Stephen David Roberts.

Born 12th of August 1963 in Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire. Married with two children. Living in North East London.

Obsessed by animation since the age of seven. To cut a long story short, I dropped out of Art College at the age of 19 (in 1982) and found an advert in the local newspaper that said "Wanted, college drop out to work in animation studio" (or words to that effect). Had an interview, got the job (painting cels for Honeycomb Animation), worked there for 9 months, went to art college in Farnham to study animation. While there I worked at animation studios at weekends and during the holidays. Left Farnham in 1986. Freelanced in London working on commercials, TV series (including Bob Godfrey's Henry's Cat), title sequences etc. for about 3 years. Worked for Disney on "DuckTails the Movie" for 14 months. Spent another 18 months working on feature films (Rover Dangerfield and Freddy as FRO7). Returned to freelancing and in 1993 started writing, designing and directing short animated educational movies for the BBC with Paul Stone and Mal Hartley. I've been doing this kind of work (corporate and educational) ever since.

In 1994 I started teaching storyboarding at The Surrey Institute of Art and Design in Farnham (and I was rubbish). I was shoved in front of 45 very annoyed looking students, having the brief that I was supposed to be teaching them put into my hand about 30 seconds earlier. I must have looked like a drowning man gulping for air. Anyway I talked. I talked so much my jaw hurt at the end of the day. I had never felt so frightened, excited and exhilarated in my life. The more I taught the better I got.

In 1996 I started teaching specifically drawn animation (I much prefer teaching animation to going through students storyboards). This was no walk in the park either. I had to teach 70 students in a day at a college that had virtually no animation equipment. In the end I provided most of the light boxes and 2 Amiga line testers for the students to work with. The feedback from the students was always fantastic.

In early 1998 I was asked to teach at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design on a course set up by the British animation industry to train new 2D and 3D computer animators. I've been teaching there part time ever since. Have a look at www.londonanimationstudio.tv.

Since late 1998 I have taught drawn animation to 3D computer animators at Cavendish College, London for 1 day a week on the Diploma in Computer Animation and the Foundation Degree in Digital Media.

In 2000 I was asked to submit a brief for a book to Focal Press by Marie Hooper. This I duly started in early 2001. I had this naïve idea of knocking it out in 6 months and it being in the shops for Christmas. In 2004 the book was published, two and a half years late! (Mind you I did get married and have two children in the meantime).

I've now updated the book, with the new title Character Animation; 2Dskills for better 3D. So you can reference it with all the latest software. I've also included a little bit more about modelling and acting.

Coming up; I've got a couple of educational projects to keep me busy and also a couple of ideas for personal animation projects.

Interests: Suprisingly enough Animation. Film (although I hardly ever get to go to the Cinema these days - two small children and writing a book are part of the problem but the main reason is that my local cinema has been shut down by a church organisation - see www.mcguffin.info for information. Hopefully it will open up again soon). Motorbikes (mainly old classic British and Italian bikes but at the moment I have a modern Triumph Bonneville (fitted with a side car)- see www.triumph.co.uk . I also own a 1959 250cc BSA, not working at the moment). Radio control models. I have always wanted to get into rc moddelling and was bought an electric aeroplane last year. Since then I've played with nitro and electric cars and motorbikes (rc motorcycles are amazing), helecopters and boats. Cycling (I have a weird and wonderful collection of small wheeled bicycles, these are; a Brompton - see www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk , and two Moultons - see www.alexmoulton.co.uk I use all of these to cycle to work, usually along the river Lee and canals). History and politics. Museums, gallerys, getting out into the countryside, camping, beaches etc, etc.

Should you wish to contact me please send an e mail to; steve@characteranimationin3d.com