We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Christy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Working in animation, people always assume that I want to work for Disney or Pixar– and honestly that was never the case. While I very much appreciate the work that those companies have done, it was never my goal. I think there is so much interesting animation being done on a smaller level in advertising and it gives you an opportunity to explore and experiment more than you ever would on a 2 hour feature film.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My work currently falls in one of two directions– tech clients or charity/non-profit work. Because of that, I am able to not only use my talents to make work for some of the biggest companies in the world, I am able to give that same care and attention to clients who may not have the budgets to truly afford high-quality design and animation. Making enough money to support my family is obviously important, but knowing that I can help out organizations who are truly making a difference in people’s lives is so rewarding. It’s a major reason I have chosen to stay independent rather than go full-time at an agency or tech company. The ability to decide that a project isn’t a good fit for me has been a major driver in how I have managed my career and how I ultimately see my business growing. I am currently in the process of a bit of a rebrand and general refocus– I have worked under the name Zach Christy Design now for my independent work, but never really had a business name. That is changing shortly and the official launch will happen in 2021. But, the core methodology behind the decisions I am making as a human and a business owner are not. I am striving to make not only good work, but work that is helping people when possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Right now, is such a weird time to be living in the city- between Covid19 and my wife and I recently having a son, my life has turned upside down. We have been staying a lot closer to home these days– That being said, getting out, safely, is important. Living in Playa Vista, it’s pretty easy to get to most things on the west side. I love Playa Provisions in Playa Del Rey and am thrilled that their takeout menu is readily available. Their breakfast sandwich is top-notch. There is a wonderful 3 mile trail right by LMU that has been a major source of my sanity during these strange times. Because LMU students are not on campus, hardly anyone is using the trail and it allows for some time to feel like you are alone in nature. You can still see Playa Vista below, but for the most part, you are alone with your thoughts and it’s wonderful. If you are getting pizza on the west side, I highly recommend The Dough Room in Palms. Get the Spicy Bear pizza– it’s fantastic.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I really don’t think I would be in this industry if it were not for Justin Cone and the team behind Motionographer (https://motionographer.com/). I started off my career doing editing and a bit of live-action shooting and was frustrated about my career options moving forward. I couldn’t imagine doing that for another 50 years. One day when I was working at Uppercut Motion and Sound in Cleveland, a coworker had Motionographer open and it totally opened my eyes to the possibilities. Since then, I have never looked back.

Website: www.zachchristy.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachinpublic/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachchristy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zachinpublic

Image Credits
All images were designed by Zach Christy

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