Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Some kids grow up just pretending to be their favorite superheroes. Fortunately, animation director Dan Riba took it a step further and actually decided to draw his childhood action figure toys on paper. His love for the superhero genre began developing at a very early age, as he spent hours building an imaginary world around his action figures. This would become the foundation of the incredible visionary director who basically works on all the globally known and iconic Superheroes animated television series. The beauty of being an animator creator is that your artwork can be transformed from a still drawing to moving footage with voiceover. Dan's job as director is likened to being the Captain of a crime fighting Superhero Team except these heroes are armed with animator power. As Captain Animator, what makes the production team work seamlessly together under his creative vision is his leadership abilities to capture the audience's attention. Being a three time Daytime Emmy Award Winner recipient for Freakazoid, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, and Batman Beyond is certainly proof that Superheroes are his special Directorial power.
1. How would you describe your fashion style for
promotions events vs personal everyday wear?
I wear what is comfortable. I used to
wear a red shirt & black pants most of the time when I was back at Warner
Bros. My convention attire is usually a show or character themed T-shirt or
crew shirt with a loose Hawaiian or solid color short sleeved shirt. I wear a
fanny pack so much that it is my signature. I picked up the habit of using them
while I was in Japan in 1985. That was where the trend started, I think. People mostly
use them now for jogging. I wear them because I have an attachment to
things. I think it is my way of honoring Batman's utility belt.
2. What recent fashion trend have you
noticed and considered trying, even though they may be a little out of your
comfort zone? (During our conversation we spoke about if I had seen the new red boot
trend. I recall you mentioning that you were not sure if you would wear them
yourself, but you seemed pretty fascinated by these then.)
I think that inflated pants trend that the fashion shows
were showcasing a year ago or so. I think they look incredibly
stupid….and yet a part of me wants to try them on and wear them around.
3. Which theme song from anything you worked on is your
favorite?
I love so many of the theme songs. The Justice League
& Justice League Unlimited are great but, the one that I love the most is
the Batman Beyond theme.
4. What was your favorite toy or activity from your
childhood? Were you an avid comic book reader?
I loved my toys as a kid & my hands
down favorite was the Captain Action figure. We didn’t call them dolls. He
could be dressed up as any hero. I had Captain America and the Flash Gordon and
Aquaman that first Christmas, then later on the released Spider-man. I was able
to recreate my favorite scenes from the comics with him. I got Superman
later on and put the Dr. Evil tunic on him & drew a moustache & grey
temples and made him into Dr. Strange.
5. Were you an avid comic book reader?
Yes. I started with Donald Duck & Richie Rich &
graduated to the superheroes, both Marvel and DC. I loved Jack Kirby and Steve
Ditko’s work, Wallace Wood, Al Willamson, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Berni Wrightson,
& Jack Cole. Later on, I discovered Will Eisner’s work and that was my
biggest inspiration. It blew my mind that I got to go to School of Visual
Arts and Eisner was my teacher. And then on my first in house job in animation,
Doug Wildey the creator of Jonny Quest and Jack Kirby were both freelancers and
showed up every week. I actually got to ink Jack Kirby’s presentation art!!!!
6. What
character do you wish fans cosplayed as more often?
There are so many that have been done so many times but,
I only saw ONE Freakzoid at a con a few years ago and he was wild…it made me
very happy. So, more Freakzoids would be fun to see.
7. What makes you feel like a superhero? What everyday
talent do you have that could be similar to having a superpower?
Helping people. Whether giving a
friend a ride or donating to a shelter. Any time I do something for somebody I feel
like a superhero.
8. What everyday talent do you have
that could be similar to having a superpower?
I’m told I listen
well so, that could be a power. I think it’s my fanny pack or pouch. It really
is my utility belt. I keep everything I need in it.
9. . What item in your fanny pack/utility belt have you found to be
most useful?
Phone chargers.
I also used to carry a small Swiss army knife type device with pliers and
screwdrivers in case of emergencies. I also used to carry a lighter even
though I don't smoke.
10. What reference in Freakazoid did
you find to be the most humorous?
My favorite Freafazoid
reference is the way he pretends to fly while running. I used to do that as a
kid and it is still so much fun to do. I even came out on stage doing it.
11. Since I am a
fan of anime and Japanese culture, I really enjoyed hearing about your travels
to Asia, in particular the short time you spent in Japan, working on
Freakazoid. Besides watching the avant-garde band The Residents perform on a
rooftop rockin' giant eyeballs and dapper tuxedos. Was there anything that you did
there that caught your attention enough to influence you?
In general, seeing how the Japanese
work was inspiring to me and affected me. I saw young people sleeping under
their desks from the crazy schedules. I
saw how the backgrounds were painted & the cameraman’s setup with all of
the special tools used for effects, all obsolete now because of the digital
12. What advice do you have for an aspiring director?
Try to be open to your
storyboarder’s ideas. Some directors have a narrow vision of what they want to
see and if they don’t communicate that well to the board artist, they don’t
deliver that vision exactly. But I try to be receptive to input. Animation is a
collaboration. If people don’t feel they are contributing creatively they won’t
give you their best efforts. When I talk to young people starting out, they all think that they are going to be the next big creator, like Pen
Ward or Rebecca Sugar. It usually doesn’t work out that way. It is important to
have dreams. But, for a long career it is just as important to be able to graft
your taste & skills to someone else’s dream and to be versatile.
13. What film or TV series made you want to become a director?
So many shows inspired me as a child. Astroboy, Jonny
Quest, Speed Racer, The Fantastic Four, Spiderman, & Space Ghost. But I don’t think I was inspired
to direct until I was watching the Japanese shows while in college, Cyborg 009
and Captain Harlock. I was also inspired by comic books, Will Eisner’s The
Spirit was a big influence, that more than anything.
14. How much input do you get in regard to costume
design?
The costume design depends on the
project. I used to have a little when I was in design at Batman but, it was
less and less as the shows went on. I put a WW1 flight cap on the Penguin for
an episode I directed & drew it myself. Because the crew was so overwhelmed
with making the Batman Beyond DVD while we were still making the show, I have
to do rough designs for incidentals and some villains. But mostly we have an
art director that calls the shots.
15. Of those not
already adapted into a live action version, which one of your animated works
would you love to see become a live action movie?
I usually think that live action adaptations aren’t
really better than the cartoon versions, so I don’t think cartoons needs to be
adapted to be legitimate. BUT, I have wondered what a Batman Beyond live action
would be like. I would be very curious to see how a live action Freakazoid
could possibly work. It would have to be completely freeform like Monty
Python…nutty. I don’t know it would work as a series or a movie but, maybe as a
short or a commercial.
16. Do you have any upcoming
appearances?
I
do commission covers from time to time, & may be setting up another cover signing
& commission session with CGC this year.
Dan's website: https://danriba.com/?page_id=373
Wig extensions: https://amzn.to/3C3G5Zl
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