CCA News

Alumnus Spotlight: Jason Deamer

Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, by Jim Norrena

Jason Deamer always knew he wanted to be an artist. What he didn’t know was that a temporary gig moving furniture at an East Bay animation company would result in 10 years of employment, culminating as character art director, a position in which today he collaboratively designs film characters for such recent feature animation films as Ratatouille (2007) and Wall-E (2008), both of which the company—Pixar Animation Studios—produced for Walt Disney Studios.

Deamer began his studies at UC Davis, but transferred to CCA seeking a more art-focused education. “I wanted my peers to be art professionals,” he says. “Culturally, it was easy to transfer because they were like-minded people.” He recalls his high school teacher, Mrs. Odis, also a CCA alum, encouraged him in this decision.

When he first entered the award-winning company, one that today is enclosed by an eight-foot-tall, rose-covered wrought-iron fence, he wasn’t off to a running start after graduation; he was a temporary hire, and inexperienced in the filmmaking industry. “I had loans to pay back and was curious to get inside the place,” he admits.

Though once he gained a greater awareness of the nature of the company, he decided to submit his work. “My CCA education definitely prepared me for now. It was like going to law school,” Deamer reflects. “They don’t teach you how to be a trial lawyer. You learn about theory of law.” Because CCA focuses on many crafts, he felt was he prepared for a variety of careers. “I suffered from overestimated preparedness out of school. I realized I had to pay my dues. Success is a lifetime endeavor. It takes time. You can’t be arrogant.”

As expected Deamer’s proudest achievement is Ratatouille, and in particular the recently released Wall-E. “It came out fantastic. I’m excited to see how it’s received,” says Deamer. Projected to release in summer 2011, newt is the next Pixar project for Deamer, which will enlist multiple Academy Award–winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom (Lifted, the short film that showed before Ratatouille) making his directorial debut.

For advice to CCA students interested in working in the animation industry, Deamer is inspired by Canadian animator, producer, and director Richard Williams, who says, “When in doubt, draw your client. Make it look like them and they’ll approve it.”

Born in 1974 in Mill Valley, CA

CCA degree:
BFA 1997, Drawing

Residence:
San Francisco Bay Area

Current occupation:
Character Art Director at Pixar

Influences at CCA:
Barron Storey, Vince Perez, Larry McClary

Website:
www.pixar.com