#noonbory

Cozybory's curious 8 year old sister who likes to explore uncharted places! Has super speed!

(sitting patiently) (sitting patiently)

Jane Crawford is a super-producer and Supervising Producer on Bravest Warriors. Based at Nelvana in Toronto –the production company behind the newest Bravest series– she keeps the team on track and curbs the bazillion little issues that arise daily. While some animation jobs have a reputation for monotony, producing is the opposite: there is no typical day in the office for Jane. She says that’s the challenge of being a Producer—but it’s also the fun part! 

Did you always know that you wanted to work in animation?

No – I actually wanted to be a music producer! That didn’t remotely happen, but it IS how I fell into audio editing, which segued into working in production. So I found animation by accident. But that was 16 years ago and I’ve never looked back!

Did you go to college, and what'd you study?

I did, I went to Fanshawe College for Audio/Visual Production, took Photography courses at Ryerson, and studied Audio Engineering & Production at the Trebas Institute.

How did you like being in sound design, before you were a producer?

I loved it! Music and audio are my first ‘loves’ as it were. LONG hours, tons of fun, and very rewarding. But I wanted to learn and be more involved in other areas of the business.

What was your first job in animation, and what did it lead to?

I was the in-house Producer for a post production studio, and many of our projects were animated series. That gave me the bug. From there, I left to get into the production side of the industry.

What do you enjoy most about being a producer?

I like strategic planning and troubleshooting the unforeseen obstacles that come up, which are always different and specific to each show. I love working with different crews, clients, and partners and bringing it all to the finish line. And seeing the evolution of stories through their delivery.

What are the most important qualities of an animation producer?

They should have a high level of workflow acumen, broad vision and a ‘think outside the box’ attitude. Strong leadership and communication skills are important, as you’re navigating and supporting crews through changes. Producers need excellent time management and emotional control. And a love for animation, of course!

Do you have a favorite thing about Bravest Warriors? A favorite character?

The creative elements of the show, for sure. Ben Townsend (Executive Story Editor), the extended writing crew and the team at Frederator have done a fabulous job with the story. It’s been great to collaborate with them in that regard. Additionally, Adrian Thatcher (Director), Davian Bobrowska (Art Director), Campbell Bryer (Asst Director) and the whole crew here at Nelvana have brought their fabulous talent to the table. From storyboard through design, color, animation, music and post, they’ve worked so hard to bring Bravest Warriors into its first season on linear television. Oh – and Impossibear is the bomb!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Great food, good wine, hangin’ with my family, my dog and my fab friends. And anything outside!

What are your favorite cartoons?

Too numerous to mention, but I have a soft spot for the oldies. Warner Bros., Hanna Barbera, Disney, Looney Tunes. And features like The Iron Giant and the original The Jungle Book.

Have you had a favorite project that you've worked on, and why?

Most have been rewarding for different reasons, but Bravest is definitely up there on the creative front. But I love documentaries, so my years in audio doing war docs and others is up there too.

Thank you for the interview Jane, and for helping make Bravest Warriors awesome. And, you know... making sure it IS made!