Blue Sky Studios - Insights

What does 'Boat' mean?

Getting into the school taxi (otherwise known as our trusty VW Passat) the other day, Leah asked me, "What does boat mean?" Since she exhibits new levels of insouciance daily, I didn't think she was being serious. "You know what boat means!" and I kept going, lamely, "Its a craft that floats on the water." She was a bit insulted I had defined the object "boat". "No, not that! Like when you boat something." Oh crap, now - read more

My Toys Have Taken Over

Earlier today I returned to my cube to find my toys had taken over. Grommit was of course arresting the belly dancer as usual. The rabbits politely watched me work. And Sir-hugs-a-dog kept giggling his incessant wacky cackle. The days have been good here working on Horton Hears a Who. But I can't help the wonder wiggles inside my head: "How long [my name here]?" How long until my toys stop bothering me? How long until I learn how to ride my bike without the - read more

Alternate Titles for Ice Age: The Meltdown That Didn't Make The Cut

It's been a while since our last update... We've been quite busy and as our final shots finish rendering, we're getting pretty excited. The impossible production schedule has been conquered. 30 days until release and we're starting to return to the real world of sleep, friends, family, and life outside of work. We've added feeds to our site for those who want to subscribe to these insights, job listings, and news bits. The links are in the footer of each page on the - read more

My Military Grade Cell Phone

I'm doing bills last night, and I keep hearing this 'thunk.. thunk.. thunk...' emanating from the washer.. I stopped the cycle, opened the door, felt around, didn't see or feel anything weird, (other than wet soppy jeans) but noticed mary (my wife) decided to wash the dog's bedding, so thought maybe one of their dog toys got stuck in one of the zillion holes they chewed in their bed.. door closed, wash cycle resumed, thunking resumed, but ignored.. 30 minutes later, mary - read more

Cloud Swarm

I'm walking over the elevated pedestrian crossing at the corner of the park. It reaches high enough to see the little roof decks people have setup on their brownstones. It's nearing sunset and this is the choice location to marvel at the New York skyline. I wonder if the brownstone owners are annoyed that I have the same view as they have for free. It's an amazing sunset, and I notice the wonderful shape the clouds have taken on. One after another they look like giant - read more

Animation is a Musical

Again my coffee has gotten cold from neglect... sigh* I place it back next to my monitor and start cleaning up 'mation curves some more. I'm jammin' to the new Gorillaz cd . .. I like the first one better... although "All Alone" has a catchy tune. I sing with the chorus quietly, and my neighboring coworker chimes in with the harmony. I keep singing, but a little louder... I'm sure that everyone can hear me at this point... someone else chimes in from their cube. For a - read more

Disappointment

Every time I meet a new person, I know I'm in for a disappointment. Now I don't mean that kind of disappoinment where you thought a person was kinda cool until you were at their house and they let their pet parakeet pick stuck food from between their teeth. No, I'm talking about something much more serious. It usually happens shortly after the introduction. "So, where do you work", they will ask me. I cringe. I know I cannot lie. Ever since I broke my glasses in 7th grade - read more

Another Monday - not bad for a Monday

Another Monday - not bad for a Monday. The weather is getting nicer by the minute and the breeze whipping through the car window as I cruise up the Sprain towards good ole WP rustles my hair and makes my eyes water a bit. I've been thinking about grass all weekend. Well, grass and twigs and flowers and rocks and trees, and all other manner of vegetation. I snapped some reference photos out in Corona Park, Queens, after the Mets 4-3 bottom of the 9th come from behind win over the Marlins - read more

Robots Is Out!

"Insights into Blue Sky" is an area of our website where various Blue Sky-ers will post their everyday thoughts and experiences here at work. There is no direction, no rules or expectations. It's here to give you some insights into what it's really like to work at the best animation studio in the world. ... Driving down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on my way to a friend's house recently, I was overshadowed by an enormous "Robots" billboard towering over the - read more