Chris Lee, founder of the (ACM System), has been named emeritus faculty by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel. Lee served as director of ACM for more than two decades. He led the 东精影业 ACM initiative, which spans all 10 campuses and continues to empower students to pursue careers in digital storytelling, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous narratives rooted in Hawaiʻi. Reflecting the state鈥檚 unique cultural diversity, ACM is the first majority Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander media school in the country.

Now, the Hollywood veteran is stepping down, leaving a legacy that expanded Hawaiʻi鈥檚 creative pipeline and opened doors for homegrown storytellers and creators.

Lee said, “There are so many people to mahalo for this honor. I am so grateful to the 2004 Board of Regents, which originally approved ACM as a system-wide initiative, key alumni like Roy and Hilda Takeyama who gave generously to both start and sustain us, legislators and governors who financially supported the build out of the program across the islands, the local production industry that has embraced our students, our exceptional faculty and, most of all, our talented graduates who are driving Hawaiʻi鈥檚 growing and vital creative economy.”

Under Lee鈥檚 leadership, the ACM System launched 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 ACM (now known as the ), , , and program. It also supported the creation of at 东精影业 West Oʻahu, 东精影业 Esports, and collaborated with 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (ICS) department to develop . Lee enhanced existing media programs at , , Hawaiʻi CC, , and .

Many of them are earning a living doing what they love, right here in Hawaiʻi, telling their stories to the broadest possible audience. That was always the goal.
—Chris Lee

Uniquely, ACM fostered the first comprehensive articulation agreements between all seven community colleges and 东精影业 West Oʻahu, where Lee also led the development and funding of ACM鈥檚 state-of-the-art Student Production Center.

“Chris Lee鈥檚 foundational leadership and contributions have catalyzed creative media education across the 东精影业 System and elevated Hawaiʻi鈥檚 stories to a broader audience,” said 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel. “Drawing from his groundbreaking career in Hollywood, he helped build a thriving creative pipeline here at home. We thank him for his decades of service and are proud to honor him with emeritus status for his lasting influence at 东精影业 and our state.”

• Tributes and reflections on Chris Lee and his legacy at 东精影业

A systemwide vision

Raised in Hawaiʻi and an alumnus of ʻIolani School, Lee graduated from Yale University before starting a successful career as a motion picture executive and film and television producer. The first person of Asian ancestry to lead a major Hollywood studio, serving as President of Production at TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, he oversaw iconic films such as Jerry Maguire, Philadelphia, As Good As It Gets and more.

After returning to Hawaiʻi in the early 2000s, Lee was invited to “start a film school” at 东精影业. He imagined a cross-campus network that could elevate creative media education statewide.

“Rather than just focusing on one campus at 惭腻苍辞补, I visited every campus in the 东精影业 System,” Lee said. “I met with faculty, staff and students and saw what already existed, including the animation program at Kapiʻolani CC and the TV studios at Leeward CC, and thought, ‘What if we built something that connected all of them?’”

In January, 2004, the 东精影业 Board of Regents formally established ACM, and Lee became its Founding Director. Over time, the initiative grew into a coordinated system offering specialized pathways in creative media, animation, gaming and digital content creation.

Empowering students and communities

At 东精影业 West Oʻahu, now the flagship for ACM, students can now pursue degrees in creative media, game design, communications and more. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 School of Cinematic Arts focuses on narrative filmmaking, animation and Indigenous storytelling. The community colleges and 东精影业 Hilo offer strong foundations in production, media theory and animation.

“What made this possible was the advent of affordable digital technology,” Lee said. “Thanks to early support from donors and 东精影业 alumni, including Roy and Hilda Takayama and Jay Shidler, we gave students a ‘Digital Toolbelt’—Macs with editing software, cameras and sound equipment. It let them tell stories that were true to themselves and shareable with the world through online platforms.”

Creating an industry pathway

From the start, Lee emphasized that ACM wasn鈥檛 just about making films. “It was about preparing a workforce that could thrive in the future digital economy, in storytelling, animation, games, immersive media and beyond,” he said. Today ACM graduates from every 东精影业 campus are driving Hawaiʻi驶s growing creative economy.

Many of those early students have gone on to make significant contributions to film and television, including Daniel Ledoux Miller, co-director and co-writer of Moana 2; Bryson Kainoa Chun, a writer for Moana 2 and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., who, along with fellow 东精影业 alumnus Alika Tengan, was named to the inaugural Indigenous List recognizing top Native screenwriters.

ACM graduates work for Pixar, Disney, HBO, NBC and Netflix, but most have stayed in Hawaiʻi to build production companies or lead communications teams in sectors far beyond entertainment.

