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Victor Cook is a veteran in the animation industry. He has worked on many projects for major companies including Walt Disney Television Animation and Sony Entertainment Television.
Victor is currently the Supervising Director for the WB animated series Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated that can be seen on Cartoon Network. It is the newest incarnation of Scooby Doo and has been well received by fans and critics alike.
A major accomplishment for Victor this past year was the publication of his first comic book mini-series, Mecha-Nation. A significant note about Mecha-Nation is that one of the main characters happens to be Korean-American.
We are pleased to present this interview with Victor Cook.
Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.
Background: The Basics on Victor Cook
Where were you born, raised and currently reside?
I was born on the Johnson Air Force Base in Saitama, Japan. I moved to San Antonio, Texas when I was two years old, then moved to Florida in time for kindergarten when I was 5. I completed first and second grade in Fort Worth, Texas, 3rd through 5th grade in Euless, Texas. I went to middle school through half my junior year of high school while living on Kadena Air Force base, Okinawa and finished high school in Atwater, California. After high school, I came down to southern California to attend Cal State Long Beach. Currently, I live in Canyon Country, California.
How did your parents meet?
My parents met in 1958, at the Air Force cafeteria. My mom worked at the cafeteria at the Air Force base my dad was stationed at in Korea.
Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have two brothers and two sisters.
Are you fluent in Korean?
I know about 5 words in Korean.
What is your favorite Korean food?
Kalbi.
Did you grow up around other half/mixed Koreans (or people of mixed heritage)?
Yes, being an Air Force brat, and especially while I was living at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, I grew up around many kids who were half Japanese, half Korean and other half Asian nationalities.
Did you ever experience any identity issues while growing up?
No.
As a mixed Korean, do you feel that you are accepted as a “Korean” by the Korean/Korean-American community at large?
I have never tried to be accepted as anything but what I am, an American whose ethnicity just happens to be half Caucasian and half Korean. People see that I look Asian, but that I am culturally American, so relate to being Asian-American. Not sure what the “community” at large thinks, but Korean and Korean-American press has covered me in a positive way regarding some of the projects I have worked on.
When was the last time you have been to Korea?
I went in October 2009, November 2007 and October 2002 because of my job. I went in 1977 with my family for a visit.
What do people who meet/see you think your ethnicity is?
People say I look 100% Asian. Some say Filipino. Some say Hawaiian.
Career: Director/Producer/Animator/Mecha-Nation
How did you first get involved in the entertainment industry?
After College, while working as a graphic artist and political cartoonist for the Daily Pilot in Costa Mesa, I applied to Filmation and was hired as an In betweener/Assistant Animator.
From there I went on to storyboard for Walt Disney TV Animation, which led to directing assignments.
Were you always into the arts and is what you are doing now what you wanted to do?
I was always into cartooning, comic strips, comic books and animation. I was the staff cartoonist on my school’s newspapers in middle school, high school and college.
My original goal was to draw comic strips for newspapers. While submitting strips to syndicates, I decided to try the animation industry, got hired and loved it.
Were you parents supportive in your career in arts/entertainment?
When I was a kid/teen talking about wanting to be a cartoonist, my dad was very supportive. My mom was worried about the “idea” of it, if there were actually going to be any jobs. But now both happy and relieved and very supportive of the career I have.
Within the industry, do you think that being of mixed-Asian (Korean) descent has had any effect on your career?
No.
You have done a lot of different jobs in the industry, is there any particular one you have enjoyed the most?
I like it all.
Is there anybody specific in your industry that you enjoy working with?
I have been lucky to have worked with a lot of people I respect and like.
When you were starting out did you have any mentors? Were there any artists that you admired or still admire?
I didn’t really have a specific mentor. But there were people along the way, Directors, Producers, management, that were very supportive of me and gave me opportunities.
I am fan of a lot of people I work with.
What is your current role at WB?
I am the Supervising Director of Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated.
What exactly does your role as “Supervising Director” for Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated entail?
I work collaboratively with the crew, artists and producers on the staging, acting and the visual film making.
What kind of reaction/response has Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated received?
