Meet John Civitillo

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

Hi John, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Great question, I’m still discovering the answer to that myself!

I was always a creative at heart growing up, but the path to being an artist really began in middle school when I put down the sticky note doodles and decided to really apply myself to getting better at drawing none other than Sonic the Hedgehog. Since then, I haven’t put the pencil down when it comes to creating art and stories alike. Come high school, I was at an impasse on whether to continue pursuing my two greatest interests: fine art or film. However, when I came across the realization that animation was a cross between the two, it was no longer a question for me what it was I would do in life.

In one way, animation made total sense for me as a culmination of my creative interests up until that point. In another way, my passions and personality are so intrinsically linked with animation that my connection with it is mysterious to me. When it comes to expressing what’s important to me or reaching out to others with what I create, animation is the natural shape my voice takes, like an instinct. It makes me wonder if I was meant to fall into this art form for a reason, if making cartoons will help me reach people in the way they need it most.

Who knows what the real reason may be, but if I keep animating cool stuff and getting better at drawing Sonic, maybe one day I’ll find out!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since my career is still in its early stages, I think the best way I can describe my journey of being an animator is by talking about my greatest inspiration, a somewhat obscure anime film that’s commonly called Daicon IV. Its namesake is the 1983 sci-fi convention it was designed to be the opening for, and its production team was helmed by a small group of college students with a weak budget, an oppressive timeframe, and a dream. The result is a bombastic animated short completed the morning of its premiere that barely holds it together on the 8mm film it was shot on…and I love it. Its creators’ ambitions soared way above the film’s scale, and regardless of the limitations it faced in production and presentation, the sense of soul that the film has overwhelms anything that detracts from it. It is pure animator-passion on full display, and over 40 years later it awes me every time I watch it.

Entering the animation industry today is a similar story. In a way of looking at it, there are more limitations to being an animator than ever before in the US with dwindling jobs being arbitrarily devalued by corporate mergers, tax write-offs, and ”certain technologies”. In spite of the circumstances, I carry on head-first into the fray because I love this medium. I believe with my soul in its ability to connect to people in the way that Daicon IV connected to me. If the film serves as proof of anything, it’s that no limitations can ever defeat the power of wanting to create. Many of its animators went on to change the landscape of their fields, such as Daicon IV animation director Hideaki Anno, who would go on to create the globally acclaimed Evangelion series.

Overcoming limitations is all about taking chances, aiming high, and holding on tight to that dream! While my advice to aspiring animators is to protect the value of your work in these times, especially from those who want to use your passion to treat you less than you’re worth, never sacrifice that dream you have. It is your greatest, most irrevocable strength, and continues to be the core of my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As someone from South Jersey, I would be contractually obligated to take you to a Phillies game, hahah. Outside of obligation, an activity dear to my heart is visiting Longwood Gardens. It’s a beautiful place to walk through at all times of year, but especially memorable around the winter months when the lights are up. If you’re still up for a drive we can visit a Round1 arcade where I will spend 90% of my credits on the rhythm games…or we could visit some cool movie theaters like the King of Prussia IMAX screen or Warrington 4DX screen! If my car is out of gas though, you and I will be walking to Wawa to get a sandwich, and then taking a stroll on the trails nearby my neighborhood. Still not a bad time!

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?
Special thanks to all of my college friends at our so-called Studio Versus! They kept me strong and passionate about art, even while going to school online during the COVID pandemic. One such friend was kind enough to recommend me for the opportunity to speak here! I would also like to dedicate my thanks to my family for allowing me to follow my passions in this way, and Prof. Anton Campbell for sharing his amazing knowledge at Montclair State University.

Website: https://spacetoothart.wixsite.com/spacetooth-art

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-j-civitillo/

Twitter: https://x.com/spacetooth_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spacetooth_animation 

Image Credits
[sawyer trading card.png] – Card template by fezacreations on Insta [ccs 720.gif] – Adventure Ted character belongs to Childhood Cancer Society