I was visiting Disney World Florida, with my family when I was a kid. It was my first time in America and the first time being that close to an animation studio. They had a fully operational animation studio in Florida back then and you could take the tour from Disney World as if it was part of the park. It was a major draw for me, and I was pretty excited. My parents were being very supportive in taking the family in the first place. I’d long ago stopped taking family holidays with them in order to focus on making my own films instead. But I wasn’t going to miss this one (they were very cunning).
During the tour you end up in a room with one of the experienced 2D animators at his drawing desk talking to the crowd and showing them what he does. We watched his demonstration. My parents, not knowing anything about the process of getting work in the industry, encouraged me to walk up to him and ask him if I could show him my portfolio and ask about a job. I (kind of) knew that it wasn’t the way to do it, but after years of studying animation this was as close as I’d gotten to the dream and it seemed dumb not to at least try. He was clearly put on the spot but he was very nice about it and told me that in the next room there were ladies I could talk to that would help me. I thanked him and we moved with the crowd into the next part of the tour. The next room was the gift shop! Naturally the sales assistants hadn’t a clue what to do with me. Well played mystery animator! Well played.
