Ella Dobson is a multitalented animator from New Zealand. Having graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2016 with a Bachelor of Design in Communication Design, Dobson has already gained varying and noteworthy experience in the animation and design world.
While her work straddles the line between creative and commercial, her innovation and originality has been recognized with multiple accolades. The animated series ‘Conception’ by The New York Times, for which Dobson animated an episode, has been nominated for a 2019 News and Documentary Emmy under the category of ‘Outstanding New Approaches: Arts, Lifestyle and Culture.’ Earlier this year Dobson was the ‘Next Animator’ winner in the D&AD Awards, and was also honored by Saatchi & Saatchi in the ‘New Creators Showcase’ at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2019.
Whether it be a short video for Mailchimp, a whimsical Halloween gif for Hornet, or a colorful illustration of New Zealand snack foods, Dobson’s design based compositions shine. With a mix of contemporary inventiveness and nods to traditional design elements, her animations are eye catching yet streamlined, making them easily accessible to the target audience and the casual viewer alike. Her attention to detail brings a specificity to each work, even though the broader themes are universal. Dobson packs in countless information into single frame gifs, creating a mood and sense of place with limited context. Her illustrations carry weight and demand presence, whether they are filled with clearly recognizable images or more abstracted shapes.
One of Dobson’s inspirations is Saul Bass, the American graphic designer and Academy Award winning filmmaker and the ways in which he seamlessly paired strong design elements with animation. She also draws inspiration from her Instagram feed and all the animators and illustrators she follows daily. “My feed is a constant source of creativity and pushes me to keep creating,” says Dobson. Having access to artists and designers from around the globe is one of the most significant positives of Instagram, especially for anyone in the creative field. Dobson is currently working with 20th Century Fox on an animated sequence for an upcoming Netflix series.
Anna Kamensky
