♡Ad-free viewing ♡Automatically permitted to post links in the chat ♡I'm recently back on Twitch - thank you for understanding that this will take me a while to get set up! And please let me know what benefits you'd like to see me add for Subscribers :-)

You already support the channel just by being here, watching, commenting, following, sharing, etc., but if you're feeling extra generous, donations are of course always appreciated! Donations will go toward funding my favorite way to work: drawing in cafes! (That's where I get all my best ideas!) Please be aware that donations are not refundable. Thank you ♡

Are you curious about careers in animation? ["I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation"](https://www.amazon.com/Moved-Los-Angeles-Work-Animation/dp/1684152917) tells the story of how I broke in, and it also compiles all of my advice to folks who also dream about moving out to LA or working in animation!

**Hi, I'm Natalie.** I'm an animation industry professional living in Paris, France. I directed "Far From The Tree", the Disney animated short that played before Encanto. You can watch it now on Disney+! I storyboarded on Encanto, Raya, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Bee & PuppyCat. I'm also the author of the graphic novel ["I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation"](https://www.amazon.com/Moved-Los-Angeles-Work-Animation/dp/1684152917). **Do you have a schedule?** Nope! I stream when I can, and I don't know very far ahead of time when that will be. But I do try to post to my social media accounts before I go live. You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter to be sure to know when I'm streaming! **Software?** I normally draw in Photoshop 2021, but at the moment I'm learning to board in Storyboard Pro v20.1. On iPad I draw in Procreate, mostly with the standard brushes like "6B Pencil" and "Ink Bleed". **Hardware?** MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019, 2.4 GHz 8-core Intel Core i9, 32 GB memory), Wacom 22hd Cintiq, and sometimes I draw live on an iPad Pro (12.9", 2017 model). I use a Blue Yeti mic. **What is your job?** I'm a Director in the animation industry, and one funny thing about this job is that I work on projects so early on in their development that I can't talk about them for at least year or two after I start on them! (sorry!) **Did you go to an art school?** Nope! **How did you become a Director?** You can read the long version in [my website FAQ](http://natalienourigat.com/about/), but the short version is: I drew webcomics and print comics for about a decade, and that was where I really learned how to draw, how to tell a story, how to collaborate with other creatives, and how to make commercial art. I did some storyboarding for advertising agencies, and then for animation studios as a freelance Storyboard Artist. I applied for about 30 animation industry jobs in LA with zero luck, until I was chosen for the Disney Story Artist Apprenticeship in 2015. I moved to LA, spent a year in that (paid) training program, and learned so much! I stayed at Disney for 7 years, boarding on feature films, becoming a Head of Story, and learning as much as possible. I took classes on writing, acting, life drawing, directing, leadership, and storyboarding. I pitched a short film idea for Disney's Short Circuit program, and my idea was selected to be made with me as Director. After that project, I was asked to pitch theatrical short ideas, and I pitched Far From The Tree, which I got to spend the next 2 years Directing. That's how I became a Director! **Do you have any advice for people who want to get into animation / storyboarding?** Yes! I tried to put everything I know into my book, ["I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation"](https://www.amazon.com/Moved-Los-Angeles-Work-Animation/dp/1684152917). I also have a lot of info and links in [this blog post.](http://homeiswheretheinternetis.blogspot.com/2017/09/animation.html) **Any tips for Figure Drawing?** Yes! I made [a big ol' video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9CLiGhWr4) about this!