Jay Shephard, a native of Wakefield, is a multi-disciplined animator with a lifelong fascination for the animation process. From an early age, Jay created stop-motion animations with Super Mario figures and Lego pieces, sparking a deep interest in the field. His proper animation journey began with the game Garry’s Mod and later the software Source Filmmaker, which he still uses today. Although the workflow in Source Filmmaker is similar to other 3D animation packages, it is more basic and not widely used in the animation industry.

Studying animation at university has provided Jay with access to industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya and 3DS Max, allowing him to develop his skills further. It has also given him the opportunity to explore other animation disciplines, particularly 2D animation.

Jay’s project, “Will’s Whopper,” is animated in 2D to demonstrate his versatility as an animator. Most of his work, both in and out of university, has focused on 3D animation. By creating this project in 2D, Jay aims to showcase his broad skill set to the world, especially to potential employers.