Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Densk.
Hi Jon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My introduction to comics and cartoons starts at a really young age. I bought my first comicbook at age 3 and started drawing my own comics at age 5. I grew up on comics like Bone, and comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Peanuts, Pogo. Anything with a more cartoonish style! I also shared a huge love of film with my father. We spent alot of years bonding over art and film, so i was always exposed to new ways of telling stories. As I got older, and went to college, the world of animation was introduced to me by Tom Bancroft. From that moment on, I was hooked! I spent alot of hours alone perfecting drawing, acting and learning the whole production pipeline. By some magic trick, I was able to work for Warner Brothers, Disney, and Pixar on feature films and shorts, as well as tv shows and videogames, all working as a hand drawn animator. When I discovered the Studio Ghiblis films by Hayao Miyazaki though, everything changed again. Taking in the level of craftsmentship and story telling the studio was able to produce, inspired me to explore what stories I could tell. Which leads me to today, where I am finishing prodcution on my first hand drawn animated film, Axolodyssey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasnt been smooth! There have been, and continue to be lack of job security, but also self doubt, and the insane burning persistence inside to continue working in such a competative field, pushing forward with original stories. I like to tell stories, that is the major driving force in my work. The way I communicate my stories, emotions and experiences is through my drawings. That can be difficult to do regularly. Its not always easy to pull inspiration out of a hat.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a 2D hand drawn Animator, Director and Cartoonist. I have worked on feature films for Warner Brothers, Disney and other studios. On shortfilms for Pixar and studios around the world. However I am most known for my personal work. I have been developing my animated film Axolodyssey for the past 4 years. With a release set for this coming winter! I have also been developing my comicbook series Flea. That is the next focus after the film is done!
Im most proud of two things. One being the team I have directed and assembeled for my film. I had not directed anything before, but ive been very happy with how I have been able to wrangle a team of artists all into a cohesive vision, and for the unrelenting dedicated work my team has brought to the table. They have truly leveled up anything I could have done! The second thing im proud of is myself, for sticking to the hard work, from such an early age and staying true to myself. In an age of rapid online development, it feels right to have your own voice.
I think that last factor sets me apart from alot of other Animation artists out there as well. Its very easy to fall in line with something familiar, compared to starting something new, and staying true to yourself. That is an uphill climb, but the persistence shows when the final result is out for the world to see. We need more unique stories and voices in the film and entertainment industry. Even if they are cartoons about an axolotl!
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to keep creating in any way I can. I mentioned my comicbook series Flea. I really hope to find a home for that and tell that story on a grand scale. But I also have a few feature films I have written, in my back pocket. If I was given the opprotunity to create a hand drawn feature film, that would be a dream come true. Im laying the ground work regadless of what the future holds!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Denskdoodles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jondensk/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-densk-42446b157/
- Twitter: https://x.com/DenskJon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JDAnimates1/videos
