Finding New Suns With...
Twin Suns Corp is a new world-class global video game studio developing action games for console and PC.
We believe that great people make great games.
In our "Finding New Suns with..." series, we showcase some of our Trailblazers whose journeys, passion and energy bring our games to life and into the hands of gamers all around the globe.
Brandon Fernández, Animation Director, Twin Suns Trailblazer
Tell us a little about your journey in Animation
I had always planned on going into (and was accepted into college for) a career in medicine, but I also played games incessantly. A game magazine opened my eyes to the possibility of making games as a career, so to the great concern of my parents, I backed out of college and then bounced around tech and art schools, until through much effort and family support, created my first reel.
Thankfully, it landed me a job working on the sequel to the amazing Soul Reaver game. At the time, and maybe even in hindsight, it seemed a bit foolish, but it was/is a hell of a ride that I do not regret.
Follow your passion, keep on pushing.
So what exactly do you do at Twin Suns Corp?
The short of it is, I work with the team to infuse as much personality as we can into our characters while the player and game throws them where they may. It is an incredibly fun and rewarding challenge.
Taking the characters our awesome team of writers has put to paper, and bringing that character and personality to the screen while "on the sticks" is what drives me.
The ability for players to interact, control and grow with the characters is unique to our medium, and has such amazing potential to impact us in unique ways.
What gets you the most excited about Twin Suns Corp?
Working with a team to create something greater than what you can do alone is inspiring. Making a game is tough, you are always running into obstacles/challenges, but the sense of accomplishment you get when you face and overcome those with a team of folks you trust and believe in is amazing.
The team we have created, and continue to grow is the key reason I love what I do each day. That, and you get a cool game out of it. Win/win!
What would be one of your proudest accomplishments?
Professionally, it would have to be while working on Tomb Raider (2013). Out of a very rocky/tough beginning, we formed an amazing animation team (and team as a whole) that I still think about to this day.
Such an amazing group of people that I'm proud to have been a part of.
Any advice to others looking to break into Animation and also traits you look for in an Animator?
It's been long enough since my career began that I don't feel knowledgeable enough to give specific advice on breaking into game animation these days, but when looking for animators, the most important aspects for me are less about animation (still super important!!!), and instead on attitude and passion.
For games, your animation isn't done until it's in game and working, so learning how to, and having a passion for, getting your work in-game always impresses me.