Meet Ricardo Jimenez | Animation Instructor & Founder – RJ ANIMATION

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ricardo Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ricardo, how does your business help the community?
It’s very important to help people come together and form strong community’s by creating good connections, building great relationships and learning new ways to improve personal growth from each other. That’s is what animation is all about. Coming together, collaborating as team of wonderful artist from Phoenix,AZ or around the world. I believe this is RJ ANIMATION mission and goal.

In 2020 during the pandemic, It was a very difficult year for everyone regarding health, family and work. Early 2020 I started collaborating with several of my colleague about putting together a few projects to help bridge the gap of job placements for graduated students and giving current students opportunities. We started a short film called “Fishing for the Soul” which if in full production as of now and currently in the animation stage. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNLyYrMwIseDYk5SXf42eOA

Our goal is to create new short film animations each year and hiring Alumni and giving current animation students opportunities to work on a real world projects that will help them develop their artistic skills, working in studio environment and develop problem solving skill sets. We Started working on a new project this year 2022 Called “Iggy” the Alien chicken, we are currently in the pre-production stage.

The outcome has been amazing! and awesome things started happening. New connections, more projects and alumni leading to full time jobs at company’s. The system we’re building is new and its not perfect, but we hope to improve each year, continue help build a stronger animation community here in Phoenix,AZ and maybe one day have a positive impact around the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For over 16yrs I has been working in the Animation / 3D industry for several companies throughout Phoenix, AZ and out of state as a stand alone micro studio (RJ Animation). I worked on projects such as 4K/IMAX TV series called “Space Unraveling the Cosmos”, featured on Discovery Channel and Netflix. Animation projects for companies like Avnet Technology Solutions, Frito-Lay N. America, Food-net exchange and several others as a multimedia artist.

I started teaching in 2013 as an animation Instructor at Grand Canyon University “GCU” its been 9yrs & Huntington University for 3yrs, in the Art Design / Animation programs. I also was teaching previously at the Art Institute of Phoenix before they permanently closed 2018.

2022 recent news! excited to announce RJ ANIMATION just launch the first Summer animation workshops for grade school kids 6-12 grade. We are currently on the (PVSD) Paradise Valley School Distract website under there PVSchools Flyer Partnership Program. https://www.pvschools.net/join-pv/pvschools-flyer-partnership-program.

You can also check out the site at https://www.rjanimation.com/animationworkshops

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently living in North Phoenix,AZ near PV and Scottsdale, I would have to say theirs a lot to do around my area.

The Scottsdale Quarter is about 10-15 mins from my house and I enjoy the stores and restaurants there. The culinary dropout is one of my favorite places to go eat with family and friends. I really enjoy places with good food, good music and over all fun environment.

If you have kids check out the go karts at Octane Raceway, it’s super fun and they have a great VR experience. A other local place I recommenced for kids is PHX VR, which is more retro arcade with VR stations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Anyone that says “they made it alone” or “I had no help from anyone to my success” is not telling the hole story. I believe everyone in some point in their lives or in this case careers has some form of help.

Its important to have good mentors, good support system and specially love and encouragement of others. I think that’s the key ingredients to a healthy mindset, healthy career and healthy lifestyle. If your missing any of these ingredients I recommend you get them, get them now! lol! Doing things on your own is much harder then you think and finding the right people help makes a world of difference. Its much easier to pick up and move a couch with just one more person helping.

I recognize my family and closes friends as my biggest influence’s for my success I have today. I wouldn’t be we’re I’m at if it wasn’t for them. My parents currently running a successful construction company since 2003 haven been a incredible influence and pillar in my life. I’m very luck to have such supporting parents like them.

Website: https://www.rjanimation.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-jimenez-1b043524/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjanimationfb

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNLyYrMwIseDYk5SXf42eOA

Other: https://www.facebook.com/Fishing-For-the-Soul-102800775233161 https://www.rjanimation.com/animationworkshops