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The Chronicle November 29, 2011 29
DC grad animating his future
Amy Valm
The Chronicle
The corners of his eyes crinkle when
he smiles, illuminating his features and
animating his face. His personality is
quirky, and full of wit. Corey Stokes reflects
what he loves- animation.
A 2006 graduate of Durham College’s
Animation program, Stokes is working
in Toronto on big time animation
projects. He has such animated heavy
weights as Dex Hamilton and Ugly
Americans under his belt, and has used
his skills and talent in 2D flash animation
and 3D animation.
Stokes took a short hiatus to explore
northern Ontario before landing a job
with Cuppa Coffee Animation in Toronto.
Cuppa Coffee is where he worked on
the Comedy Central show, Ugly Americans.
The show, which is developed by
former Simpon’s writer David M. Stern,
follows the life of a social worker in an
alternate reality version of New York
City, which happens to be filled with
monsters. Stokes started out as an animator
for the first season and as animating
supervisor for the second season. He
is currently animating a children’s show
called Almost Naked Animals.
“One day you might be working
on something and think, “Hey, this
feels a lot like the story that hilarious
drunk Swedish guy told me years
ago,” said Stokes on developing characters.
“Remembering what he sounded
like, moved like, how
he laughed. A lot of stuff
‘
like that might not seem
to immediately influence
what you do in animation,
but it will creep into some
of your work and make it
more interesting.”
The Port Perry native
found refuge in drawing
and writing stories as a
child. His interest turned
to animation as a way to
translate those two activities.
“I figured making a living out of
animation would be rewarding,” said
Stokes. “And it has been.”
Upon graduation Stokes wanted to
travel rather than dive right into the
working world. He paid a visit to his
sister in England, worked at a hostel in
Holland and visited Switzerland. When
he returned to Canada finding a job in
his field proved difficult.
“I had been away for awhile and
hadn’t been animating a whole lot,” said
Stokes. “It took me a while and I had to
work a lot of other jobs in the meantime
but ended up getting a job at March
Entertainment in Sudbury.”
March Entertainment,
an award-winning
entertainment
company, churns out
such shows as Chilly
Beach and Pet Squad.
Stokes landed the job
at the recommendation
’
of a friend and teacher.
He stayed at March for
10 months, working on
Dex Hamilton: Alien
Entomologist, a show
about the adventures of a young entomologist
in the year 3000 who saves the
planet from a villain trying to destroy it
with super bugs. When he’s not animating
or developing characters Stokes enjoys
playing darts and fishing.
“Be patient and persistent,” said
Stokes, to people trying to get into the
One day you might
be working on something
and think, hey,
this feels a lot like the
story that hilarious
drunk Swedish guy
told me years ago
Corey Stokes
industry. “Don’t stress out. Be honest all
the time. Work hard and always be willing
to learn how to be better. And watch
cartoons.” He also encourages people to
stay in touch with friends and teachers
about the industry. In the eyes of some,
Stokes would be considered a successful
animator. But he said success is different
for everyone.
“I honestly feel successful if I’m happy,”
said Stokes. “Staying curious and
being inspired are important to me too.”
He credits the people in his life who
have inspired and encouraged him
along the way, saying because of their
support he feels successful, adding that
you need your family and friends in life,
so to be nice to them.
The seasoned traveller, who returned
from a trip to India and B.C. this year
enjoys the lenience in his schedule that
animation has to offer. Stokes said he’s
enjoyed a lot of opportunity in animation,
but still sees exciting avenues to
explore.
“It’s very fulfilling to hear people talk
about shows I work on,” said Stokes.
“A guy came to my Halloween party
dressed as Leonard from Ugly Americans.
That’s a great feeling.”
Health benefits of veganism
Region nutrition counsellor
and fitness instructor, has
weaned.
Vegans
‘
“Are you trying to tell me
been a vegan for the last decade.
She grew up in a meat
You have to sort of plan. You can’t wake up one an elephant which is a vegan
morning and be like, I’m a vegan, now what?
will get osteoporosis?” Asked
enjoy
and potatoes kind of family
’
Vallbacka. “You won’t see in
but never enjoyed the taste of
the news anything about animals
having osteoporosis and
steak, and realized as an adult
healthy life that her diet wasn’t agreeing
Trina Vallbacka
they don’t drink cows milk.
with her life.
