michael yates Archives - Graphic Policy

Pixar Story Artist Michael Yates is coming to AfroComicCon

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Graphic Policy Team

AfroComicCon has announced that story artist Michael Yates will be among the Special Guests for this year’s virtual convention!

Join Pixar Animation Studios Story Artist Michael Yates as he discusses his background, professional path, and gives you an inside look at the story process for Disney and Pixar’s newest film, SOUL, releasing on Disney+ December 25. Michael will also discuss being part of Pixar’s Internal Culture Trust and the importance of authenticity in creating the studio’s first African American protagonist.

Michael Yates joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2015 as a story artist. Yates worked on the feature films Cars 3 and Toy Story 4. He most recently was a story artist on Pixar’s upcoming feature Soul, which is set to release on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. Yates is currently in development on an unannounced Pixar project.

As a story artist, Yates helps craft the story by drawing storyboards that depict characters, action, and setting. Storyboards are edited together into sequences that provide early visualizations of the film that help demonstrate what works best for the story.

Prior to Pixar, Yates interned at Walt Disney Animation Studios before working at Cartoon Network. He also worked on Guillermo del Toro’s Trollhunters at DreamWorks Animation. Yates also co-directed the award-winning short Legend of the Flying Tomato.

AfroComicCon‘s 1st virtual convention will be held on October 24, 2020. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the annual event started in 2017 by the Oakland Technology & Education Center (OTEC), will be held virtually and free through a portal on the organization’s website. Sponsored by the NNPA, the Oakland A’s, and Pixar Entertainment, AfroComicCon promises to be a day full of exciting panels, screenings, entertainment, gaming, cosplay and special guests. The 12-hour event is currently slated to be live-streamed across multiple platforms including YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. You can register now.

Conventions

Urban Legendz is an All Ages Graphic Novel Debut from Nick Bruno, Paul Downs, and Michael Yates

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Graphic Policy Team

What if all of the urban legends we all fear…were real? Find out in Urban Legendz this June!

In Urban Legendz, a group of young vigilantes dedicates themselves to solving a series of supernatural crimes in Brooklyn.

After his mother’s death, Dwayne is forced to uproot himself and move into the home where his mother grew up: a shabby apartment in Brooklyn. When your dad is a police officer, and your brother’s too cool for school, what’s an insecure teen supposed to do? Dwayne’s personal problems are cast aside when he joins a new crew of young vigilantes, devoted to solving a series of sinister cases surrounding mysterious monsters that have been wreaking havoc throughout the city.

Acclaimed animators Nick Bruno, Paul Downs, and Michael Yates make their graphic novel debut with a spooky, supernatural graphic novel for readers of all ages.

Humanoids will publish Urban Legendz in bookstores on June 11th and in comic shops on June 12th.