Wil Andruschak

You’re going to be leading the High Performance Parade with the mayor. How did that happen?

I directed some stage plays a couple of years ago at One Yellow Rabbit and was hanging out with the theatre crowd. Michael Green called me and said, “Brian, do you want to be in the parade?” I didn’t know why at first, but he said, “You’re the rabbit.” But my suit’s not yellow.

What colour is your suit?

Well, this is the third permutation. Unfortunately this year my suit was ripped off my body and I was left naked at Burning Man. So a girlfriend of mine gave me an actual rabbit for a jacket that’s grey. My old bunny suit was brown. I have the pants left. So it’s not a great suit, but it’s last minute.

How did your suit get ripped off?

I don’t really want to talk about that; I don’t remember. I’ve never been in that situation before. But it was girls who liked my jacket. My mom actually made that one.

What’s your day job?

I teach animation full-time to aboriginal youth at Quickdraw Animation Society — that’s just my job for now. I’m a contract artist. I used to run EMMEDIA for a number of years, production and motion picture stuff. At nighttime I teach animation as well and I just started teaching at the Alberta College of Art and Design.

So, you’re back teaching at the school you graduated from?

Yeah, but keep that on the down low. I don’t want people finding out. I gotta keep alive because from April to June I’m not working for anyone.

How did you get involved with the Aboriginal Youth project? Are you aboriginal?

Not on government paper, but in family secrecy, yes. They needed someone who could teach animation and I’m really good at that and there’s no one really in the aboriginal community as of yet, but I’m training people up. I love these guys. They basically say I’m an Indian. I’m actually half-Portuguese.

Where did the nickname ‘Bunny’ originate?

It involves a birthday party when I was 22 and I sewed this rabbit suit for myself for this Alice in Wonderland party. I designed it so the ears were stuffed so it would be my pillow. I figured I was going to party really hard and pass out somewhere on mushrooms or whatever.

Who passes out on mushrooms?

Well, I didn’t know where I was going to be. I dug a hole in my backyard and when I got out of it there were four Alices standing over me.

So then the name stuck?

No. I ended up going to Burning Man in 2001 with Danielle French, a musician from Calgary, and you are given a name there and people kept calling me Bunny. I wanted a name and she said, “You already have one. Everyone is calling you Bunny.” Then I grew into it; it became a new identity for me. My mom even uses it. Let’s be clear though, I’m not a furry.

Just to be clear: What is a furry?

A furry is someone who likes to wear animal mascot outfits and likes to have sex. I’m strange, but I’m not that kind of strange.

I noticed on your website you have a lot of bunny-inspired art.

It’s not because of the name. It’s really hard to explain.

So you were doing the rabbit art before the suit came along?

Yeah. Weird eh? It’s hard to explain the synergy of all these random events coalescing. The Alice in Wonderland thing is probably the biggest influence.

You’ve gone down the rabbit hole?

Yeah. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole and I don’t think I’ve made it back yet.

You’re also the co-founder of the Calgary Underground Film Festival.

One of them. There are a number of us. I was the technical director for the first five years. When I moved to Hollywood I had to give up my position. I always forget about that. But when I was writing that little blurb on my website I was like, ‘Geez, I’ve done stuff for this city.’

What’s your job at ACAD going to be?

After effects. It’s a night course for now. I’m meeting with the president next week, but word on the street is that they’re going to start an animation faculty like Emily Carr has. My teacher currently runs it and wants me in the fold. They made this class to test me out.

Are you excited about it?

Oh yeah. I went there the other night after an art opening and it’s weird to go back to a place that you avoided because you hated it. I was even their valedictorian; I painted myself silver and acted like a robot. I had this voice program read my speech. I kinda made an ass out of myself.

Why did you hate the school?

I don’t hate the school. It’s the institution idea. Honestly, I’m surprised I got in the school because I previously got the boot from Emily Carr for being too crazy. I expected orgies and Picasso and fun, but I didn’t really know what Calgary was like. It was really, really conservative and they found me to be really, really challenging. I’m not purposefully challenging. I’m not here to piss people off, but I did. But at the end of four years I was the hero. I don’t know how that happens.

Where are you from?

Vancouver Island in a very small town called Ladysmith. I grew up on the ocean. We lived on a hobby farm, we kept chickens and bees. I’m a hippy at heart. Someone said that to me the other day and I got really upset.

You don’t like hippies?

Not really. Not the ones who smell bad, sleep on your couch and don’t do dishes or pay rent. Dreads? Don’t like ’em. My last girlfriend had them and I don’t know how I put up with it. Greasy pillowcases.