Today we’d like to introduce you to Davonne Dupart.
Hi Davonne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
It has been a journey, and it’s not over yet! As a kid, I knew that I wanted to be an artist, and I declared it both to my family and school teachers. Everyone laughed; some even said discouraging things. None of that deterred me, for I knew I liked to draw and was good at it. I went to an art high school where I focused on answering the question, “How do I have a career in art?” I took a pre-college course in animation, and that sealed the deal for me. I went on to get both a BFA and MFA in Animation. I began working at animation studios such as Bento Box Entertainment, Primal Screen, Adult Swim, and Awesome Inc. I’ve had the pleasure to have animated content on PBS, HBO, Cartoon Network, and Hulu.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were many challenges both personal and professional. I moved from California to Georgia for graduate school; that was a culture shock and my first time living on my own. I was starting my life over from scratch with my family 3,000 mile away. There was a lot of discouragement being so far from all that was familiar to me. I was learning a lot about myself, my tendencies, wants, and needs. The animation industry has a lot of feast and famine seasons, and I learned we should never underestimate how resilient we are. I have found ways to persevere by pivoting when necessary.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would love to share with you all my role as an educator. This title resonates with me because I tend to always find teachable moments. I am driven to create environments for growth. I do this at the collegiate level as a Professor of Animation. Not only am I teaching the techniques of animation and storytelling but also professionalism and business practices. I have found myself also nurturing students’ social skills on how to work collaboratively. I am very good at managing a production and impart these skills to my students.
Conflict resolution and teaching how to connect with others has set me apart amongst my peers. I challenge my students to ask and think about the “hard life questions,” such as the importance of finding your “why.” Why do you want to be an animator? Why art school? We dig beyond the surface-level answers of “it’s fun” or “it’s cool.” We face the question of “Who are you if you don’t get the job in animation?” It’s important for them to know the value in all facets of their personality and interests.
My work in ministry as a small group leader and children’s ministry teacher has taught me patience and how to converse with many different types of people, and how to have healthy conversations. I bring these skills to the classroom. The moments that make me the proud are when I get an email from a student that has been hired at an animation studio, and they credit it to what I taught them in the classroom!
One graduate student in particular, I was on their thesis committee guiding them on their film. Once they finished their film and graduated, they were able to get their film into a film festival, and it turned out that this student’s film and my film were showing in the same category, competing against one another! That was an encouraging moment because this person is no longer my student but now one of my peers and that’s the goal!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
What’s worked the best for me is to not think of it as networking, I’m taking a genuine interest in others. When I meet someone, I ask questions until hear something that I’m curious to know more about. I also tend to remember something the person told me so I can follow up about it later. Now, where can you find a mentor? Previous professors have been people I can go to for advice, and members in my church have been mentors. Good friends who are strong in my weak areas have been great advisors. These are all relationships that were built organically but grew to have a more intentional dynamic.
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