Learning from Professionals: Manu Mercurial

Major Accompishments

Why I Chose Manu Mercurial

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His Admirable Journey

Reaching His Years Long Goal

I found Manu Mercurial thorugh his Youtube channel, where he posts educational videos of animation production, the production scene behind studios, and more things within the animation industry. I fell in love with his works, and all of the different major things he has been a big part of. Looking at his works, I thought that he probably had a very fortunate life building up to where he is now. But when he posted a video about his journey to becoming a 2D animator, I have come to realize that he almost never became the talented animator that he is today. He didn't know where to start his journey, and he felt overwhelmed by other people around him progressing faster than him. He was a lot like me , struggling to find passion in what he strived for. Seeing him rise from his downfall to becoming the thing he has dreamed of being brings me so much assurance and more confidence in what I want to do. Because he taught me that in the end, nothing happens when you fail.

After failing art school, and having to start from scratch. Manu Mercurial ignited a new passion for 2D Animation, and he was determined to create a short film that would surpass the quality of the prestigious and unstoppable studio, Gobelins. After many, many years of painstaking labor, Manu finished his project. It wasn't perfect, and he still wanted to work more on it. But he had to learn to let it go, and submit his work. And by pure surprise, Manu accomplished his goal of beating a Gobelins film in the 2021 Quirino Awards. He did what he set to do, and he knew he would have to do it all over again.

Main Inspiration

All About Manu Mercurial

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Watching VHS Movies

During his childhood, Manu Mercurial's father travelled around the world for his job, sometimes he would collect VHS movies for his son to enjoy. While many of them were bad and low quality, one movie in particular caught his eye. That movie was Toy Story. His favorite part of the movie was at the very end when Buzz tells Woody, "We're not aiming for the Truck," and lands inside Andy's car past the truck. Manu, many years later, would aim to produce his own professional animated short film. And just like Buzz on the movie. He wouldn't aim for the truck, but further beyond his own expectations.

by Bryan Nam

Education

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He didn't really have one.

Manu Mercurial (real name Manuel Lopez) didn't do as much as draw during college. He felt overly intimidated by the others students who have drawn since they were kids. So he convinced himself that he didn't need to learn how to draw. It was after he failed art school that he came to terms with what he truly loved, which was 2D Animation. He started learning 2D Animation on his own, accepting his failures, and moving forward. Because what he realized later on was that failure didn't mean the end, and that nothing happened when he failed.

Works

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His Career After Quirino

After his big success in the 2021 Quirinos Awards, Manu Mercurial went to work for many major studios, such as Cartoon Network and Dreamworks TV. He has even delve into the small but rapidly growing world of Independent Animation. Just recently, he has worked on the production of an extrememely successful pilot on Youtube called Lackadaisy, which he has said had a wonderful time working on. Not only that, he has also worked on many well known and popular japanese animation shows, such as Boruto, and Bleach.