EnTrends

Not many people can boast that they
have a client list that includes Nike, Apple
Computer, Dow, Mattel, Campbell's Soup,
Pepsi, and Frito Lay, not to mention Disney
and Dreamworks! But if you're Ashley
Postlewaite or Darrel VanCitters, then the
honor is all yours.

The animated story of Ashley Postlewaite,
Darrell VanCitters, and their company,
Renegade Animation, Inc., is one of pure
success in the colorful world of
entertainment and advertising. Begun in
1992 by Postlewaite and her partner,
VanCitters, Renegade Animation took only
$1,500 to start. The two partners met while
working for Warner Brothers. Postlewaite
was a graduate of Stanford University and
VanCitters had attended the California
Institute of the Arts and then worked at the
Disney Studios before joining Warner
Brothers.

After they became discouraged by what
they thought was a slow pace of work and
lack of creative freedom at Warner Brothers,
the two decided to start their own company.
Postlewaite said that she worked out of her
guest bedroom and VanCitter's worked out
of his garage in the beginning.

Believe it or not, one of their first projects
was a Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan spot
that wound up being aired during the
Superbowl nine years ago. That
opportunity was one of the key factors that
lead Postlewaite and VanCitters to believe
their company would be a success.

Now days, the two work out of their
Burbank, California studio. They produce
animation for the commercial market.
Postlewaite is Renegade's Executive
Producer, and VanCitters is the Director of
Animation. Postlewaite has produced game
animation for Disney and Dreamworks and
commercial animation for Cheetos, Midas
Muffler, Taco Bell, and others.

Postlewaite says that having priorities in life
are very important as well. Her family is very
important to her and she will turn down
work that short changes their personal
lives. She also advises running a company
lean. "You need to stock money away and
be able to weather bad times, especially in
this age of dotcom failures."

Postlewaite says that she enjoys the
rhythem of life as an entrepreneur. She does
not feel like she is working. She still puts in
the same amount of hours, if not more than
when she worked at Warner Brothers.
However, her schedule is free to have
lunch with friends from out of town, take
her dog to the vet, etc. Being an
entrepreneur is part of who she is.

In her free time, Postlewaite loves to spend
time with her husband, who she says is her
top priority. She also loves to cook, garden,
read, exercise, and especially entertain. She
and her husband have a modern home in
the Silver Lake Hills of Los Angeles where
they often hold YEO (Young Entrepreneur
Organization) events because she was the
President of the Los Angeles Chapter.

Her husband is the general manager of a
furniture store chain. Therefore, they have
been fortunate enough to decorate their
home with the modern style they like,
affordably. About six years ago, Postlewaite
decided that she wanted to start an art
collection. She now tries to accquire one
new piece each year. Postlewaite says that
without her success an entrepreneur,
things like that would not be possible.

Together, Postlewaite and VanCitters have
come together to create a lively and
humerous work environment. This is
evident at their website which is located at
www.renegadeanimation.com. Postlewaite
says that when she looks around her studio
at her employees' happiness and the quality
of Renegade's work, she knows she and her
partner have been successful. Having
created something prosperous from nothing
is very rewarding to her.

EnTrends asked Postlewaite what the
biggest challenge has been for her and her
partner so far. She said that trying to grow
at a rate that is "careful and smart" has been
the biggest challenge. People are drawn to
their company because of Darrell's directing
skills and careful attention to detail. While
Postlewaite and VanCitters love all aspects
of animation, they have been known to turn
down projects they feel are not creatively
challenging. They prefer to devote their
time to other projects. In the future, they
would like to have a feature film with their
animation. Currently, they are working on a
pilot for the Cartoon Network.