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Andy Lecocq

  • Training 3D Animation & FX
  • currently works at MPC
  • position Senior Animator
  • location London

Andy le Cocq joined ESMA Montpellier in September 2008, after spending 3 years at the University of Toulouse le Mirail. He made the short film Swing of Change during his final year at ESMA.

ESMA: Can you tell us about your training in the 3D Animation Film Cycle at ESMA?

Andy le Cocq: I started at ESMA Montpellier in September 2008, after spending 3 years at the University of Toulouse le Mirail. There I studied art in the broadest sense of the term: graphic arts, design, contemporary practice, architecture, academic drawing, illustration and art history.
I realised that I really wanted to study cinema and 3D animation.
Following numerous recommendations, I decided to join ESMA.

  • A very interesting first year

I arrived at ESMA very curious about all the subjects the school taught, and I wasn’t disappointed at all! Whether it was 3D or 2D, every subject I studied gave me a really solid grounding for the rest of my studies and even today in my professional life.

  • An intense second year

There were so many new concepts, subjects and topics to grasp, understand, absorb and master. I worked very hard and I felt enormously satisfied at the end of this second year.

  • The third year: the year of challenges!

I had to make my short film as part of a team, work together, work hard, sleep little, discover new things, fail again and again, finish my short film, attend the screening, stress, cry, feel proud and find a job!

E: What do you remember about your training at ESMA?

Andy le Cocq: I’d say that these three years were all about hard work, persistence and a certain amount of relentlessness. Of course, I’d say there was a lot of sharing with people in the class, but above all there were a lot of discoveries.

E: What opportunities did you have after graduating?

Andy le Cocq: After graduating, I decided to take a month’s holiday to unwind and see my family after a year’s hard work.
After a month, I got a call from Electric Theatre Collective London offering me a job as a 3D Generalist to go and work in advertising!
I also received other offers to work in video games, but my main aim was to live and work in London!
So I quickly accepted the offer from Electric Theatre Collective and here I am 1 month later in their offices. I became the first CG Artist recruited by Electric Theatre Collective!

E: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Andy le Cocq: I started my professional experience at Electric Theatre Collective as a CG Artist. I stayed for 3 years and grew along with the studio. I worked on various projects of different sizes and budgets.

This ranged from a simple Cadbury’s chocolate bar project to doing animation for a Sony Playstation advert, then supervising a team on a Gucci project and then working closely with directors on a music video project for the band Foals, and finally going to Denmark to supervise a shoot where 3D products were inserted later in post-production.

After 3 years it was time for a new challenge, so I joined the Framestore Film team as a Creature/Character Animator.

I worked on a lot of projects in the space of a year and a few months:

Then in July 2016, Industrial Light and Magic made me an offer. I had no choice but to accept!
In the space of just under 2 years I’ve had the huge and incredible opportunity to work on some of the biggest movie franchises:

In April 2018, I decided to join MPC as a Senior Animator.

I’m currently working on the adaptation of the novel “The One and Only Ivan” for the cinema, unfortunately I can’t tell you more…

What are your greatest successes?

Andy le Cocq: Without any hesitation, I’d say that today my greatest pride is to have had the chance to work on Star Wars and Jurassic World. These are films that push you to become a 3D Artist, so obviously having the opportunity to work on these films is an achievement.

How did you get into MPC? (unsolicited application, they contacted you…)

Andy le Cocq: I joined MPC as an unsolicited application. I knew ‘vaguely’ what projects MPC was working on and I wanted to be involved.

What is your job title at MPC and what are your responsibilities?

Andy le Cocq: I’m Senior Creature/Character Animator. I’m responsible for animating creatures as well as characters in different shots of the film. I have to develop race cycles for different creatures that will be used by the rest of the team.
I also help the other members of the team with the animation process, as well as dealing with technical problems.

Do you have a website or an online portfolio?

On vimeo you can find a sample of my personal and professional work and on my personal blog you’ll find 2D, drawings and paintings.

Do you have a message for ESMA students?

Andy le Cocq: Stay strong, it’s worth it!