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LinkedIn Learning Summary

In the LinkedIn Interview, Darin McGowan explains different aspects of his life and career as a storyboard artist. He describes how he grew from an art school graduate to an insurance desk worker to a full storyboard artist and what he learned along the way. Much of his experiences are those common with other Americans, but aspects of his career would be different if viewed in context of an international industry. 

McGowan has a surprising attitude to being laid off. Layoffs were common in animation. Their jobs are often project based. If the project is canceled or finished, they are out of work. Darin explains that this is not unlivable for an animator. While between projects, artists can diversify their projects and grow as they plumb their social and professional connections for a new job to work. Artists might bounce from studio to studio as they work on different projects and propose different ideas, all the while forging new connections with fellow animators and producers. 

In developing animation industries overseas, a lifestyle like McGowan’s may not be as comfortable. Local Malaysian TV animation studios must compete with the same international companies that McGowan works for in America. Disney and Paramount (the owner of Nickelodeon) can make cheaper animations quicker and can pay their animators more than what the local channels can afford (Tan, 2022). McGowan does not have to worry about Paramount suddenly going bankrupt, but many Malaysian studios are on shaky ground. 

Reference: 

Lee Ooi Tan, Sarata a/p Balaya & Peng Hooi Aaron Goh (2022) Creative struggle in Malaysia: a case study of the advertising, film, and animation industry sectors, Creative Industries Journal, DOI: 10.1080/17510694.2022.2077530