B - Animae Caribe

22
Trabajando juntos Cuba & TT
For
decades the
Cuban animation
studio ICAIC has
been producing the most beautiful
animation the world has never
seen.
This all changed when Animae
Caribe Director Camille Selvon
Abrahams made history by creating
a venue to screen Cuban animation
outside of Cuba. She also brought
Cuban master animator Alexander
Rodriguez over to Trinidad to join
her animation studio Full Circle
Production to help produce the
Caribbean’s first locally animated
television series: The Anansi
Cronicles.
We caught up with Alexander at
Full Circle Animation Studio.
Alex, tell us what you do in
Cuba and how you came to
be involved with animation
in Trinidad and Tobago?
I have been a Cinematographic
Animator in Cuba for 12 years now
at ICAIC, an animation studio.
Now I am a filmmaker of animation
movies. I have been here in the
past for Animae Caribe, that’s
where I met Camille, she invited me
to come and train the animators at
Full Circle. I also did a couple of
lectures at UTT for the Animation
diploma students.
Alex how do you like
partnering with a Trinidad &
Tobago Animation studio?
For me it is an honor to participate
in the birth of an animation studio.
My girlfriend Isis joined me on this
trip, her first trip outside of Cuba, so
it has been a great experience for
the both of us.
What do you think about the
future of animation in the
Caribbean?
In some Caribbean Islands
animation is growing, it takes
some time, dedication and study to
make it better. It is very important
to enjoy working on animation
because it is one of the most
difficult professions of the Seventh
Art (cinema). Cuba has some
experience and has no problem
teaching the ones who need it.