Keith Tucker draws audience in for tales of animated fun
At Emerald Valley Comic Fest, Keith Tucker discussed his career in animation and how he became an artist. Tucker worked on cartoons ranging from The Transformers and G.I. Joe to Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain. He got his start doing animated effects for Conan the Barbarian but wanted to do something more. He apprentriced at Funimation doing storyboards for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
“I was one of the last people to get to do this,” says Tucker.
Filmation used a lot of repeat scenes so that they could keep the animation in the United States. The requirement was about 30% per show, which meant people kept their jobs but creativity was sacrificed. Tucker moved to Marvel to do storyboards. Marvel didn’t have to worry about reusing scenes.
Tucker worked with Disney on Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Ducktales and Tailspin. He also worked o Jem and the Holograms doing only the song sequences. However, Tucker found the place he was most comfortable when he started working with Warner Bros.
“Spielberg was like a hands-on producer,” says Tucker. “He wanted them (the cartoons) to appeal to adults and kids.”
Pinky and the Brain are his favorite characters.
“I like creating crazy situations,” says Tucker. “Cartooning is a hell of a lot of fun.”
“I was one of the last people to get to do this,” says Tucker.
Filmation used a lot of repeat scenes so that they could keep the animation in the United States. The requirement was about 30% per show, which meant people kept their jobs but creativity was sacrificed. Tucker moved to Marvel to do storyboards. Marvel didn’t have to worry about reusing scenes.
Tucker worked with Disney on Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Ducktales and Tailspin. He also worked o Jem and the Holograms doing only the song sequences. However, Tucker found the place he was most comfortable when he started working with Warner Bros.
“Spielberg was like a hands-on producer,” says Tucker. “He wanted them (the cartoons) to appeal to adults and kids.”
Pinky and the Brain are his favorite characters.
“I like creating crazy situations,” says Tucker. “Cartooning is a hell of a lot of fun.”