Today we’d like to introduce you to Victor Martinez.
Hi Victor, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really began when I was a young boy; my dad introduced me to a little video game called Halo. It was there that my love for video games and animation began. During my entire childhood, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the video game world; I just wasn’t too sure what it was.
When I reached high school that is when I realized that I wanted to be a 3d animator. I had attended a few summer camps and toured a couple of different college campuses, and that solidified my choice. After going to a few different universities, I found SCAD. I fell in love at first sight and knew instantly that’s where I needed to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am one of those people that thrive in a social environment. When the pandemic started, it was isolated from my other classmates and peers. It was hard to be able to share ideas and learn off of each other. I started to doubt my ability to be an animator and suffered really badly with Imposter Syndrome. I felt like I was not good enough and people would find out at any moment. I wanted to give up on animation all together.
After the pandemic ended, I was back in the classrooms, and I began to flourish. I felt like my skills really increased, and I was in an environment that was there to support me and help me grow. I was able to get back on my feet and keep pushing. I realized that in order to grow, I need to fail and then get back up, so that’s what I did.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a 3D animator and I specialize in character animation. I believe the work I am most proud of is my senior capstone film Three Racoons in a Trench Coat. It’s a fun little story of three racoons, Cash, Denver, and Lennon, who do everything in their power to steal the amazing treasure in the local gas station, El Dorado.’
I spent a year working with some of the most talented and amazing people I have ever met on that project. It really was a learning moment for me. It was something that I had never done before, and as a team, we created a world from nothing but storyboard sketches. I think the creation of this film really solidified in me that animation is what I am destined to do.
What I believe what sets me apart from others is what animation means to me. For me, animation has always been viewed as a tool to tell stories, escape reality, and foster creativity. I have found a love for animation because it is able to transcend all boundaries and tell anyone’s story no matter who they are. By telling your story to others, they become aware of lives different from their own and are encouraged to explore those differences.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Many people deserve credit in my life. My family has been the biggest ally throughout this whole journey. They have always encouraged me to do what I love and been supportive of the work I do. I want to thank my grandparents. Without them I would not have been fortunate enough to go to SCAD and pursue my dream, thank you Grandma and Popop for everything you have done for me and giving the amazing opportunity to do what I love.
I want to thank my friends for supporting me through the ups and downs along the way. The journey to where I am was not always the easiest, I often felt defeated or alone and they always came to me and put me back on my feet. Thank you Aidan, Jacob, Ryan, and Mark, for always having my back. I also want to thank my best friends Izaiah and Josue for supporting me and always making me laugh.
I also want to say thank you to my amazing capstone team for three Raccoons in a Trench coat. Thank you for allowing me to grow as a person and an animator. Thank you for all of the memories you all have given me and the amazingly unique experience of working with a team that truly is a family. Finally, I want to thank you guys for allowing me to be my true self around you all and being the world’s best Social Media Manager for our capstone film.
Finally, I want to thank a few special professors at SCAD for opening my mind and encouraging me to go further in my career in animation. Thank you Professor Jaime Castaneda for reigniting the joy of animation in me and helping me discover my love for dialogue animation. Thank you Professor Pedro Coronado for always being a beacon of fun and happiness and keeping the creative fire inside of me lit. Thank you Professor John Webber, for encouraging me to push my animation skills further and inspiring me to go for a master’s program and become a professor for 3D Animation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://victormartanimation.wixsite.com/website-1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.victor_martinez/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-martinez-4b76b11a5/
