THS graduate nominated for Daytime Emmy Award

Last week David VanTuyle, a 2006 graduate of Tecumseh High School, learned the work he did for Nickelodeon’s new show “Wallykazam” was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design. VanTuyle is a storyboard artist for the show, created for toddlers and features an animated boy and his pet dragon.“The show just came out last year,” VanTuyle said. “It’s a fun opening, it has all the characters in there.”Being part of an animated show fulfills one of VanTuyle’s dreams even before the Emmy nomination. “I love to draw. I love telling stories,” said VanTuyle. “Ever since I was little I wanted to do animation.”As a storyboard artist, VanTuyle gets a copy of the script. He takes the script and makes a series of drawings to illustrate the story for each episode.On a daily basis, VanTuyle is reading the current script to get to know what’s happening with the characters. Figuring out the plot is necessary to create the drawings used for the animation.The work is a two-part process. First, he creates thumbnail sketches, which are pitched in a big boardroom in front of people as well as others in New York who participate via videoconferencing.Often times, VanTuyle has to sing and act out what is happening in his sketches a part of the pitch. “I knew this career would be wacky because animation is crazy,” he said. “It’s fun.”Once the pitch is approved, VanTuyle creates the drawings that will be used in the animation for the episode. In three weeks he prepares about 1,300 drawings.Things are pretty busy and stressful until the pitch is approved, and then the process becomes a little more relaxed. “I do the initial start of everything,” said VanTuyle. “It’s a lot of drawing.”The final animation is done in India. The process from the start of the episode to the finish is lengthy.Episodes have to be finished quite a while before the airdate, and until the episodes air, VanTuyle is not allowed to discuss the content. So far three episodes of “WallyKazam” have aired, but VanTuyle just finished up art for the 14th episode. “It’s really rewarding to see the final version of the episode,” he said. “Everything I’m doing is black and white. It’s really cool to see it all in color.”During his two years of working as an artist in California, VanTuyle has nothing but praise for the people he has worked with and the sense of community he has encountered. “One job led to another. Everybody is like a big family out here,” said VanTuyle. “Everybody is so open to helping each other.”He enjoys his work and hopes to continue moving forward with animation. “I would like to direct some day, but for now I really like being in the trenches. I really love drawing,” VanTuyle said. “I love working in TV.”For those young people interested in a career in animation, VanTuyle has simple advice. “Keep drawing and just keep making things every day. Keep pushing yourself further,” he said. “Everything leads back to drawing.”VanTuyle is hoping for a win for Wallykazam, and is looking forward to sharing the experience with the rest of his team on the big night.“I will be there with everyone else here nominated,” he said. “Everyone here was excited at our nomination.”The Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast on Pop, Sunday, April 26, at 8 p.m., with the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Gala is Friday, April 24.

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