Introducing a new continuing monthly feature of ASIFA-East’s online Exposure Sheet, The ASIFA-East Interview. It’s no secret that the New York area contains some of the richest talent working in animation today. In an effort to better record our ongoing history we are proud to present this first installment, an interview with animation legend, and longtime ASIFA-East executive board member, Howard Beckerman. 1-Who were your animation mentors, where did you meet them, and what did they teach you? Irving Spector at Famous Studios, was my mentor. I learned from many others, but it was Irv who pointed the way. He gave me a base. He was a good animator, a very good writer and well read. I had always wished to be an animator and to also write cartoon stories. He did all of that and I guess he understood that about my goals. He filled me in on how to approach animation timing, design and story. I was an in-betweener and when he took breaks from his own tasks he would stop by my desk. I would show him character drawings I had done on my own. He would cover my drawing with a blank sheet of paper, ...
