'Boy Mole Fox and Horse' rough pencil test

Hello animators! I had the opportunity to work on this very special project.
did some storyboards and a bit of animation. Here is a 2D pencil tests (animated on TV Paint),
The challenging task was to animate a horse transitioning from walk to trot, then to canter, and finally to full gallop.
Thanks to director Peter Baynton, who gave me video references to help me with the scene.

To buy the original book by Charlie Mackesy:

[luckyslob]

I love how the horse looks back for a moment before kicking it into full speed, as if he’s saying “you ready?”

[noaharce]

Once again William Salazar you remind me why I love 2D traditional handrawn animation. The destinct characters, each with their own unique personality that really shines through their bold designs and actions, all working through the lines drawn by the hand of an individual to create the perception of life, it's all so beautiful working in tandem together, and you really get a sense of the individual artist with each unique frame.

My greatest hope is to see this style of animation return in the near future because there is simply no other technique that can emulate that intimacy you get with this way of doing things. The way the your hand guides me through the scene speaks great volumes not only as your skills of an artist, but as a storyteller.

[Victoriaghh]

Traditional animation like this just gives me immense happiness.

[FrizFreddy]

The horse training you did on Spirit certainly helped with this.

[FfStar]

I had a feeling that was you!!! I had trouble finding credits to the horse animation. But I was like man this looks like William!!

[minswara]

Well deserved win for the Oscars. (Animated Short Film Catagory) Your work is immaculate, and with the others it makes it even more magical!

[MightyWarriorJesus]

At first he sounded American and then suddenly he’s Irish

[wesmcinerny]

Hey, WIll. You are worthy to direct your own 2D-animated feature film. Perhaps DreamWorks Animation can do it, or another studio.

[Zackzilla]

Love your animation on The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. It reminds me of James Baxter in which you and Baxter worked together at DreamWorks. Speaking of the film, did you animate the ident for the BBC on Christmas 2022?

[danielgudinojuarez]

Greetings William, huge fan of your work and love this video, but I wanted to say quickly if you're still at Dreamworks Animation?