{allcanada} Canadian animates 'Megamind'

 

Whether you're an egomaniacal supervillain or a lowly artist, enjoy your work.

This from Rani Naamani, the Canadian-Lebanese animator whose latest credit is the 3D comedy Megamind.

"My hobby became my job," he says from an office in San Francisco. "I wasn't the greatest math student, but I always loved the arts -- whether music or drawing."

Naamani, 26, was born in Lebanon and moved to Calgary when he was a child. After high school, he attended Vancouver film school, which led to a gig at that city's pioneering animation house Mainframe Entertainment. In 2006, he was hired by Hollywood giant DreamWorks Animation. So far he's worked on Shrek the Third, Madagascar 2 and two Monsters vs. Aliens shorts. On Megamind, he served as the lead character supervisor of Minion (David Cross), the fish-gorilla henchman of blue-skinned fiend Megamind (Will Ferrell). It was his job to ensure Minion's personality and movements were consistent from scene to scene as they were drawn.

What he didn't do, however, was collaborate directly with Cross. "That would've been awesome," he admits.

Still, few would argue things aren't already fairly awesome for Naamani.

And he says Canadians interested in pursuing a similar career path are "in luck. There are countries where animator equals graphic designer. But living in Canada is a blessing. There are tons of schools, now more than ever."

An indication, at the very least, of how the industry continues to grow as it adapts to technological advances -- from CG to Hollywood's shiny new toy, 3D.

All of which are fine and good, Naamani adds, as long as they service the storytelling.

His opinion of 3D, for example, is realistic.

"It adds an extra level of detail so the audience is maybe more invested in the story. But I don't think it makes or breaks a story. A good story will make you laugh and cry -- 3D glasses won't make you laugh and cry."

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