Rocketboi: How Malcolm Wope Became one of Africa’s Greatest Animators.

Dive into the animated world of Malcom Wope, known as RocketBoiArt, a Cape Town-based illustrator, concept artist, character designer and director whose mastery in 2D animation brings intensity to every scene. Known for his work with major studios like Dreamworks, Netflix, Studio Mappa, and Disney, Malcom's artistry shines in projects like Star Wars Visions, Attack On Titan and his debut short film for Disney+, Mkhuzi - Spirit Racer. Join us on we go INSIDE with Malcolm Wope (RocketBoi) as we explore the journey of a creator whose animations capture the true art of action and story telling. CHAPTERS 0:00 - INTRO 1:48 - The Beginning of Malcolm's Story 2:07 - Malcolm's Early Fascination with Games and Drawing 3:42 - Background of Malcolm's Parents and Their Influence on Him 4:15 - Malcolm's Father's Choice Between Art and Engineering 4:48 - The Impact of Cultural Shifts on Career Choices 5:03 - Malcolm's First Exposure to 24-hour TV in the US 5:46 - Discovering Anime and Its Impact on Malcolm's Artistic Journey 6:12 - Moving to South Africa and Adjusting to a New Culture 7:38 - The Influence of Architecture Studies on Malcolm's Artistic Skills 8:09 - Finding a Solid Group of Friends in Cape Town, South Africa 8:59 - Transition from Architecture to Working on Super Strikers Comic 9:43 - The Role of Parents in Guiding Career Choices 10:27 - The Impact of Architecture Studies on Work Ethic and Technical Drawing Skills 11:06 - The Influence of Anime on Malcolm's Art and His Journey to Improve His Skills 16:05 - Discovering a Passion for Animation and the Struggles of Being an Artist 18:18 - Transitioning from Studio Work to Mobile Games 19:10 - Becoming an Art Director and Gaining Creative Freedom 21:10 - The Birth of Kung Fu is Dead 22:56 - Learning Animation 24:06 - Investing in Animation 26:30 - Gaining Traction on Social Media and Attention from Studios 29:35 - Getting Support from Local Studios and Bringing Ideas to Life 30:48 - Releasing the Teaser Online and Gaining Popularity on Instagram 31:59 - The Pitching Process and Partnership with Trigger Fish 32:15 - Landing a Job with Netflix and Opening New Opportunities 32:36 - Learning the Art of Packaging and Pitching Projects 32:50 - The Time and Effort Behind Creating 3 Seconds of Animation 33:22 - The Team Effort Required to Create a Full-Length Show 33:41 - The Time Commitment of Personal Animation Projects 34:01 - The Importance of Teamwork in Animation Production 34:20 - Transitioning into Professional Animation Work 34:42 - Recalling the First Big Gig with Witcher 35:02 - The Role of Instagram in Career Advancement 35:42 - Overcoming Challenges and Learning on the Job 36:02 - The Opportunity to Work on Witcher with Red Dog Culture House 36:52 - The Role of a Key Animator in Fight Scenes 37:31 - Appreciating the Freedom in the Asian Animation Market 38:11 - The Process of Choreographing Fight Scenes in Animation 38:44 - Infusing Personality into Characters through Choreography 39:29 - Using Self-Filming as a Reference for Animation 39:45 - Reflecting on Career Progression Post-Witcher Project 40:10 - Balancing Passion and Pay in Different Aspects of Animation Career 41:03 - The Challenge and Reward of Character Design in Animation 41:50 - The Role of Character Design in Building an Animated Story 42:10 - The Importance of Understanding Character Psychology in Design 43:40 - Juggling Different Roles in the Animation Industry 44:55 - Working with Mappa 45:50 - The Excitement of Working on a Project that Aligns with Personal Interests 46:47 - Building a Relationship with Studio Mir and Working on Star Wars Visions 47:33 - The Experience of Working in a Korean Studio 47:46 - Discussing the Shift in Career Focus Towards Direction 48:15 - The Opportunity to Direct a Short Film with Disney Plus 48:33 - Balancing Daily Animation Work with Pitching New Projects 48:52 - The Importance of a Unified Vision in Production 49:18 - The Challenges of Managing a Dynamic Production Team 49:38 - Reflecting on the First Directing Gig and Its Challenges 50:04 - The Difference Between Individual and Team Work in Animation 50:26 - Learning from Experience and Aiming for Improvement 52:20 - The Unique Timing and Energy in Fight Scenes 53:26 - Discussing Future Plans and Goals in the Industry 53:57 - The Desire to Create Something Personal and Meaningful 54:59 - Long-term Goals: Balancing Work, Life, and Passion for Drawing 55:33 - Advice for Young Artists Entering the Industry 56:04 - The Importance of Understanding the Industry Early On 56:49 - The Pros and Cons of Going Indie vs. Joining a Studio 57:37 - Understanding the Financial Aspects of Working with Big Studios 58:16 - Reflecting on the Success of Blue eyed Samurai Project (NETFLIX) 59:08 - If You Could Have One Superpower, What Would It Be? 1:00:06 - Discussing Favorite Characters from Shows and Animes 1:02:34 - Wrapping Up the Interview with Words of Encouragement