Duncan Studio

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Inside Duncan Studio

1- Visual Development Artist Alger Tam did some great design work on the LOW feature film 2019-2020

2- Production Designer Pablo Carpio came over from Spain to work with us on the LOW film(unreleased), in 2019.
Spain began experiencing the severe effects of Covid so Pablo headed back to be with his family. Like everyone else he would ultimately work remotely. His paintings are fantastic!

3- Layout Supervisor Lorenzo Martinez quietly working away.

4- "Next Gen" Production Designer and ultimately the film's Director having one of those days. Another wacky Canadian. 🍁

5-Story Artist David Boudreau entertaining us with his custom made "Fozzie Bear" muppet. Yet another Canadian. 🍁

6- Animator and buddy Shane Zalvin timing out his scene, for a Coke commercial I think.
Oh, yeah, another Canadian. 😬🍁

7- CG Animator Mike Ryan had some fun with this gag, while working on "Minion Mayhem". 2012

7- Programmer Joe Majer working away in our original studio location. 2008

8- Our first coordinator Justin Horvath putting together disks, during the first year of our studio. circa 2007.

10- The studio just gearing up for Poppins. 2017

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Inside Duncan Studio
#3

1-Chris Sauvé, Animation Supervisor, story artist, designer, director, he does it all. Chris has been with the studio for its 16 years, and at the previous studio I'd set up. We met at Disney in Pocahontas... he was also a Supervising animator on The Iron Giant, Ren and Stumpy(first seasons), etc.

2-Ray Morales dressed as Georgie...(Halloween).
Ray has been part of the Production Management team on and off for 11 years.!

3- Digital Supervisor Jason Stovall has been with the studio for most of the past 3 years. He is key in achieving the look of any project, while designing the digit pipelines needed.

4- After Effects Compositors; Ami Goff in focus, and Jeffrey Shroyer looking at camera.
During "Poppins".

5- Layout Artist Evgeni Tomov, during "Poppins". Evgeni was the art director for "Triplets of Belleville". Super talented.

6-Amazing animator Matt Williames working on "Poppins". His draftsmanship, timing and acting are impeccable.

7-AE Compositing Supe Nick DeMartino giving notes during "Poppins".

8-My office; 2017.
The 1947 desk was designed by Raymond Loewy, who also designed streamlined trains, Apollo space suites, the Avanti car, etc. One of the most prolific industrial designers in the U.S.(born in France)

9-CG Animator Mike Ryan during our work on "Nut Job" or "Nut Job 2". We animated several sequences, about 25 minutes of NJ2.
Mikes work is always entertaining!

10-"Happy Birthday" Duncan Studio🎉

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Inside Duncan Studio
The first year
2007-2008

After helping set up the Reelfx studio in Pasadena, I went off and started my little studio.
Our first project was the film "9". Producer Jinko Gotoh brought it to the studio.
We housed the director, producer, editors, story artists and art director while the film was being boarded/edited.
The production would later move to Canada (Arc Studio) while we animated a few sequences.

1- Our 1st anniversary lunch, May 2008. (Not full crew here).
I was fortunate that former Disney production person Sue Blanchard(now a designer) joined the studio at the start. She recommended finance person Delia Fance (far right, leather coat), Producer Lisa Poole and others.
In order from left to right;
-Jason Horvath; coordinator
-Ken Brain; digital/tech supervisor
-Chris Sauve; creative supervisor(anim/story/design)
-Me (heavy)
-Oskar Urretabizkaia; character supervisor
-Joe Majer; TD/tools, pipeline
-Drew Edwards; animator
-Sue Blanchard; coordinator, overall support
-Lisa Poole; Producer
-Juliet Duncan (at Disney)
-Aaron Kirby; Animator
-Delia Fance; Finance

2- For the first location the studio was the full top floor of this building; the 9th floor.

3-This was the view from my office, a mountain view. The conference room had a similar view.

4- "9" Editor Nick Kenway and assistant.

5-Animator's Chris Sauve, and Drew Adams

6-With the bulk of the film moving to Canada at some point, Jeff Bell from Arc, came down and worked with Ken Brain to go over the pipeline(we'd be animating sequences too).

7- A story meeting. Director Shane Acker at right with glasses.

8- Story artist Jamie Oliff showing work to Shane Acker.

9-Art Director Christophe Vacher.

10- Producer Jinko Gotoh always making calls.

The film "9", on the 9th floor, released in 2009!