Pixar artist and Alamedan Benjamin Su sits down for an exclusive interview with the Alameda Post before the Con
UPDATE Friday, 8/22/25. In an Instagram post, Cape & Cowl Comics announced that previously announced guest Patton Oswalt would be unable to attend Cape & Cowl Con.
Comic book conventions used to be small affairs, held in whatever space promoters could afford, and attended by a fairly insular community. Today? Events like San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) are front and center, making headlines as studios leverage the attention to promote their newest projects. From GalaxyCon in San Jose to Atlanta’s Dragon Con, celebrations of pop culture are everywhere. You might already be familiar with Carrier Con, the annual anime-focused celebration on the USS Hornet here in Alameda.
Now, Cape & Cowl Con is coming to Alameda.
Oakland’s Cape & Cowl Comics is truly a great comic book shop, and they have the trophy to prove it. In 2023, they received the Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, at the annual Eisner Awards. Named for comics legend Will Eisner, the Eisner Awards are essentially the Academy Awards for the Comics Industry. Cape & Cowl was recognized as the best retailer in the world, joining past winners from as far away as Australia and Spain.
Cape & Cowl teamed up with Faction Brewing for the third annual Cape & Cowl Con on Sunday, August 24. From humble beginnings in 2023, Cape & Cowl Con has grown to an event that features celebrity guests from the world of comics, television, movies and more. Among this year’s guests: Brian Posehn of The Big Bang Theory, and writer/comedian/actor Patton Oswalt.
But for one of the guests, Cape & Cowl didn’t have to look far. Alameda’s Benjamin Su is a comic artist for Marvel, toy designer for Abominable Toys, and lead animator at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville. You’ve seen his work in multiple Pixar films, including 2023’s Elemental, where he served as directing animator, responsible for the lead character Wade Ripple. Ben has been working in animation dating back to the 2001 TV series Rescue Heroes. Before joining Pixar, he was part of the crew for the post-apocalyptic 2009 stop-motion film “9.”
Q&A with Ben Su
I recently spent some time catching up with Ben, and learning about his journey to Alameda. Here’s a quick replay of our chat.
You’re originally from Canada, right? How’d you wind up in Alameda?
I am! Before moving to California, we lived in snowy Toronto. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work at Pixar and we eventually settled in Alameda, partly for its abundance of bubble tea shops!
What was the first animation that made you say “I want to do that?”
The 1990s animated film Tarzan! I remember being mesmerized by the way Tarzan skated through the forest, almost like he was on a skateboard. It struck me that a sequence like that could only be achieved through animation. Years later, I found out that Glen Keane, Tarzan’s supervising animator, had actually based Tarzan’s tree surfing moves directly from Tony Hawk’s skateboarding videos.
You’ve worked in animation for a few different studios. What was the path that led you to Pixar?
I graduated from animation college at the peak of the CG boom in the early 2000s and was able to jump straight into working on CG animated feature films. I worked on several films in Canada, and that experience led to my first major studio position at Sony Animation Studios. While I was wrapping up my contract there on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Pixar Animation visited the studio to conduct on site interviews, which ultimately led to my opportunity at Pixar.
How many Pixar films have you worked on?
I’m currently working on my 19th Pixar film. I am OLD!
Do you have a favorite Pixar character you’ve animated?
On Toy Story 4, when I found out Keanu Reeves was voicing Duke Caboom, I immediately requested to animate the character because of the Canadian connection and Duke’s charming personality. I had the opportunity to animate his introduction in the film and all the fun poses he does on the bike. Fun fact: Keanu Reeves actually came up with the idea for Duke’s playful bike poses when he pitched it to the animators during a lunch meeting at Pixar.
You’re a triple threat: Animator, comic book cover artist, toy designer. What came first?
Animation came first. Then toys and comics.
You’ve done quite a few covers for Marvel Comics. How did that partnership come about?
I cold-emailed the editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics with my portfolio attached, expressing my interest in drawing some Marvel characters. Not really expecting a response, I was surprised when he replied with my first cover assignment. This may not be the recommended approach, lol. For anyone interested in working for Marvel, the best route is to have your portfolio reviewed at major conventions like SDCC or New York Comic Con.
Do you do regular covers, or primarily variant/incentive covers?
Primarily variant and incentive covers. With my full time job at Pixar, I can only take on so much work outside of the studio.
Is there a cover you’ve done that’s a favorite?
I did a Venom cover where Spidey’s arm was reaching out from inside Venom’s jaws, like he’d just been swallowed whole. With a tight deadline I leaned into a bold, graphic approach—stark silhouettes, a single tone—and I was pleased how closely the final piece matched what I’d pictured in my head, which is rare!
You are the co-creator of Chomp, the adorable Yeti from Abominable Toys. What led to that?
The owner of Abominable Toys and I had connected via Instagram, and he initially asked me to create a Yeti logo design based on a rough sketch he had made for his online store. He was so happy with the final design that he decided to turn it into a vinyl toy called Chomp. Since then, we’ve produced over 100 variations of Chomp figures!
Chomp’s done a lot of things, including recently battling Godzilla on a cover you drew. What’s it like to see your creation slugging it out with one of the most iconic monsters in film history?
That was crazy! Especially because Chomp was originally envisioned as a cute, playful yeti. For the cover, I decided to make him badass and scaled him up to the size of Godzilla and have them battle it out in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the cover for the Godzilla 70th anniversary issue, which ended up winning an Eisner Award for Best Anthology at this year’s SDCC!
You’ve been a guest at conventions in New York, San Diego, and elsewhere. After traveling to major conventions, what’s it like to be able to meet your fans in your own backyard?
I absolutely love it! Smaller conventions have always been my favorite because they give you the chance to really connect with fans without the overwhelming crowds. Cape & Cowl have done such a wonderful job creating this event, bringing local artists together and shining a spotlight on community venues. I always get a kick out of it when people are genuinely surprised to learn there are comic artists living right here in Alameda.
Finally, what are some of your favorite things about Alameda?
Umm… the bubble tea shops! 😄 Seriously, Alameda has so much to love—the scenic biking trails, endless foodie options, topnotch schools, and the gorgeous weather. But the absolute best part is you can get pretty much everything you need without ever leaving this little island paradise.
Cape and Cowl Con is Sunday, August 24, 11am to 6pm, at Faction Brewing. Admission is free. A complete list of featured guests is available on the Cape & Cowl Con website. Follow Ben Su on Instagram.
Scott Piehler hosts and produces Alameda’s only weekly news digest podcast, the Alameda PostCast. Reach him at [email protected].
