Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Leonard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Joshua , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Being the only one in the room, I have learned to be effective/successful by listening, learning, remaining humble, and communicating. As a character designer/artist for animation, games, and film, it is an opportunity that I am very grateful for, but it is also important to read the room. Another important skill you have to have, is the ability to communicate. Communication is good, but great communication is crucial, as it makes work much clearer. Time is money, so understanding what a studio is asking for will save a lot of time.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a professional Character Designer and Animator for film, games, and TV. I am also the Owner of Leonard Studios. I have done work for many different studios, so I have had the opportunity to learn a lot. As an artist and character designer, I create characters that are vibrant, and tell stories that are different than most, mainly by making the focus about diversity and inclusion. This creative mindset that I have has helped me develop one of my personal projects, Team Supreme. It is a story about a group of kids who all have a disability, but also have superpowers. My love for people, and inclusion stems back from when I was a child. As I grew up, I started creating characters who looked “different”, like darker skin, missing limbs, etc. In an industry that has less than 4% of black people in it, I take pride in making a difference, as it pertains to my designs, etc. One major change I am trying to make is how the color black is equated with negativity in animation. The villain is usually a character with black hair, dark bags under their eyes, etc. Children learn fast, and will see this pattern as real life, so these designs must change in the early production stage. With that being said, my other IP is called “Crown”, which is about a boy who has a miraculous gift. It is currently being developed at Leonard Studios, with Zero Gravity.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey would be having tenacity, patience, and belief in myself. I said tenacity because to be successful, one must never give up, and never let anything stop them from their goal/dream. Patience is needed because there will be many NO’s, but that goes back to being tenacious by not allowing these answers ruin your goal. Believing in myself is the biggest quality, because I could have easily given up several times. In 2005, I was homeless from hurricane Katrina, and in 2008, I lost my best friend. I was devastated, but I kept going. To this day, I use all of these experiences as motivation to be successful for them.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for people/companies to partner and collaborate with, especially if their brand connects with mine, which is about diversity and inclusion. I also do speaking engagements at schools, colleges, and businesses, like Novartis, Bowie State, SiriusXM, Pandora, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leonardstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imjoshualeonard/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshualeonardart/
- Twitter: @imj0shuale0nard
- Other: www.joshualeonardart.com
Image Credits
Alex Rogers Photography
