Getting to Know-made: Tim Meredith, Senior Animator
Glowmade Towers (which during lockdown has become more of a feeling than a place) is home to a team of talented and passionate creators, and support staff. Their creativity and care bubbles over into our games and studio culture daily, and - frankly - we all benefit from it!
It’s always fascinating to understand what makes people tick, and today’s Getting To Knowmade (do you get it?) is with Tim Meredith: Animator, Rigger, self proclaimed owner of Glowmade’s cutest pet…
Tim Meredith
Senior Animator
What's your role at Glowmade?
Senior Animator - I design, create and curate the character pipeline from rigging all the way through animation to exporting in the game and wrangling behavioural logic in the blendgraph.
How would your mum/dad describe your job?
Something with computers
Your job title in your own words?
Animator & Rigger
How did you get to THIS point in your career?
Trained and worked as a modelmaker - never did a degree - entirely self taught with CGI - got into new media design and kind of fell into character animation (also self taught) - took a job with a game studio in Vienna and stayed for 8 years - returned to the UK and joined 22Cans at the start of its life - after a few years I left to freelance for a while - decided to get back into studio work - joined Glowmade!
Woah, hang on!.....Self taught CGI?....AND Animation!? Are you some kind of wizard? Suspicious eyes
Describe the moment that got you to pursue a career within the games industry.
It was less about the games industry and more that I really wanted to animate stuff...VFX back then strictly required previous VFX/feature experience and a degree (neither of which I possessed) - games seemed to be the most open route and industry. Plus, I quite fancied living in Vienna for a while.
I knew it! Wizardry confirmed.
“I really wanted to animate stuff.”
Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.
Animating all the time - learning new things - finding joy in being wrong (aka learning new things about old things)
Who or what inspires you?
People who love a thing so much they can bring out passion in others for their own interests.
If there’s one thing I and the rest of the Glowmade team love, it’s things. A vast array of things at that, if our morning wave is anything to go by!
Loving yourself is cool. Share something you appreciate about yourself.
My energetic and childlike (possibly infantile) enthusiasm for all things visual.
“(I have an) energetic and childlike enthusiasm for all things visual.”
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
Everyone is enthused about games and the work they do. Because it's not "demanded" of them everyone gives more - simply because they want to. These are the kind of people I work for/with.
What do you want from your career?
Lead Animator/Anim Director somewhere - really shaping the personality, style and process of the character pipeline from the get-go.
If you could have been involved in the development of ANY game, which would it be?
Blade Runner (1997, Westwood Studios)
Our very own Tim, working on an 80’s-themed noir detective vs' androids game, plus Maggie the dog; we are totally on board with this idea too!
In your opinion, who is the keeper of the cutest Glowmade pet?
Me.
If you think you can drop a statement like that without proof, Tim, you better think again! Good job I’m a qualified stalk… I mean social media professional!
can confirm…
…That’s a cute pooch! (but… endulge me… what if Tim is really an animagus, using his wizardry skills yet again to transfigure?! either way, definitely adorable!)
Who on the team is most likely to make a mess in the office?
The mice.
I mean… if that isn’t a topic for the studio twitter, I don’t know what is!
Who on the team inspires you the most? (don't worry, I won't tell them... honest! ;) )
Sibbick.
I LIED! (Adam ) Sibbick (Lead Artist and Glowmade Co-Founder) probably knows exactly how you feel about him now, but I’ll add +1 to your pick. In solidarity. Because I heart Sibbick.
There's one biscuit left in the collective tin and you're all eyeing it up... what is it?
If I'm eyeing then it's a ginger nut. If anyone else is eyeing then it's probably one of those diabolical cardboard marmite things.
What's your personal motto?
"What would Ridley do?"
As long as you don’t count Prometheus… OK fine, Prometheus 2… themed decisions, you should be golden! #burn
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I'm really quite old...
What's your guilty pleasure?
...I’m old enough to not feel guilt for the things I love.
YES TIM!
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Interviews are a 2-way street. It should be as much about whether they're a good fit for you as whether you're a good fit for them.
Try to put the notion of prestige out of the equation - playing the game you love to play is not the same as working on it.
Have an idea about the kind of folk you want to be around and the culture you want to be in - be receptive to it when you walk through the front door.
Well there you have it! Thanks for sharing this Tim, we know you’re a very busy guy and it’s very much appreciated! - And don’t forget WE ARE HIRING! We want to hear from you, even if you don’t see a role listed on our website that fits your skills - get in contact! And show us your adorable pets whilst you’re at it!