinators, Shane Bevin and Katie Cavanagh, who encouraged me to accept the job as opportunities like this are quite rare in the animation industry. In hindsight I’m glad I decided to accept the job and delay my studies because it gave me my start in the industry and is the reason I’ve had consistent work ever since.
What do you like most about what you do?
I remember as a kid watching movies like The Lion King or The Little Mermaid, knowing that the characters were just drawings done by hand, but not understanding how they were moving and so full of life. It felt like some kind of magic to me. Being able to do this now, I still get a buzz when I hit play on my animation timeline and see my drawings come to life and give a performance that feels genuine and natural.
What advice do you have for students who are just starting their degree at Flinders?
This advice probably applies mostly to those who are studying in the creative field but don’t underestimate how long things can take. For example a piece of artwork, animation or video. Whatever it is, go at your own pace but know that it’s going to require a lot of time and effort and be okay with that.
In most creative industries there isn’t one set path that will get you a job and every professional will have a different story about how they got to where they are, so it isn’t helpful to compare yourself to others. Be patient, work hard and make the right connections.
What’s next for you?
It’s always been my goal of mine to work on a feature length 2D animated film so I’d love to be able to do that one day.
On this page are some awesome stills that Jed has worked on!
Lego Monkie Kid can be seen on Binge, and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur can be seen on Disney+
EDITORIAL NOTE: This article has been reuploaded and was originally published in 2023.