Lecturer in the spotlight: Marlon Nowé

Lecturer in the spotlight: Marlon Nowé

06/10/2024 - 08:21

Marlon Nowé, a seasoned character animator with a rich background in the animation and VFX industry, shares his journey and insights about his role at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas). From working on major films like Tangled and Frozen at Disney to setting up an animation department at Art Center in Pasadena and working for companies such as Blizzard and Riot, Marlon's career is nothing short of inspiring.
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Can you share a bit about your journey leading up to BUas? 

Marlon: ‘I started as a character animator at Imagination in Motion in Brussels, where I met Neville Marcinkowski (also a BUas lecturer). We worked mainly on commercials. After that, I moved to Los Angeles and joined Blur Studio, focusing on game cinematics, commercials, and various animation projects. It was a broad spectrum of work; pre-production, production, and post-production. Working in an international, young, and vibrant environment, I quickly learned the ropes and enjoyed the fast-paced lifestyle in LA.’  

‘After seven years at Blur Studio, I moved to Rhythm and Hues Studios, famous for their animal animations, like in Narnia. At that time, creating realistic fur was quite challenging. Then, I landed my dream job at Disney Feature Animation in Burbank, LA. I worked on projects like Tangled and Frozen as a character animator and animation supervisor and contributed to theme park attractions. It was an incredible learning experience, collaborating with the best in the industry on the coolest projects.’  

‘After eight years, I started my own company, Animsquad, an online school offering training from Disney animators to those at smaller studios, aiming to prepare them for big studio opportunities. Two years later, ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena asked me to set up their animation department. I created the curriculum, classes, and recruited faculty. I also worked at Blizzard on games such as Overwatch 2 and Valorant as a character animator.’  

‘Eventually, I returned to Belgium and, through Neville, connected with BUas. I was impressed by the campus atmosphere, teamwork, and the flexible, informal teaching style.’ 

What aspects of working at BUas do you find most fulfilling? 

Marlon: 'My focus at BUas is on teaching students about CG animation, rigging, and motion capture. What I love most here is the team-based projects, which are excellent preparation for professional life. Seeing the spark in students, collaborating with them, and watching their skills grow is incredibly fulfilling. It's rewarding to see them achieve beautiful results and witness their amazement at their progress.’  

'Thanks to my connections with game and film and visual effects professionals, I can help students establish contacts within the industry. It's about creating opportunities and bridging the gap between students and the professional world.’  

What advice would you give to students? 

Marlon: ‘I want to encourage students not to fear technological revolutions like AI. At BUas, we embrace these changes and explore how to use AI to create better things. I experienced the transition from 2D to 3D animation 30 years ago. It was a revolution that brought about stunning projects. Something similar can happen again, presenting new opportunities to create even more beautiful works.’  

 

For more insights and updates from Marlon Nowé, visit his LinkedIn profile.