Computer Animation Spotlight: Mike Scully and The Simpsons
With sitcom writing credits such as Everybody Loves Raymond, The Pitts, and Complete Savages, Mike Scully earned the reputation as a comedic artist. But after joining the creative team for The Simpsons, Mike was forced through a crash course in computer animation. Scully arrived on the scene in 1993 during the height of the show’s success. His goal? Not to screw things up.
Animation Professional Mike Scully
Recently Scully sat down with Animation Views and revealed some interesting tidbits about his computer animation career.
- Humble Beginnings. Mike got his start in entertainment writing jokes for international comedian Yakov Smirnov.
- SimpsonsContributions. Scully is credited with writing twelve episodes of The Simpsons during his tenure, sometimes to widely mixed reviews.
- Awards. Scully has received 6 Emmy Awards for his work as well as 3 other nominations.
One thing Mike seems to appreciate most about writing for the computer animation niche is the teamwork involved. Writers, animators, producers, and editors work together to create the most entertaining show possible for the viewer.
Varied Positions in Animation
The moral of the story is that there are a variety of creative positions within the computer animation genre, and many don’t require masterful drawing skills or expertise with animation software. If you’re looking to get into the industry, use the talents you have to segue into more technical positions.
