In the world of animation, passion and dedication can take you far. For Wayne, founder of Left Hand Animation, the journey began with a simple yet profound desire to bring his drawings to life. In this exclusive interview, we explore his background, latest projects, and the inspiration behind his work.

Wayne’s love for animation ignited during his gap year between high school and university. As a child, he had always enjoyed drawing, but he longed for more as he wanted his illustrations to move and tell stories. With the help of YouTube tutorials and free animation apps on his phone, he began teaching himself the fundamentals of animation.

“I started drawing with swipes of my finger on my cheap smartphone,” Wayne recalls. “I already had so many stories to tell, and I became good at it. Or maybe I was just the only person in my city crazy enough to put in that much effort!”

One of his latest projects, A Hero’s Legacy, is a local story available on his YouTube channel, Left Hand Animation. The project is a collaboration with sound designer CosmosRoinuj, and Wayne is eager to share it with his audience.

“A Hero’s Legacy is a project I worked on purely for the passion,” Wayne explains. “We hope you love it!”

Another notable project, Lost in Translation, is an animation series designed to teach French culture and language. The idea was born from Wayne’s experience at the Alliance Française de Bulawayo, where he met director Mr. Guillaume Ripaud.

“I wanted to contribute to the Alliance Française de Bulawayo by using my talent to market them,” Wayne says. “I decided to create an animation series that would passively teach French and engage viewers in French culture.”

As a freelance animator, Wayne has learned to balance his creative vision with the need for commercial success. For him, staying true to his artistic identity is key.

“I know I am a rare gem, and that gives me the confidence to stay true to my vision,” he says.

Despite his growth, Wayne still uses the free animation apps he started with, as they allow him to achieve a traditional animation feel. However, he is particularly excited about the new generation of 2D animation software, especially Procreate Dreams.

“I love drawing on Procreate – it is flawless and feels like magic,” he shares.

For those aspiring to break into the animation industry, Wayne offers one crucial piece of advice: make sure it is your passion.

“Even if you are experienced, animation is so intensive that you would quit without a strong ‘why’ and a real desire to keep going,” he warns.

Wayne’s journey is a clear reflection of the power of passion and perseverance. From humble beginnings to groundbreaking projects, he continues to push the boundaries of animation, inspiring a new generation of creatives along the way.