On My Radar: Joe Kinch

What website(s) do you use most regularly? 

I'm chronically on YouTube, where it is flooded with people creating miniature terrains, board games and skateboard compilations. All very much guilty pleasures where, after a day at work, you just want to zone out. They all trigger that little bit of creative juice and get me up and excited for my own personal projects.   

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?

My new Samsung phone, since I cleverly dropped my previous one on the floor around 50 times. But, before then, I'm working on a secondhand Alienware laptop from my brother, which does the job for all my illustration and animation needs. 

What product could you not live without?

My moustache wax and my Wacom Cintiq 13-incher [above] from around 2015. It's a small old fella but does the trick.

What’s the best animated film you’ve seen over the last year?

KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix. Took me a minute or two to realise what was happening, but was fully sold and invested. Absolute eye-candy, with some of the best fight scenes I have seen in a while. I'm normally quite snooty when it comes to animated films, but this was a ride I was happy to be on.

What animated film do you think everyone should have seen?

The Pagemaster, with little Macaulay Culkin. Blew my mind as a kid seeing the live-action turn into that sweet 2D. The score will also bring you tears. I don't know why, it just will.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

Instagram. Although I have been a ghost there for the past few years. Getting back into the groove of looking at other people's stuff really will fill you with inspiration. 100% not dread.

What’s your favourite animated TV show?

There are far too many to name, and all of them will have nostalgia plastered over my goggles, but Dexter's Laboratory will always be hidden away in my heart. The style and iconic episodes will always live on. 'Omelet du fromage' is pretty sure the only French phrase most animation lovers know.

What’s your favourite podcast?

Used to listen to The Adventure Zone, which is a Dungeons & Dragons podcast. Just lot's of silliness to break up the London Commute.

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

Was recently at the Annecy Animation festival. Just being around the same like minded people across all aspects of the industry was enough to get me inspired. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the animation industry since you started working in it?

Working from home, for sure. Being a student fresh off the press, I found being in the studio really beneficial. Nowadays, I imagine it is pretty hard for people to become settled somewhere new but luckily, in BlueZoo, that transition looks to have been a lot easier and friendlier experience. 

Who or what has most influenced your career? 

I have been lucky enough to have spent the majority of my career at Blue Zoo. Seeing my friends do the things they love best really does inspire me.  

What scares you the most? 

Climbing mountains in Romania, and spiders. If there is a daddy long legs on top of that mountain, I'm absolutely done for.