It seems that birthday wishes really do come true—just ask CG Spectrum 2D animation graduate Adele! While out celebrating another trip around the sun, she received an extra special birthday gift: a message offering her a position with Evil Pirate Studio to work on the highly anticipated animated TV series Cyberslav.
We chatted with Adele about her journey from student to industry professional, the lessons she learned along the way, and what it’s like working on an iconic animated series that blends ancient Slavic folklore with futuristic technology. From animation techniques to personal milestones, this interview is a must-read for anyone pursuing a career in 2D animation.
Congratulations on your new role! Can you tell us more about the TV series Cyberslav you worked on and how you landed the job?
After finishing my studies, I started looking for art and animation-related positions. At that point, I reached out to numerous studios not only in my country (Kazakhstan) but all around the globe, and I viewed remote work as an option, too. I was also open to any kind of animation technique and software, whether 2D or 3D since I have some skills in the latter as well. But, my lifelong passion is tied to drawing by hand and traditional old-school animation.
To be honest, I didn’t really expect my first job in the field to be what I had always dreamed it would be. Yet that dream came true: Evil Pirate Studio, based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, responded to me with an exciting offer! I’m now working on a project that I heard about way before I even started learning how to animate.
My strong intention to work on a wide-scale hand-drawn animation production and Cyberslav’s need for skilled 2D artists turned out to be a perfect match.
The official trailer for Cyberslav, made by Evil Pirate Studio and directed by Stas Dmitriev, Dmitri Yakovenko, and Alexandra Krechman.
For those who don’t understand Russian, can you tell us a bit about the show and what the story is about?
Cyberslav is set in the alternative reality of Ancient Rus’ where there are technologies like plasma guns and cybernetic prosthetics.
It’s a unique fusion of past and future, Slavic folklore and futuristic gadgets with, on top of it all, an action-packed and captivating plot.
The story follows Cyberslav, a bogatyr (in Russian, a ‘hero, warrior’) who’s serving the duke of the city. The world outside of it is inhabited by different kinds of horrifying monsters that Cyberslav hates and is ordered to hunt despite himself being a half-blood.
After discovering the aftermath of a brutal crime, he begins to unravel a tangle of mysteries. Who was it that really felt so obstructed by the ducal family - the embittered people or the monsters that filled the local forests?
You mentioned working on cleanup and in-betweening for Cyberslav. Could you explain what that involves and why it's so critical to the animation process?
The work of the assistants of lead animators should not be underestimated. Their main duty is to make sure the character stays consistent. Many great animators started their careers by doing the ‘in-betweens.’
Our team receives the rough pass of the assigned scenes made by the animators before we polish it and fill it with the in-between frames. The result of the cleanup artist’s work is the final line, the final look of the characters that make it to the TV screen. The beautiful butter-smooth flow of movement is also in part due to this job.
From my experience so far, I see it as that the cleanup artists are basically the final frontier of the animation production - they check everything before the scene gets colored and passed on to the post-production team.
Still from Adele's WIP 2D animation 'The Interrogation.' She used 3D for the background and layout and animated the original characters frame-by-frame.
What was the most rewarding moment or lesson for you while working at Evil Pirate Studio?
One that immediately comes to mind is actually the moment when I got a message from the recruiter. I was sitting at the restaurant with my family at my birthday party, and while I was really enjoying it, at the back of my mind, I felt a bit agitated since I was in the process of looking for a job and waiting for a response after the review of my test task. And then came a message telling me that I was hired by Evil Pirate! And they also congratulated me on my birthday, which was very nice of them.
Apart from the personal joy, I also felt immensely professionally rewarded later when, on New Year’s Eve, we all saw the pilot episode finally premiering on the Kinopoisk streaming platform.
For context, Cyberslav had been a long-anticipated project in the Russian-speaking sphere, and many people had lost hope that it would ever be released. Now, everyone who knows me is trying to find out when the next episode will be released.
Cyberslav's release was an exceptional success - viewers loved it so much that it currently has an 8.6 rating on Kinopoisk, placing it in 30th position out of the 250 greatest shows of all time!
So there’s a lesson I got already - persevere, stay focused and diligent, and eventually, your hard work will pay off whether you are a newbie to the industry or a more established artist.
