Sonya Carey - Black Animator - Creators For The Culture

#RunTheCulture

Sonya Carey is both a black animator and glass ceiling breaker. Animation is a (white) male dominated industry. Only 20 percent of the animation workforce is women and that includes animation producers-directors, animation writers, designers and general animators. The numbers are even lower for black women.

But Sonya Carey has defied the numbers. She’s enjoyed a nearly 25-year career thus far and has earned a name for herself in technical animation. Carey is one of the only black women to ever do so. Her list of credits are incredible and include Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”, “The Proud Family Movie“, “Ren and Stimpy” and even “Winnie the Pooh”.

Born in London, and raised in Jamaica and then to Canada, Sonya’s worldly and diverse upbringing has fueled her creativity. She developed a love for theatre in high school. Then in college she majored in Drama and began to shape her career as a technical artist focusing on lighting and sound. After graduating she moved to Los Angeles and took an interest in animation. She taught herself and then landed her first job, as a compositor on the “Ren and Stimpy” show and her career took off from there. Which included running her own animation studio, Portfolio Entertainment.

Now, with her years of experience at the top of the animation industry as an artist and Producer, Sonya is sharing her knowledge through teaching. Carey is the founder and lead trainer of The Animation Lounge. Through the Animation Lounge Carey is helping aspiring animators refine their skills and preparing them to work in a professional studio setting. They even take on students that have no prior experience at all.

A long distinguished career with a great list of credits? Check. Giving back and helping the next generation of animators? Check. Sonya Carey is a black animator and creator for The Culture playing her part and bringing our images to the screen.