|
I’ve known Phil for a very long time, but I must say that I really didn’t know ‘about’ him. Sure, he draws incredible images and he always has a smile and a kind word, and the description of ‘generous’ does not begin to cover it. Phil Mendez in a word, is, incredible.
Phil is the author, not the artist on a book that has sold over 2 million copies. He is the first Black Animator to be hired by Disney -he is also by the way the first Black animator to quit the company- He was the first artist/owner to pay residuals to writers from his first two television shows and he has worked on more films, television shows, specials etc., than almost any other designer out there. Like I said, Phil is incredible. I recently sat down with him to discuss his upcoming AOF Award - an award that will be named after him and given to artists working in the animation field by the AOF Festival- his work and his life...
Q: What is the highlight of your career?
A: Working for NBC and doing two television shows simultaneously, Kissyfur and Foofur. And working on, The Black Snowman and writing it in three days while locked in my room. I was steamed about something that had happened at a job and I decided not to let negative energy take over. I was going to turn a negative into a positive. It worked.
Q: What is the current state of animation for young artists?
A: Well it is very good right now as artists have access to the tools to create literally from their own homes. There are no limitations. The down side is that the executives out there are businessmen and not artists. Artists need freedom to create if you want new and better ideas and product.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m currently working on two new books, a secret feature film and a pre-school for television. I recently finished designing for a Disney project and a new feature called, ‘Secret of Thunder Pass’.
|
