Meet Alex Ahr: Animation Director

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

Hi Alex, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Struggling to calculate the tip on my Denny’s grand slam breakfast, a child one booth over threw a strawberry jelly packet at my head. I was struck immediately with what can only be described as divine inspiration. Like a candle illuminates the darkness, in the dawn of a new strawberry understanding, I knew that I was meant to be an artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was lucky enough to be accepted into the MFA Experimental Animation program at Calarts where I was allowed to color on paper and get away with it. At Calarts I was able to develop my cartoon style and meet incredibly talented collaborators. The single biggest event which has influenced my art thematically however is a neurological condition I developed while at school. It is called Benign Fasciculation Syndrome and ever since its onset, I have been obsessed with making work about what it means to be temporary. I now find a strong interest in using animation and good humor to present a compassionate view of ordinary life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My work takes me to the very cutting edge of human social technologies: no, not twitter, coffee shop patios. Anybody visiting me in Los Angeles is bound to wind up anywhere from Burbank’s Romancing The Bean to a Coffee Commissary (I recommend the vegan chocolate chip cookies). My personalized itinerary shoutout cannot be complete without mentioning the lovely people at The Crooked Path who can help you find a candle to vanquish that pestering spirit, a visit to Steep LA in Chinatown where you’ll find the best tea and small bites, and a visit to a small studio of animators in Silver lake where you will find myself, zach dorn, and Jonah Primiano hard at work discussing the delights of Experimental Animation. 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’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents from whom I received a delightful blend of thyroid issues and courage. And to Los Angeles for accepting me with open arms and enough coffee to keep me going,

Website: www.alexahr.art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwhoanimates/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexahr/