Excitement in College Station as Aggies Shine in Animation
On September 27, movie lovers worldwide flocked to theaters to catch a glimpse of the enchanting animation “The Wild Robot,” and it turns out that a few talented Aggies from Texas A&M University played an important role in making this cinematic dream come true. Audiences were treated to a jaw-dropping visual experience, filled with stunning shades of blue and gray, as the film beautifully intertwined elements of technology and the natural world.
A Team of Talented Aggies
Among the brilliant minds behind this film were former student Toby Johnson, a Class of 2023 graduate, along with current visualization grad students Anna Keniston and Sean Kerrigan. All three found their creative spark through Texas A&M’s renowned School of Visualization, proving just how powerful the Aggie network is in the industry.
Kerrigan couldn’t say enough about how much he appreciated the program, saying, “The viz program is incredible at A&M. We have so many Aggies in the industry, and the network has been such an incredible resource to me.” It’s easy to see how their collaborative spirit and hard work paid off as they tackled the intricate animation pipeline from start to finish.
Bringing the Wild to Life
Every detail, from early storyboarding and design to the final rendering, required seamless teamwork. Johnson, who has cherished his love for animation since childhood, embraced his role as a lighting artist intern. “I never really had any other thing I wanted to do in my life. Pretty early on, I knew this is what I wanted — to pursue film, especially animation,” he said.
Johnson, a proud fourth-generation Aggie, found early inspiration from animated classics like “Ratatouille” and “Shrek”. His journey led him to work on films like “Kung Fu Panda 4” before he jumped into the distinctive hand-painted style of “The Wild Robot.” His task involved taking unrendered animation and making it visually appealing for theaters. “I do all of the [digital] lighting, and I put them in the scene,” he explained. Not to mention, he contributed around a minute of footage that made it into the final cut of the movie!
Coloring the Characters
Keniston, the look development intern, shared how her love of drawing and animated movies inspired her career path. Bursting with excitement about “The Wild Robot,” she said, “My job was to find the color, roughness, and height of the objects.” Her mission involved creating painted textures and helping define how the assets interacted with light.
With her initial internship experience under her belt, she was eager to tackle the challenges that came with working on this unique project. “We had no idea what the final image would look like, but I was excited to see the director’s vision come to life,” she recalled fondly.
Mapping the Scene
Then there’s Kerrigan, the layout artist intern, who discovered his passion for animation at just seven years old. He described his role as akin to a cinematographer, as he worked diligently to create compelling camera movements and frames that made the animation feel as natural as possible. “We’re mostly working off storyboards, but we create sequences that can be tricky to illustrate,” Kerrigan explained.
A Memorable Experience
Throughout their internships, collaboration was key. The directors’ excitement over their contributions fueled the entire team’s motivation. Johnson hailed DreamWorks as having one of the best workplace cultures, while Keniston emphasized the importance of being flexible and open to feedback in this fast-paced environment.
“Working on this movie was an absolute blessing and gift,” Kerrigan expressed. “I really want people to know how much work the artists and employees put into this piece of art.” This dynamic trio of Aggies has proven that hard work, creativity, and a solid network can lead to spectacular opportunities in the film industry.
As “The Wild Robot” continues to captivate audiences, it’s clear that the hard work and dedication of these Texas A&M graduates did not go unnoticed. With every animated frame, they’ve inspired countless others to follow their dreams in the bustling world of animation.
