Meet Chris Leoutsakos

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Leoutsakos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Whenever I get to bring a character to life, I always strive to not just create movement from point A to point B but to tell new engaging stories and provide powerful visuals for audiences to enjoy, always with passion and respect for the artists who came before me.

Being Greek, storytelling, history, and art are an essential part of my culture which is full of powerful heroes and villains, monsters, myths and legends and I feel very proud to be able to bring all that to the table. I am also very confident about my knowledge of animation history as well as the different signature styles of each animation studio and era, which allow me to be flexible and provide a variety of animation styles and interesting new types of visuals. But I am most proud of the wonderful people, artists, professors, friends, and mentors that have come into my life and guided me through my journey, and allowed me to work on many great projects and make incredible memories while in college.

There is a lot I want to do professionally in the future still but, it also wasn’t easy to get where I am today. Now being a senior in college and about to embark on new adventures, there were many challenges that I had to overcome to be able to not only study abroad so far away from home but also get the ability to meet with the same studios whose films I grew up watching. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is that no matter how hard to achieve and how hopeless a goal might appear to be, never give up on your dreams. With a lot of hard work and just a little bit of luck, everything is possible as long as you keep fighting and don’t give up. Another great piece of advice I was given early on is that kindness goes a long way. One might be the best in his or her field or the most professional, but being kind and treating people with respect is very important.

As for my mission, although I strive to get better every day and learn new skills, in a world where 3D Computer Animation is dominating our industry, my goal is to learn, master, and preserve the art of 2D hand-drawn animation while it finds its way back to the big screen for future generations to enjoy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whether you are looking for some local. street food, small daily adventures at the beach, amazing Greek or Mediterranean food or to live your Mamma Mia dream, there is so much to do and experience in Greece! From the stunning beaches and the different islands, each with its own beauty, food, and culture, to a trip to the past in Ancient Greece, you can do a little bit of everything!

There are so many museums, rooftops as well as beautiful small Cafes full of personality in Athens for people to explore.

Imagine being able to walk around the Acropolis and within a couple of minutes enjoy the most delicious gyro and local desserts all with stunning views. Some of my personal must-see places are the magical “Little Kook” where you can enjoy an insane amount of chocolate, sweets, and desserts for my friends with a sweet tooth, the “Museum of Illusions” which is a super fun experience for all ages and let’s not forget the Acropolis Museum for those who like history like myself! And there is so much more waiting for you to explore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a good number of people who helped me in my artistic journey and made me who I am today, starting with my parents and family, whose love, patience, and support made my dream a reality. I would also like to thank my high school art teacher as well as the many college professors and educators who believed in me and mentored me on my way to where I currently am in life. Last but not least, I will never forget my amazing and talented friends, who stuck with me all those years, through the good and bad days, and were there for me every step of the way. I wouldn’t be who I am today without each and every one of you! Thank you so much for everything!

Website: https://leoutsakoschris.myportfolio.com/work