In the latest of our Pride of the Port features SELENA O’DONNELL speaks to animator Ben Cowell

SEEING the world while creating his own magical realities has been a dream come true for leading animator Ben Cowell.

The former Whitby High School pupil has worked on award-winning productions for CocaCola’s Videogame and Avatar productions. He has also worked on campaigns for HP, Nintendo, Renault as well as the Oscar-nominated short film This Way Up.

Ben graduated from the National Centre for Computer Animation in Bournemouth UK in 1997 and has since set up and written a 3D diploma in Singapore, and was programming director for the Singapore Animation Fiesta, inviting distinguished animation speakers from around the world. In 2000, Ben took up a position as senior animator at Ambience Entertainment in Sydney, Australia, where he managed animation productions for Attik/Toyota Scion and PICs Japan amongst others. Whilst in Sydney, Ben also worked alongside Darren Price in creating the multi-award winning ‘Show and Tell’ short film. Since returning to the UK Ben, 35, has been head of studio at Nexus Productions, an independent production company and animation studio based in London, with a worldwide reputation for creative storytelling.

What are your memories of growing up in Ellesmere Port?

In no particular order I remember playing on the building site that became the Strawberry Fields estate, copying CD’s from the Ellesmere Port library onto tapes (sorry), and of course drinking in the Woodies (pub, not school).

What or who has been the greatest inspiration behind your career?

I remember seeing two short animated films on Channel Four years ago that I really loved, one was ‘Stagefright’ by Barry Purves and the other was ‘Hilary’ by Anthony Hodgson. I’m not sure they directly inspired me but they’re still my favourite short films. By fate and luck I managed to meet Barry at the Animation Festival in Singapore that I helped run, he was a very nice chap.

Did any particular teacher inspire you?

Mr Weir and Mr Leedham at Whitby were great teachers. It’s probably a teaching cliché but I resented them at the time but years later I realised they wanted the best for us (although I still don’t use a fountain pen). Mr Alexander was also great as he seemed to be everyone’s mate but secretly he was teaching us stuff.

What do you consider your greatest achievement professionally?

I think the travel has been the most exciting aspect, I got to live in Singapore and Australia, plus I’ve been very lucky to see to a lot of other countries with work.

What’s the best advice you could give to young people starting out in their career?

Working with talented and passionate teams in smaller companies can be the best place to learn. I’ve been lucky to work with some great people in some smaller companies. We bid frantically on projects that I think many people thought we couldn’t handle and most times we made them a success. If I had started out at a larger more established firm I might not have been so lucky. I’ve found that many people from those days have gone on to be very successful as they have learnt to be flexible and resourceful.

To date, what is your biggest regret professionally?

I didn’t work hard enough at university and college, I wish I’d used that time to make a film or push myself harder. I had a lot of fun though so I guess that balances out.

Do you have a personal philosophy?

Be nice to people.

What are your plans for the future?

There’s a stack of new projects that we’re pitching on at Nexus and I’m going to get married in a few weeks! ... that’ll do for now.

Looking back can you identify a turning point in your career where you started to believe in your own success?

Crikey, I’m not sure I can answer that without sound conceited. My friend Darren Price recommended me for my job at Nexus Productions in London, they’ve got tons of awards and amazing projects under their belt. I think getting a job here made me think I’d been very lucky and possibly had done one or two things right somewhere along the line.

When times have been tough, what has motivated you?

I listen to a lot of music when projects require a lot of late nights and weekends. Plus a fear of poverty and a secretly competitive nature help.

Examples of Ben’s work can be viewed at: www.rethinkfx.com.