Visual Development at Sony Pictures Animation

Omar Smith, a visual development artist at Sony Pictures Animation, shares his journey and experiences in the field of visual arts. He discusses his role in translating 2D designs into 3D sculpts, emphasizing the importance of resolving design issues before production. Omar highlights the challenges and excitement of working on unique character designs, such as Chester from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. He also talks about creating animation proofs of concept to explore character potential and scale. Omar expresses his passion for collaboration and learning from peers at Sony Pictures Animation.

What is Omar Smith's profession?

• Graphic Designer

• Visual Development Artist

• Animator

• Film Director

Where did Omar Smith receive his formal training?

• Film School

• Art School for Illustration

• Self-taught

• Sony Pictures Animation

How long has Omar been working at Sony Pictures Animation?

• 10 years

• 3 years

• 5 years

• 7 years

What is the primary focus of Omar's work at Sony?

• 2D Animation

• 3D Sculpting of Characters

• Storyboarding

• Background Design

What is the advantage of digital 3D sculpting over traditional clay sculpting?

• It is cheaper

• It is more artistic

• It requires less skill

• It is faster and allows for quick changes

Which character from 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2' was Omar's favorite to work on?

• Steve the Monkey

• Flint Lockwood

• Sam Sparks

• Chester

What unique feature did Chester have that made him challenging to design?

• He was a giant

• He had multiple arms

• He had a light bulb head and chest

• He was invisible

What additional step does Omar sometimes take to test character functionality?

• Animation proof of concept

• Storyboarding

• Voice acting

• Color grading

What did Omar and his team use to provide a reference of scale for the chi spider?

• A tree

• A building

• A car

• A human figure

What does Omar find most rewarding about working at Sony Pictures Animation?

• The salary

• The fame

• The collaboration and learning from peers

• The flexible hours