Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Animation director Dan Riba Interview: Superheroes are his special directorial power

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 inking.

 

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

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