Her transformation to vegan
lifestyle can be linked to more bag of frozen vegetables, a bag
The cow gets the calcium from
the grass, which is a dark leafy
was a slow process. knowledge of where food of rice and a can of chickpeas vegetable Get calcium from
Amy Valm
“When I got out on my own comes from. In the last 10 seasoned with spice or bbq nuts, seeds, dark leafy vegetables,
exactly the same place
The Chronicle
I realized I didn’t feel well,” years Mad Cow Disease and sauce create a fast easy meal.
said Vallbacka. “I went to the the bird flu have made people Saying that vegan meals really where all the other animals get
In ancient Greece, a philosopher
named Pythagoras be-
you’re lactose intolerant.’ I are eating. Research, like that food. To make stew, substitute Vallbacka encourages any-
doctor and they said, ‘maybe more conscious of what they aren’t far off from “normal” it from.”
lieved in reincarnation. Stemming
from that he felt eating diet and felt so much better.” Dr. Colin Campbell, finds that and ground green lentils to re-
vegan to research and find out
took out all dairy from my in The China Study, a book by a chicken broth for vegetable, one interested in becoming
animals could mean potentially
eating a human soul. He her diet, and only ate chicken ly reduce the risk of diabetes, is a lot like ground meat. In as substitutes before commit-
She then took red meat out of changing diet can dramaticalplace
meat, their consistency what they like and can enjoy
preached that animals should and fish, and discovered she heart disease, and cancer. baking substituting a banana ting. Protein can come from
be treated in the same regard felt physically lighter, and had “I can’t think of something or flaxseed for an egg, or hemp nuts and seeds, any nut can
as humans - entities with souls more energy. She did more that’s not a benefit,” said and rice milk for a liquid be made into a butter. Peanut
not to be eaten or used for research on being vegan and Vallbacka on living a vegan doesn’t up the cost by much. butter comes most readily to
consumption.
decided she’d give it a try. lifestyle. “One of the biggest “Vegetables are vegetables, mind, but almond, cashew,
This is one of the first references
to veganism, which now family are practising vegans, urated fat almost instantly. said Vallbacka. “Rice is rice great sources of protein. Most
Vallbacka, whose entire things is you reduce your sat-
whether you’re vegan or not,” and pumpkin seed butters are
seems to be a growing trend receives compliments about You’re not going to go eat a whether you’re vegan or not. people can’t become a vegan
with famous followers such as her five-year-old twins, and Twix because it’s made with If you’re having meat and vegetables,
lentils and vegetables done.
overnight, but it has been
Bill Clinton and Ellen DeGeneres.
Vegan, a term coined and look so healthy and radi-
by not eating meat you lower is cheaper. It’s cheaper to take “You have to sort of plan,”
how they have a glow to them milk chocolate.” She adds that
in 1944, represents the beginning
and end of the word veg-
She points out that there disease prevention skyrockets. dairy.”
wake up one morning and be
ant.
your protein intake and your out the meat and a lot of the said Vallbacka. “You can’t
etarian.
are many benefits to being She attributes lower cholesterol,
and blood pressure, they like vegan food, Vallbacka That’s when you get into veg-
For those who don’t think like, I’m a vegan, now what?
A vegan can be defined as a vegan, both internally and
vegetarian who chooses not to externally. She illustrates an weight loss, lower cancer risk gives the example of how not an junk food, like soy burgers
consume animals or their byproducts,
and can be put into store once and someone came and arthritis as benefits to liv-
time they try it. She admits she with sodium. It’s vegan but it
example, saying she was in a and risk of getting cataracts everyone likes beer the first and hotdogs, which are loaded
different categories.
up to her and asked if she was ing a vegan lifestyle.
didn’t enjoy chickpeas the first isn’t good for you.”
Ethical vegans won’t use a vegan. Confused by the comment,
Vallbacka looked down vegans don’t get bad breath, you try something a few times can be purchased at grocery
Another interesting fact, time she had them, but after Vegan and organic foods
any form of animal or animal
byproduct in food or in life to make sure she wasn’t wearing
a vegan shirt, replying that their bodies.
it. Some people may have con-
or in health food stores. On-
because of the lack of toxins in you sometimes come to enjoy stores in the natural section,
primarily because of cruelty
to animals, while strict and dietary
vegans will refrain from how he knew. The stranger ing vegan is expensive or diffi-
calcium if they were to cut out a $2 a year membership, and
she was vegan and inquired Often, people think that becerns
about not getting enough tario Natural Food Co-op, has
eating animals or byproducts replied that she just looked cult. Vallbacka gives examples dairy. Vallbacka explains that gets you direct deals via a buyers
club in your area.
such as eggs or milk for their so healthy he knew right away of easy vegan meals. She said humans are the only species
own well-being.
she must be vegan.
that sometimes in her house on the planet that drinks another
species milk after being
Visit www.onfc.ca for more
Trina Vallbacka, a Durham The current rise of vegan if they are rushed for time a
information.