Tips from “Up” Co- Writer/Director Bob Peterson on a Career in Animation

Tomorrow (November 10th) is the release of Up on DVD and Blu-ray ! To celebrate this exciting movie release, we have a great article for you entitled “Write On”. It features tips from “Up” Co- Writer/Director Bob Peterson for those aspiring to a career in animation! Always carry a notebook and pencil, try your hand at all styles, and keep practicing, says Bob. Find these tips and more in the article below.

Here’s a picture of Bob Peterson from his animation studio.

TIP ONE: LEARN THE BASICS!

“It’s very important to learn the basics of writing, such as grammar and spelling. That’s why I think it’s a really good idea to pay attention in English lessons at school. I was always good in English lessons. I enjoyed my writing assignments immensely at school.”

TIP TWO: WRITE AWAY!

“I honestly believe that practice makes perfect, so write as often as you can. Write short stories, write long stories, write character descriptions or even try your hand at a comic strip. Get creative and keep working at it. I was always writing short stories when I was little – and the practice paid off.”

TIP THREE: BE PREPARED!

“Take a notepad and a pencil with you wherever you go so that you can jot down ideas. You never know when you might think up a great idea for a story or a fun character, so it’s important to be prepared. It’s a great idea to keep it all in one place so that you always know where to look for inspiration.”

See more below!

TIP FOUR: GET IN PRINT!

“If you are really serious about writing, help out with your school newspaper or try your hand at creating your very own comic. I used to love writing for the school newspaper – and at one point, I created a comic strip for it. I loved writing and drawing, so a comic strip was the perfect output for me.”

TIP FIVE: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

“It’s important to keep your creative juices flowing, so keep up the good work and keep writing whenever you can – even if you’re on vacation or away from school. Try to write a short story every week because that will force you to think of ideas all the time. Stay creative!” 

TIP SIX: KEEP IT POSITIVE!

“There’s no such thing as a bad idea. All ideas are good! I feel that we throw out 90% of everything we come up with at Pixar – but they’re not bad ideas because they help us find the right ideas.”

TIP SEVEN: STAY INSPIRED!

“You never know where a good idea is going to come from, so it’s important to read a lot of stories and books for inspiration. I also watch a lot of movies. Everything helps when you’re a writer! I’ve always exposed myself to a lot of different things that could inspire me, whether it’s a “Bugs Bunny” cartoon or “The Wizard Of Oz” movie. Stay open-minded and read as much as you can!”

TIP EIGHT: HEAD OUTSIDE!

“When I was a kid, I didn’t just sit in my room. I went out, I played and I met a lot of people. I got involved with a lot of different activities. All of these things feed into my writing because they have given me some great memories and experiences. Join a club, make friends and get involved in activities at school. You need as many experiences as possible to call upon when you’re a writer, so get out there. Good luck!”

Source & Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment & Click Communications