Arnold Arre's transition from Comics to Animation

Q: As an animator, how do you view comics today?

A: Comics is all about storytelling. Even film and animation, they’re all about storytelling. Comic books have become much more sophisticated since then – applying a lot of techniques - thousands of techniques. In fact, it tries to apply other media. For instance, photography.

Q: What is the most challenging part of being an artist?

A: The job of the comic book artist is really to create the illusion, the movement because you know, obviously, the job is to create action within space. As an artist, you need to create the illusion of an action.

Q: How did you change from one medium to another?

A: In fact, comic books helped my transition to animation. I had to relearn what comic books are, what made it work for me, what are the techniques that make comic books work.

Q: Which do you love more? Comics or animation?

A: Actually, I love them both. They’re different but both of them, they’re helping me hone my skills as a storyteller. Again, storytelling because I keep telling kids “You know, you may have the best animation or the best comic book, but without a really good story, that’s where it starts. You need to know how to tell a good story.”

Q: What is your message to all the aspiring artists and animators?

A: I keep telling young people that “Look, if I can do this on my own, imagine what you guys can do. You know, with the technology at your fingertips and the means and resources in front of you, here’s no more excuse if you really want to be an animator, you can do it right there. This is an exciting time to be an animator and artist.”

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The animator and graphic novel author Arnold Arre was one of the speakers on comics and animation during the 10th Animahenasyon held on November 22-24, 2016 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura, Taguig City.