Advancer Spotlight: Zdenko Santini

Advancer Spotlight: Zdenko Santini

With his broad smile, sense of humour and habit of whistling uplifting tunes, Zdenko Santini is a positivity powerhouse that has earned a special place in the heart of Advancers since he joined the agency as Art Director fifteen years ago.

Besides his ability to brighten any room, Zdenko is an illustrative genius whose storyboarding skills and animation expertise are highly valued in our creative department (and his passion for whipping up the most delicious Friday breakfasts is pretty widely celebrated, too).

In this Advancer Spotlight, Zdenko shares what led him to Advance, how he pursued his passion for illustration and where he turns to for creative inspiration.

How long have you been at Advance and what is your role?
I started here as a freelancer 17 years ago. I was 26 at the time, and I came in to help with storyboarding (creating visual representations of scripts and narratives). The more time I spent at the agency, the more I got to help out—not just with illustrating, but with conceptualizing campaigns, too. Two years later, I was offered a full-time job as Art Director. That’s still my role today, and I spend most of my time working on projects for the LEGO® Group.

What sparked your passion for illustration?
I’ve been passionate about illustration ever since I was a kid. I was eight years old when I first told my parents that I wanted to make cartoons when I grew up, and the first cartoon I truly fell in love with was Tom & Jerry. It’s such a simple idea of cat versus mouse, with no language or limitations, just pure imagination. And the use of music and humour is universal! I was inspired by the power of visuals to tell a story, so I picked up a pencil, started drawing, and haven’t stopped since.

“I was inspired by the power of visuals to tell a story, so I picked up a pencil, started drawing, and haven’t stopped since.”

How did you develop your skills?
I was extremely fortunate to intern at two great animation studios in high school: Hokus Bogus, where I made my first animation short movie, and Søren Thomas Film. This was very important for my development, especially because I was one of the youngest and least experienced when I first got started. I spent my days endlessly drawing and practicing, and the hard work paid off: after high school, I started as the youngest student ever at The Animation Workshop in Viborg, where I studied classical character animation.

I worked at A Film A/S after my studies, where a highlight was getting to work on the feature film Help! I’m a Fish. I also worked in the animation movie industry on both big and small productions for Disney, DreamWorks and others. All of these experiences were important stepping stones in getting me to where I am today, and I feel lucky to have gotten to train my skills in so many different environments, surrounded by so many talented people.

“I feel lucky to have gotten to train my skills in so many different environments, surrounded by so many talented people.”

How do you use your skills in your work today?
Two things instantly come to mind: my understanding of filmmaking and my ability to draw fast. Creating campaigns is like telling stories within parameters, and my background in filmmaking helps me tell engaging stories that are easy to understand even when time is limited. Drawing fast helps during many phases of the creative process: I can create storyboards quickly and deliver last-minute adjustments without a problem, which is especially useful in an industry where things tend to be needed at the eleventh hour.

“My background in filmmaking helps me tell engaging stories that are easy to understand even when time is limited.”

Where do you get your creative inspiration from?
My family has aways been a huge source of inspiration for me. I have two amazing kids and, having spent so much time working on projects for the LEGO Group, there were many years when I had the perfect target group for my work right at home. From LEGO Disney to LEGO Bionicle, my kids grew alongside my work, and it felt like the perfect synergy. Nowadays, I get my inspiration from being a trainer at my boxing club and sharing my passion for cooking. And, of course, from all of the classic 2D animated films!

What’s your favourite project that you’ve worked on?
It’s impossible to pick just one, but I loved working together with Trudy Follwell on the LEGO Disney Princess Minisodes. The joy of bringing these classic, beloved stories to life in a whole new way still makes me smile today. Another favourite is the LEGO Bionicle episodes. We got to be involved in the full creative process, from story and character development to style and formatting, and it was very rewarding to put my 2D animation skills to use in such an imaginative and creative way.

What’s your favourite part of working at Advance?
Everything. The people, the culture and the fact that I get to practice my passion for drawing on a daily basis make this a truly amazing place to work. I also love how varied my job is: I work on projects for the LEGO Group 99% of the time, but no two tasks are ever the same. One day I’m drawing cats, and the next I’m creating a storyboard for a short film that takes place in 1920. There’s never a dull moment!

Final question: what’s an important lesson you’ve learned through your work?
Never compare yourself to anyone: identify your own unique skills, strengthen them and use them whenever you can. The works that I’m most proud of are a result of combining my talents with those of other people, and I’m truly grateful to work together with such diverse and inspiring colleagues on a daily basis.