Sean L. Moore took to heart the results of his career survey back in the eighth grade - but really all it did was re-affirm his plans.
Amongst other professions, it listed animator and suggested he look into Sheridan College in Ontario, known for its animation program.
Now the illustrator of six children's books has been short-listed for a BC Book Prize, the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Book prize, with writer Frieda Wishinsky for What's Up, Bear?
The book was Moore's second time collaborating with Wishinsky after Where Are You Bear?
"It can be challenging illustrating a book when the words aren't your own, but it also gave me more freedom to really focus on the illustrations," said the Richmond resident who wrote and illustrated his four books.
Like most kids, Moore was always drawing. He was encouraged to stick with it throughout school.
Starting with an interest in Claymation, he soon moved to animation and eventually into illustrating children's books.
Midway through college, he was offered an internship at the now DHX Media Ltd. studios in Vancouver, and decided to stay on long after his practicum ended.
For Moore, a big draw to the world of animation was being able to develop characters from scratch, give them their own personalities and essentially bring them to life off the table.
"With books, I was really able to run wild with that whole aspect," said the creator. "It's only me moving them around, so in a way, I had more control over how their personalities developed."
On top of that, working in children's literature allows him to think like a child with all of a child's random and entertaining associations.
And for an illustrator who has worked with kids in parks and recreation since high school, his ideas flowed as freely as paint down a canvas.
"I get to be like a big child," said the 36-year-old who was up for a Chocolate Lily Award last year. "They tend to think so freely and it allows me to let go of the restraints that sometimes comes with being an adult."
For What's Up, Bear?, Moore not only had to think like a child, but also had to place himself in a city he hadn't seen before, New York City.
But he did his research and mixed the literal with the conceptual to capture the characters' big city adventure.
"I wanted to emphasize the small stature of the main characters, a little girl and a bear, against the big, vibrant city," he said.
"So I made it really big and bold."
The final product was published in October of last year, taking about six to eight months to complete.
What's Up, Bear? is up against four other books in its group, with the children's literature category being one of seven.
The winners will be announced at the Lieutenant Governor's BC Book Prizes Gala on Saturday, May 4 at Government House in Victoria. For more information on the shortlists, visit www.bcbookprizes.ca.