Can you share how your experience at CG Spectrum prepared you for working in the industry?
I took the 2D Animation Foundations course at CG Spectrum, which was led by my helpful mentor, Scott Sackett. These lessons introduced me to Toon Boom Harmony software, which I can now effortlessly use while working on Cyberslav and personal projects.
Under Scott’s guidance, I went from animating a bouncing ball to gathering a strong, relevant portfolio. Also, I really appreciated being taught the history of animation and acting for animators and being provided with useful materials and resources to deepen my knowledge.
Scott's valuable tips and tricks from his experience as an animator made me fully understand the pipeline animation studios usually use and what to expect as a newcomer in the industry.
It was always a pleasure to meet with Scott online, as he was very friendly and open to answering my questions.
What was your favorite part about learning with CGS?
I think the best thing about learning at CG Spectrum, apart from receiving great skills, is its community. I’m still thrilled at the ability to communicate with people from everywhere in the world, to give and get advice, to see other students’ progress, and to connect with them.
It’s great to have feedback from other mentors, course TAs, and alumni, too. You can also join huddles in Slack, which I can’t do at the moment due to different time zones, but I am very eager to do so someday. I’m happy to be a part of a friendly community that nourishes creativity and supports its students.
'Mr Croc is in a Hurry' 2D animation by Adele. This was a biped character's run in perspective exercise she completed while studying at CGS. The character is animated frame-by-frame in Toon Boom Harmony, and editing and compositing in After Effects and Premiere Pro.
What were some of the key skills or lessons from your studies at CGS that you found most valuable in your professional work?
One of the most important lessons from my studies I remember is Scott’s advice to value myself and my work. I strictly followed it when applying for different positions and eventually got an offer that met all of my standards.
The skill of having a remote job - independently planning out my work day, respecting deadlines, and having everything ready in case of a technical emergency - was also developed by studying at CG Spectrum.
What advice would you give current CG Spectrum students aspiring to work on high-profile projects like Cyberslav?
Looking for your first job in animation can be frustrating - the industry is very competitive, and sometimes, it may feel like there are no suitable options for you. But there will always be a need for talented and motivated artists, which means there’s a chance for you at the end of the day. So be open to it, and be open to adapt if there’s a need, but don’t ever underrate your work and your effort.
I also have the advice that I constantly repeat to myself: share your art and your story, make yourself seen by other talented people, and not so long after, you’ll have knowledgeable friends who can help you on your artistic journey.
A stunning animation shared by Adele on YouTube that has garnered over 60,000 views! This short captures the evolution of mammals in the wake of the dinosaurs' extinction.
2D animation has seen a resurgence in recent years. What do you think is driving this renewed interest, and how do you see your work contributing to the medium's future?
There’s a well-known saying in Russian - 'Everything new is actually well-forgotten old.' It may sound a bit odd in English, but I still think it perfectly encapsulates what’s going on with 2D animation right now. Every person, at some point, grows tired of modern trends and starts looking back in retrospect. And there’s always the timeless appeal of classic animation done by hand.
I see countless comments on social media when people reminisce about their childhood animated films and series and how they wish that 2D would come back on the big screen again. Considering that, I find it great that some studios actually listen to their audience and strive to bring hand-drawn animation back to its glory.
What excites you most about the future of 2D animation, and where do you see yourself heading in your career?
From my point of view the future of 2D animation is looking brighter and brighter.
There are much more offers for 2D artists opening today than there were a decade ago.
Personally, I have a simple plan - keep working on inspiring projects like Cyberslav, let my experience grow, and apply it to my personal animations.
Adele's impressive 2D animation showreel. A lot of the work in this showreel was completed during her studies at CG Spectrum.
The first step would be to balance work and out-of-work hours so there’ll be enough time to develop the short films I want to produce.
I would also like to try myself in different positions in the pipeline, like being a rough animator, a lead animator, and even a storyboard artist in the near future. Hopefully, one day, I will lead my own studio, which will continue to pass on the art of hand-drawn animation.
To see more of Adele's work, you can follow her 2D animation journey on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and ArtStation.
Want to work on iconic 2D animation TV series like Adele?
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