Who are you? Tell us a bit about your journey.
Hello! My name is Cody Bond but my fake internet name is Lolcodybond for some reason, I honestly cannot remember how that happened but here we are! Oof, my journey? That is a very broad question but let’s give it a try. I have been on this planet for twenty eight years, I studied illustration at the Columbus College of Art and Design, I currently live in Columbus, Ohio, and I’m a Taurus. I’ve been working as a freelance illustrator and animator for several years now, but it’s only recently that I feel I’ve truly found my voice and point of view and oh boy it feels good.
Advice Time: if you feel like you are lost in a sea of “content” and you don’t feel unique enough to stand out, I recommend taking a break, looking inward, and reflecting on what kind of stuff inspires you and go from there. It took me way too long to realize that the stuff you love is what should influence your style, nothing can be created in a vacuum. The information is out there, you just have to be willing and open to absorb it. Oops, I’m rambling.
What are you currently working on?
I actually just wrapped up a freelance gig with Cards Against Humanity! I created a bunch of animated characters for their Pride Pack. So of you want to see a pride parade with Prince, Cher, Richard Simmons and many more gay icons go ahead and check it out! But right now I’m kind of just relaxing and making stuff for fun while on the lookout for more gigs. By the way, if you’re reading this and want to work with me, I’m available!
What do you feel most creatively inspired by, both within your field and outside it?
Ah! The stuff that has fueled my weirdness from a very early age (and continues to do so in my almost-30’s) is Nickelodeon gross-out cartoons and video games from the nineties. I went through a style re-do last year and tried to come up with something that was as uniquely “me” as I could and going back to my childhood inspirations was what really solidified the work I am creating now. I love the work of Klasky-Csupo (Aahh!!! Real Monsters, Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys) and you can totally see those influences in the stuff I make.
What does a day in the life look like for you?
Oh man, well, I am currently working a nine-to-five to pay the bills. It’s a creative gig, but it’s not a place I can create the work I want to create. But as for my “day in the life,” I like to try to create something every day, whether that’s a quick little illustration of Sonic the Hedgehog with too many legs, or a 3-second animated loop of Toad getting his mushroom head ripped off, I think it’s important to create as often as you can and get it out into the world so people can see it. Also, I’m still trying to increase my social media following, so I gotta get content made and out there. I feel like people don’t like to talk about that part, but having a large social media following is hugely important to getting exposure and thus getting gigs. It’s business, baby.
Choose a favorite shot from another Player on Dribbble. Tell us why you dig it.
I am a HUGE fan of video game effect animations, and the stuff Philip von Borries makes is so smooth and I can watch them over and over, it’s so relaxing. One day I will design a game or something. I don’t know, I just love that kind of stuff so much.
Find Cody on Dribbble, Instagram, and at lolcodybond.com.
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