G7 Blog

GANG OF “7” WELCOMES NEW PARTNER!

Talk about excitement around here! No, we’re not talking about the holidays. And we’re not even talking about the news that we happen to be relocating into a really gorgeous, new studio… that we’ll fill everyone in about at a later date.

No, we’re talking about Rik Maki, one of the biggest talents and names in the Animation Industry, joining our studio, “Gang of 7 Animation”. This multi-talented group just keeps getting more diversified and talent rich by the day. You can read more about Rik’s History on our Biography of Partners and Associates soon. In the meantime, let us talk to you a little about Rik. Ready?

Rik Maki was born in Canada. He played AA Ball for the New York Yankees Farm System and was close to becoming a professional baseball player, but hurt his shoulder so badly that he decided to try his hand at drawing instead. That turned out to be his real passion. Maybe it was fate! And lucky for the Animation World! Still, a warning to the wise: don’t ever get Rik and our Producer, Tom Tataranowicz, started on the subject of baseball. They’ll talk your ears off! (Side Note: Tom really, really hates the Yankees. This year’s butt-whoopin’ of those over-rated Pinstripers by the Detroit Tigers still has his head spinning in giddy delirium).

These two guys will also talk Animation all day long, which is really the true love of everyone at “Gang of 7.”

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, back to Canada and Rik…

He ended up going to Canawest Films Studio where he worked with a man named Lew Saw Caustraton. Rick started out cleaning animation cells, janitorial work, basically doing whatever he was asked to do. No work was beneath this humble guy. That didn’t last too long though, as his talent became obvious and he quickly learned inbetweening, break downs and animation in general. Rick got hooked.

Rik decided to come to Los Angeles in 1978 and started work at Hanna Barbara. That’s where he met our Producer, Tom “T.” There, he honed his craft and skills until March of 1983. Rik then moved on to Filmation Studio where he was hired by another one of our Associates, Lou Scheimer, who at that time was President of Filmation. There, he continued alongside Tom T. and also with our Director, Rich Arons. They all felt like they were working in a candy store, tasting and teething on all aspects of animation. Rik started out doing Assistant animation work and eventually moved into Development until 1989. He then worked at Marvel Studios for a few months.

Eventually, Disney Studio nabbed Rik from 1990 until 2006. Lucky Disney! Rik worked on Development, Character Design, Storyboards at Disney’s for such new animated Classic films like, “Lion King,” “Fantasia 2000,” “Hercules,” “Dinosaur,” “Atlantis,” “Tarzan,” “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and many Pixar projects, just to name a few. And believe us, there were many, many more -- We’ll give you more details soon on our Profiles section of our Web Site.

The truth of the matter is that we feel incredibly lucky to have Rik on board. Huge thanks to the Animation Gods who pushed Rik into the open arms of our creative environment. He has decided to move on and join “Gang of 7 Animation” permanently. Like I said earlier, we are more than excited.

By the way, did you know that Rik (at least this is what the Animation Gods tell us) was born with a drawing pencil in his little hand? We can’t remember a time when he wasn’t drawing. Rik is a natural talent that pushes that graphite effortlessly. What a joy to watch! In every studio he has been at throughout his career, Rik has consistently produced so many breathtaking drawings they could have wall papered the entire studio with them. This is one prolific and gifted Artist!

And lucky California Institute of the Arts because Rik has been, and is still teaching future Animation professionals for the last seven years. His students love him.

Whew! We could talk about Rik forever, but well… you get the point. “Gang of 7 Animation” and all of our Associates welcome Rik with the same joy we feel for our Film Industry.

We are all very much looking forward to spending the rest of our Artistic careers Drawing, Designing and creating inspirational films as an artistic force so powerful, so talented, so driven that there is no stopping this powerhouse of Artists now!

Thanks for becoming a full fledged partner, Rik Maki! Excited? Well, just a little!

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Rik working on project for G7.

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A production meeting in progress with Rich, Rik, Dennis and Tom.

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Tom exhibits his "authority" to Rich, Rik and Dennis...without much success.

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Rik is happy to be part of the "gang"...

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And we're happy he's here!