Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Nickelodeon Animation's Ties With Cal State Fullerton Run Deep

Although it's about 50 miles from the Cal State Fullerton campus, Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank is a hub for CSUF students and alumni.

The chance of running into a CSUF alumnus in the hallways of Nickelodeon's animation studio is pretty high. This isn't just a coincidence, but the result of a partnership with the university's animation program that intensified when CSUF alumnus Russell Hicks became president of content development for Nickelodeon in 2012.


Stephen Hillenburg, creator of the cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants,” greets fans during the exhibit at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.

The collaboration has additionally led to the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit currently on display at CSUF's Begovich Gallery.

The exhibit celebrates 25 years of Nickelodeon's animation success by offering a behind-the-scenes view of classic Nickelodeon animated series like Doug, Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold! and SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as new shows, some of which CSUF alumni have worked on.

Through the partnership, CSUF animation students are exposed to the industry by way of internship and outreach programs, on-campus visits and panel discussions by Nickelodeon staff, as well as tours of the studio.

The programs, which are highly competitive, serve as an entryway into the Nickelodeon studio.

Mallory Carlson, a CSUF animation alumna, knows this firsthand.

Last year, Carlson began working at Nickelodeon Animation Studio through the Nick Artist Program, a six-month program in which participants work alongside professional artists.

After completing the program, Carlson was offered the position of background painter for Nickelodeon's animated series Pig Goat Banana Cricket, creating background art for the show about the crazy adventures of four friends nature never intended - a pickle-obsessed Pig, a Goat with musical dreams, a Banana who loves video games and a Cricket with a crazy science lab.

For Carlson, her interest in animation goes back to watching the hit Nicktoon Hey Arnold! as a child. Getting to create content for the shows that today's children watch has been a dream come true.

"It is so much fun," she said of her job as background painter. "This is what I have been dreaming of. Work doesn't feel like work -- it's just fun."


Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.

Her favorite part is "just getting to do what I love for a living," she said.

The partnership between Nickelodeon and CSUF is unique and beneficial "because this is a small industry and it is kind of tough to break into," Carlson said. "There are a lot of amazing artists trying to break into the industry, so the competition is very high."

The most valuable advice she can offer to those interested in entering the animation field? Make connections with professionals in the field as a student.

"Get advice and feedback," she said.

Intern to Creator


Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.

Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz and her now-husband, Sean Charmatz, became involved with Nickelodeon Animation Studio as interns when they were animation students at CSUF nearly 15 years ago.

Fun fact: her Nick identification badge still displays her internship photo.

Esnaashari-Charmatz, who grew up in Irvine, was one of the first post-production interns at Nickelodeon, an experience she looks back on fondly.

"There was this nostalgic feeling of having grown up on Nickelodeon and on top of that, there was a real sense of family and unity," she said. "The head of the studio knew my name as an intern and made sure to know everybody's names; there was a real sense of belonging."

Shortly after completing her internship, Esnaashari-Charmatz heard of a job opportunity by Charmatz, who had since then been employed by the studio. He now works at Nick as the supervising director of social media production on Pinky Malinky, a mockumentary series following the everyday life of Pinky Malinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world.

Esnaashari-Charmatz applied and was offered the position of production assistant at the studio, working on My Life as a Teenage Robot.

Soon thereafter, she took on the role of post production coordinator for preschool age-themed shows like Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer.

She would go on to become a post production supervisor for the shows, as well as work on animation shorts.

In 2008, while on maternity leave, Esnaashari-Charmatz began developing her own animated series. Along with her husband and co-workers, she pitched show ideas.

Being turned down a number of times by the studio didn't discourage Esnaashari-Charmatz – it only further served as motivation to keep creating.

From 2008 to 2012, she brainstormed and created. Then, it happened.

In 2012, Esnaashari-Charmatz's Shimmer and Shine was picked up by the studio.

"There were a lot of different variations of the show until it finally got to a place where it felt right," she said.

The animated series follows the adventures of genie twin sisters and their non-genie best friend. Esnaashari-Charmatz is working on the second season of the show.


Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.

"If you want to develop your own show, it's going to be difficult. It is not going to be easy," she said. "You have to have a thick skin."

The creating process involves a lot of "working, reworking and pitching," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "But that's what it takes."

As a CSUF alumna, she finds herself constantly reminiscing with Nick interns and fellow co-workers about university professors and classes.

"There is so much talent coming out of there that it is a win-win for both," she said of the university's partnership with Nick.

Recently, she visited an animation class at her alma mater to share her experience with students.

"To be honest with you, all of it is surreal. Most days I don't really register it - I'm just doing my job," she said. "It's a very overwhelming feeling, and it's super cool."

Artwork from Shimmer and Shine is on display at the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit, an experience Esnaashari-Charmatz once again describes as "surreal."

"I hope (students) are inspired by the beautiful art that is on the show and the amazing artists that are on the show," she said.


Attendees of the exhibit "Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-Driven Cartoons," view drawings from various Nickelodeon shows at the Begovich Gallery at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.

She advises students to believe in their passion and not be deterred.

"I needed to fail in order to succeed," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "I believe every experience you have before you get there is what gets you where you are."

Reaching Out

Chris Viscardi is the Senior Vice President of Content Development and Franchise Properties at Nickelodeon. He oversees the strategies for franchises including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

He believes the studio's partnership with CSUF is beneficial to the students and to the future of Nickelodeon animation.

"It is a really great marriage," Viscardi said.

"We really admire all that Cal State Fullerton does," he said.

Because it wasn't too long ago college students were the children watching animated shows, their opinions are valuable to studio executives, Viscardi said.

"We are a kids network, and we specialize and focus on things that comes from a kid's heart, from a kid's point of view," he said.

"We want their points of view," he said. "It is a great way to stay in touch with our current audience and most recent audience."

The "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit allows Nickelodeon to connect with CSUF students and the community.

"It is a culmination of all of the things Nick has done over the years and the creativity that went into those shows," Viscardi said.

"If you are a creator and have a vision for what is wonderful and unique, this exhibition is really inspiring," he said.

The exhibit will be on display at CSUF through May 22.

"There is so much millennial love for these classical cartoons," Viscardi said of the exhibit. "It is great to share the making of those things with that audience."

"I think they will really see that Nickelodeon has been influential in the way kids animation was made in the past and how it is made now," he said.

Since 2013, Nickelodeon Animation Studio has reached about 500 CSUF students through its outreach programs.

Programs and internships allow students to dispel misconceptions about the industry and expose them to the different areas of the animation industry, Viscardi said.

"It puts you in the moment and the kind of scenario you are going to be in," he said. "It is impossible to duplicate that in school. It is a great learning experience."

Nickelodeon's 'Happy Happy Joy Joy' exhibit at CSUF

When: From noon to 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays, through May 22
Where: Begovich Gallery, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd.
Cost: Free
Information: 657-278-3471 and fullerton.edu/arts

Check out the official 25 Years of Nickelodeon Animation Tumblr blog for more fantastic Nickelodeon memories, and remember to watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on The Splat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows!

Original source: The Orange County Register.
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