Judging from the fan reaction on Toonzone and the ratings on Cartoon Network, I would say the fan response has been very positive. This is the newest TV series incarnation of Scooby Doo.
What is some of your work that can currently be seen?
On TV, Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated is brand new on Cartoon Network. The Spectacular Spider-Man is in reruns on Disney XD. You can probably watch some of the episodes I directed of Mickey Mouse Club House on The Disney Channel. On DVD, Dante’s Inferno was released February 2010.
What is a highlight of your prior work?
The early Disney Afternoon series were fun to work on. I enjoyed storyboarding on Darkwing Duck.
Obviously the Mecha-Nation comic book is a big personal project. How long has that been in the making and how does it feel to finally see it in print?
Well the germ of the idea has been with me since high school. Pretty to cool to see it in comic book form.
What was the origin of Mecha-Nation?
As a teen I had this weird thought that adults were like robotic drones, working and paying bills, their freedom lost. That sparked the idea of what if that really happened, that we are born human, but actually become robots by the time of adulthood with all freedom and humanity lost. The years in between, the teen years would be the middle of this transformation, part human and machine. Years later, as an adult who was now working and paying bills, I decided to revisit this idea. I approached Greg Weisman and Greg Guler to partner with me and develop Mecha-Nation as an animated series. After getting close at a few studios, we decide we needed to take Mecha-Nation from pitch to an intellectual property. APE Entertainment saw our pitch and offered to publish a three issue comic series.
Is Mecha-Nation your first comic book series that you have worked on?
Yes.
What has been the reception for Mecha-Nation been like so far?
The reviews from various websites have all been good, it is liked by the people who have seen and read it. Colleagues say they like it too.
Are all 3 issues of Mecha-Nation available now?
No. The second issue comes out later this year.
Any goals for Mecha-Nation outside of just the comic book series?
For me the goal is an animated series.
What’s next for Mecha-Nation? You mentioned you would like to do an animated series. Are there plans for additional series of comics?
We are pitching it as an animated project. So far there has been no talk of more issues but we do have more stories to tell.
Any projects we should look for in the near future?
A Ben 10 CG TV movie is a future project of mine in the works.
What is your role for the Ben 10 project?
Director and Supervising Producer.
What are some of your career plans and goals?
On one level, just keep working with people and studios I like. I would like to get a project of my own to the screen.
You mentioned that you have worked in Korea a few times in recent years. Have you worked on anything that was specifically marketed towards the Korean market?
No. But I would like to.
What advice would you give to someone who is planning on entering your field of work and industry?
Take art classes. Study film. Draw every day, practice life drawing and learn perspective. Read comics, watch movies.
Random Info on Victor
What is your current relationship status and what do you look for in terms of relationships?
I’m married for 23 years now. My wife is also half Korean and half Caucasian. But I didn’t pursue any specific ethnicity when I was single, my preference was to find someone pretty, nice, generous, good sense of humor and willing to put up with me. Luckily I did.
In regards to your wife also being mixed Korean, do you feel you were better able to relate to her being that you both were from similar ethnic backgrounds?
We had that in common, with similar stories each of us having one immigrant parent. It is a little different since her dad is Korean and her mom Caucasian. We were from different worlds when it came to comic book/geek related stuff, she’s too normal for that.
Do you have any hobbies or interests that you do to relax?
I love going to movies.
Anybody in particular that you respect and look up to?
My parents and my wife’s parents. I’ve always admired the work of Charles Schultz, Jack Kirby, Miyazaki.
Do you like soju?
In moderation.
Do you get on the Internet often?
Sometimes.
What are some of your favorite websites?
Yours!
How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I think I typed in “Half Korean Actors” to research photo reference for a character and your website came up. I thought, pretty cool website.
Any words that you would like to pass on to the community?
Believe in God.
Thank you to Victor for his time. Make sure to check out his comic book series, Mecha-Nation available from APE Entertainment as well as the TV series Scooby Doo, Mystery Incorporated on Cartoon Network.
Interview by: David Lee Sanders
Posted: 10/27/2010
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