Meet Cody Walzel | Writer and Animation Designer

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

Hi Cody, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk terrifies me. But I’ve learned to suffer through it because it’s led to every success in my life. I broke into animation at 19 after a studio showed their sizzle reel at my college. I thought my work was on that level, but they wouldn’t return my emails. So I showed up at their office in Chelsea, Manhattan. The building required a keycard, so I snuck up in the freight elevator with a delivery man.

I was a squirrely, disheveled college kid, and when I wandered into the Producer’s office, he looked scared. I’m lucky I wasn’t arrested for trespassing. I don’t recommend this technique. But I handed over my portfolio on a flash drive and he looked relieved. “This stuff’s good. We’ll try an internship.”

During the internship I took out trash and ran errands. Every time an art test appeared on the server, I took it, then turned it into the director without asking anyone. I had no idea what I was doing and failed every test. Then I passed a bottom-level cleanup test. The internship became a job, and I had my first industry credits.

Throughout College, I worked entry level animation jobs that paid about $400 a week. Even at the time that wasn’t enough to survive. My school gave no career guidance, so I met up with local professionals. They all gave the same advice: move to Los Angeles.

I had no contacts, zero savings and hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt. So when I graduated, I convinced three friends to move out with me and split the rent. My teachers, classmates, and especially my family said this was a bad idea. They couldn’t believe I’d conned anyone into paying me to make art, and told me to hold onto what I had. I ignored them.

Me and my three friends moved to LA without jobs, a car, or a place to live. We slept on an acquaintances’ floor. He gave us a week to find a way to stay in the city. No one in LA would rent to us from New York. But when we visited the cheap, North Hollywood apartments in person, we got a place the first day. I sent email follow-ups to the animation studios that’d blown me off to let them know I was now around the corner. I got an interview, and was hired on the spot.

This pattern is the only way my life moves forward. Hard work prepares me for change, but does little by itself. When things improve, it’s because I get into an uncomfortable spot and bet on myself.

I survived a brain tumor and was broke from medical bills. But I went into debt taking classes in the hopes of career advancement. That teacher gave me my first union job working for Sony. When I write something that seems too honest or personal to make public, those are the episodes that succeed and the short stories that get published. And the only time I’ve ever been fired, I went out on a limb and asked out one of my former bosses. She’s now my wife and the mother of my child.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
(see previous answer for how I got to where I am professionally, but in terms of my work…)

I like storytelling that sneaks in heart through the trojan horse of entertainment. This is true of most of the projects I’m a part of, and in my personal work. When your defenses are lowered from laughs and silliness, emotion hits harder.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I’ve become a father, many of my recent favorites are local gems I can enjoy on a budget. The Cahuenga General Store is an underrated cafe that looks like a prospector depot from the old west. I rented out the space for my wedding ceremony. Republic of Pie is fantastic. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater is a wild and often perverted ride. Local dive bars like Risky Business and Nobar are friendly and community rich. The Good Nite is the most energetic karaoke bar I’ve ever been to. And the Idle Hour is a historic landmark shaped like a giant barrel, so enough said.

If I have more time, the Petersen Automotive Museum, Academy Museum, and The Observatory are unique LA experiences. I love shows at The Hotel Roosevelt’s speakeasy. For road trips, Big Bear, the Madonna Inn, and Solvang are all scenic, Americana trips out of a Looney Tunes past.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife, Jane Kernan’s, influence has shaped a far more sane, put-together person from the mess I was when we met. She keeps our lives from spinning into chaos. She’s also in animation, so she’s a fantastic second eye for solving creative problems. Many of my best and funniest ideas have come from me turning to her and asking, “What should go here?”

Classes at Concept Design Academy in Pasadena brough my amateur art skills to a professional level. The Writing Pad and Gotham Writer’s Workshop have greatly improved my storytelling ability. And screenwriter Laurence Walsh-Hodson has been a great and supportive mentor.

Website: https://codywalzel.com

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

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

Image Credits
The three environment drawings are courtesy of Hulu’s Solar Opposites. They own the rights to the images.

‘Dick Phucks’ was published in Freedom Fiction Journal, and the image was generated by them.

The black and white photo of me is by Jane Kernan

The color photo of me is by Brian Glazer