Getting to Know-made: Dan White, Animator
Dan White
ANIMATOR
Glowmade Towers is home to a team of talented and passionate creators, and support staff. Their creativity and talent bubbles over into our games and studio culture daily, and - frankly - we all benefit from it!
Our small (but mighty!) Team! contains some of the very nicest people in the games industry, the type you’d just love to introduce to your Grandma for Sunday lunch… she digs games, right? Right - who doesn’t?! One such Glowbug is our very own Dan White - Animator, Flapper of in-game apendages, Father of Puddle Jumpers…
If you’re looking to join our friendly little hive of Glowbugs, then great news all round! Because we’re hiring!
So Dan, please tell me, what exactly does your role involve?
I'm an animator so, asides from flapping the arms and legs around on a character, our aim is to inject personality and humour and breathe life into everything that moves in the game.
The day-to-dayness of usually involves taking a digital character and animating them walking, jumping, idling (blowing their nose etc) which will be used by the programmers to form a library of movements that can be triggered in game.
Quite possibly the single most quotable statement ever told in the history of internetdom, Dan.
How would your nearest and dearest describe your job?
Doing 'art on computers' would cover it.
Consider it covered! Your job title in seven words or less - GO!
Animate fun things in the coolest way.
“Animate fun things in the coolest way.”
How did you get to THIS point in your career and what inspired you to jump into the exciting world of vidya games?
Having decided from an early age that I wanted to persue animation (born from a near obsession with the works of Aardman Animations) I chose to study graphic design, sculpture and film studies at colleges. Around this time I began to feel the lure of computer animation, a passion which solidified and led to a degree in computer animation and resulted in my first industry games job. Having since gone from games to VFX and back again, I'm delighted to have found myself at Glowmade.
YEAH MAN! Team high five! ✋✨
I remember mine like it was yesterday :’) but can you tell me about that very moment that got you to pursue a career within the games industry?
My first animation job was in a Bristol games studio after being recommended by a friend of mine from my university days. My jaw hit the floor upon seeing a shiny studio full of diligent developers getting paid to animate, play games and consume pizza and curry into all hours of the night. I was hooked and have not looked back.
It’s definitely a gamer’s dream Job! 😍 So when you aren’t hard at work in the studio what do you love doing outside of everything video games?
When I manage to escape the luminescent clutches of my PC, I love taking my children for walks and splashing in the puddles with them. I like running and attempting to keep fit and generally enjoy losing myself in the countryside.
Oh, and I've penchant for good steak/red wine and fine sushi/white wine.
…..Mm? Pardon?…Sorry, all I heard was ‘DINNER AT DAN’S!’
What would you say inspires you the most?
If we're talking animation, those who's provide solutions that are curved. They've not simply leapt from A to B, but have sprinkled something special into the mix.
If we're talking people, kind, caring and dedicated people who don't take themselves too seriously will always win me over.
Fortunately you work with just the very team who ticks ALL of those boxes. You’re PERFECT for Glowmade, Dan!
If I gave you the opportunity to tell our dear readers what you think is your super power is, what would it be?
I've sticking power. I will try, try and try again.
I think it’s in our staff handbook that our Glowbugs need to be sticky kind, the good ‘sticky’ though. Super Poignant! :’)
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
Cliché time, but it's the people that make Glowmade, Glowmade! Everyone is a talented and modest in equal measure. They all want to do a good job and we're given enough encouragement and independence to own what we do. It's a very special place indeed.
What do you want from your career? What goals are you looking forward to vaulting past?
Animation is never easy, we're always chasing the best way to achieve our objective. There are multiple ways to approach any given task. The execution is important, but it's the ideas behind it that make or break your work. My goal, to continue learning how to distil a good idea down to it's most readable parts.
If you could have been involved in the development of ANY game, which would it be?
Lucas Art's Grim Fandango. A true classic.
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Own your passion, whether it's design, coding or art. Understand what drives you and get's you up in the morning. The sooner you can start whittling down those 10,000 hours of practice, the better.
“Cliché time, but it’s the people that make Glowmade, Glowmade! Everyone is talented and modest in equal measure.”
In your opinion, who is the keeper of the cutest pet? (photos/drawings encouraged!)
Mike Greens dog Fry. He's better behaved than most children (and their parents) I've encountered.
Who on the team is most likely to make a mess in the office?
At Glowmade we pride ourselves on ALL contributing towards the collective office mess.
A very diplomatic answer Dan. :)
Who on the team inspires you the most? (don't worry, I won't tell them... honest! ;) )
Adam Sibbick has a particularly inspirational mind which constantly thinks outside of it's brain box. It's a marvel to behold.
Who's the first to make a round of tea?
The gentleman Mike Ducker.
The man, the myth, the legend! Duckers is indeed, an absolute gent. :’)
There's one biscuit left in the tin and you're all eyeing it up... what is it?
Oi, that's my jammy dodger - cos I licked it.
Take heed, never mess with Dan’s dodgy Dodgers!
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life (let's hope it never comes to that), what would it be?
Chess of course.
What game are you most looking forward to?
Whatever Ori is up to next.
What's your personal motto?
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
What's the last thing you ate?
Probably hummus.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
My left arm is an inch or two shorter than my right arm. Sadly it broke and it's repair was a little bit of a bodge.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Stinky French cheese and port.
Gloriously sophisticated as far as guilty pleasures go! I approve…Beats binging Squid Game for nine solid hours, covered in crisps, I mean, who’d do that?! *nervous chortling*
Well there you have it! Thanks for sharing this Dan, 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!
