Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation)
Graduation Year: 2009
Yuriy Sivers is a Senior Animator for EA Interactive (a division of Electronic Arts focused on the web and wireless). His film, Humpty Dumpty is Scrambled, was named winner in the Best Animated Film category at the 2009 Student Film Showcase organized by the Toronto International Film Festival Group. The recipient of scholarships from both Teletoon and CanWest, Yuriy worked in the Toronto animation industry before heading overseas in March 2010.
Where did you grow up and what led you to pursue a career in animation?
I was born in 1986 in the USSR, now Ukraine. Drawing for me was not just a pastime, it was an escape. It took me away from things I couldn't understand, much less influence. To this day I recall the chaos, both political and financial, and the confusion on the part of people who were a lot older than I was. When we moved to Canada at the age of 12 I saw, for the first time, a chance to merge my hobby and my livelihood. I soon learned that if I wanted to pursue a career in animation, it would have to be at Sheridan.
To what do you attribute your success at Sheridan and since graduation?
I still look back to my years at Sheridan with a smile and often dream of going back. The college provided me with all the necessary tools to help me succeed (extra classes, equipment, faculty etc). Specifically, the degree program’s heavy emphasis on anatomy and structure helped to shape me as an artist. I am proud to have had such a strong group of students around me. My hope is that Sheridan will continue to uphold its strict admissions policy to maintain its reputation as a top arts and animation school.
What led to your current position in the UK?
Personal circumstances. My fiancée was earning her Master’s degree in London. I was still freelancing in Toronto when she moved to London. After I finished my contract, I had the chance to join her. Being Canadian in my 20s it was relatively easy to get a UK Youth Mobility Visa which allows me to live and work in London for two years.
Do you enjoy any other artistic pursuits?
In my free time I paint using oils to develop my skills and personal style. I always wanted to learn how to use oil paint. It is a very complex medium that requires a lot of patience. Sometimes it takes me three months to complete one piece. Painting allows me to focus on form, light and texture. I can also work on one layer of the painting for an extended period of time, focusing on details. I highly recommend it to any artist. In the future I would like to find a way to merge my love of painting and animation more closely together.
What has been the most memorable experience of your professional life so far?
Screening Humpty Dumpty is Scrambled at multiple international festivals, including Amsterdam, Warsaw, Moscow, Seattle as well as Toronto. (The three-minute film is an animated musical touching on themes of greed, war and world control.)