How long have you been working with computer animation for? Why did you choose this area over traditional animation or stop motion?
I've been in computer animation for a bit over 8 years. Why CG? Well, I love to draw and I love 2d animation and stop-motion. After seeing ToyStory, however, I was so ... enveloped in the whole world. It just grabbed me and I had to do this.

Did you study animation and if yes, where and how long for?
Yes and no. Not at university. I went to school for illustration because at the time I didn't know you could actually make a living as an animator. It was before CG. But I got the Illusion of Life the year it came out as a 9 year old for Christmas. From then on I "studied" animation all the time.

Do you reckon there is a maximum age to start a career in animation?
I think that's all in your head. If you want to do it, and you have the passion to learn, there's nothing holding you back. Certainly not your age.

What is your advice to a young animator who wants to gain experience; which kind of tests would you recommend for their animations?
Don't skip the bouncing ball. Everyone wants to jump ahead. My industry is filled with people trying to get jobs that don't know their foundations and submit acting tests on their reel. Work thru the basics, take it all in order. No one is talented enough to skip these steps.

What do you think the general public notices in your work and what are the efforts on your side they don't even realize you have done?
I communicate and perform for them, but I really don't animate for them. I animate for myself and my peers at work and other companies. I am driven to create the performance. Not just to entertain. I think that drives you to constantly improve.

What's your approach to a new animation, where do you start from. what do you do when you're stuck (if ever)?
Animation is planning. I work out everything I can first. Get the best idea I'm capable of. Thumbnail it out on paper, try to come up with alternate ideas, shoot or get video reference. Your work will live or die in the planning.

I'm stuck on every animation I do. Struggling over every decision. I think if you don't get stuck, you are probably just working in a comfortable area, making clichéd decisions.

Which kind of setup do you like better for your characters: scripts for automatic movements or generic riggings - slower to animate, but more controlled?
I like very "vanilla" rigs. Mostly FK, excepting of course, the arms and legs. I went through a stage where I wanted bells and whistles and IK spines, but in the end, I get better results with simple rigs. I'd love the rigs to all be fast, but I haven't encountered a skinned film level rig that is fast.

What's the hardest work you've done and which one has given you the greatest satisfaction?
My work on Robots at Blue Sky Studios was definitely my most challenging. The supervisors and directors are very demanding about the animation.

What does Mark Behm do in his free time (if any.) and where does he find spare time to do his tests, when working on features films?
Ha ha. I haven't had any in a while. I am now teaching for AnimationMentor.com. which has been great. I wish I had that kind of education when I started.

I do still do tests at home, especially if my work day is a bit technical. You have to get that creative energy out. Or I do digital painting. That's always fun.

Any future project in sight?
There's a short bouncing about in my head and some random scraps of paper. I'm always redesigning the characters, pushing the story ideas around, etc. Someday, hopefully. :]

email: Mark email
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