“Every business now wants an in-house videographer and social media content,” Lee said. “While graduates from 东精影业 惭补苍辞补鈥檚 ACM like Christopher Makoto Yogi and Alika Tengan debuted their features at the Sundance Film Festival, students coming out of 东精影业 West Oʻahu are making TikTok capstones and going on to run campaigns for companies like BMW/Mini and even Honolulu City Hall.”

A hub for the future

The $37-million ACM Student Production Center at 东精影业 West Oʻahu opened in 2022 and has already become a hub for content creation, film and student collaboration. Adjacent to the facility is the proposed site of a state-of-the-art motion picture and television studio, currently under development.

The project, spearheaded by the Island Film Group team in partnership with 东精影业, will include modern sound stages, production facilities, and a town square with live-work, retail, dining and lodging. The studio is envisioned as a transformative center for the West Oʻahu region and the state鈥檚 growing media industry.

“This is the natural next step in ACM鈥檚 evolution,” Lee said. “Combined with the 东精影业WO Student Production Center, this complex will help elevate ACM to a global level. One of the project requirements is integration with ACM, which means our local students will have real opportunities鈥攑aid internships, mentorship and jobs with living wages.”

Driving innovation across the 东精影业

Even as he steps back, Lee is helping guide ACM鈥檚 evolution through new initiatives. Most recently, he has been actively involved with the Aloha AI Institute, a proposed 东精影业 initiative that, like ACM System, aims to unite all 10 UH campuses. The project will equip students with the tools and opportunities to explore AI鈥檚 role in creative fields, particularly in integrating Indigenous knowledge and cultural narratives.

Lee also helped create a new computational creative media degree at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 ICS, launched in fall 2024, which prepares students to use AI tools in video games, animation and digital content. His push into esports led to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 largest tournament in 2024, the Hawaiʻi Esports Invitational, hosted at 东精影业 West Oʻahu. The event brought together six 东精影业 campuses, out-of-state universities such as Michigan State, and local high schools, showcasing how ACM initiatives are preparing students for future careers while supporting economic diversification.

A lasting impact

ACM鈥檚 transformation into a nationally recognized, culturally grounded media school stands as part of Lee鈥檚 enduring legacy鈥攐ne that elevates Hawaiʻi鈥檚 stories and storytellers on the global stage.

“Everybody hopes they leave someplace better than how they found it,” Lee said. “Now we have hundreds of ACM graduates. Many of them are earning a living doing what they love, right here in Hawaiʻi, telling their stories to the broadest possible audience. That was always the goal.”

Reflections on Chris Lee

The Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award was established by Tadashi and Elizabeth Kunimoto to honor the founders of Chikara Products, Inc., specializing in Hawaiʻi foods such as Aloha Tofu, Maui Natto and Chikara Konnyaku. This award is given in alternate years: on even years to a faculty member, and on odd years to a student, who makes a significant contribution to career and technical education in the .

Hawaiʻi Community College student has been named the recipient of the 2025 Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award.

Krueger鈥檚 dedication to research, community service and leadership set her apart. She recently participated in the Summer 2024 BIOMADE Kalo Research Internship, where she explored the fermentation process of kalo and its implications for nutrition and food security. Her commitment to sustainability extends beyond the lab鈥攕he actively supports local food distribution efforts and conservation projects on Hawaiʻi Island.

“Cathryn鈥檚 achievements exemplify the spirit of this award,” said Chancellor Susan Kazama. “She is always so positive, and it shows in her passion for sustainable agriculture, commitment to community service, and drive to make a difference through hands-on learning. She truly represents the values honored by the Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award.”

In addition to her agricultural and environmental work, Krueger has used social media to enhance outreach for the Hawaiʻi CC Agriculture Program and contributed to landscaping efforts for the Hawaiʻi CC Model Home Project. She also finds cultural connection through Kūkūʻena, a hula hālau that brings together 东精影业 Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC students and staff.

“I鈥檓 incredibly proud of Cathryn and all that she鈥檚 accomplished,” said Assistant Professor Lew Nakamura. “She鈥檚 not only an exceptional student but also a leader who uplifts those around her. This recognition is well deserved.”

Other nominees

Three other outstanding students were nominated for this year鈥檚 award:

Sean Belisle from Honolulu Community College has shown remarkable leadership and initiative in the Computing, Security & Networking Technology program, serving as president of the HATS club, leading national cybersecurity competitions, and inspiring his peers through hands-on projects and mentorship.

Lucas Stevens of Kapiʻolani Community College is a standout New Media Arts student whose leadership, creativity and innovation鈥攑articularly in directing a practicum short film and exploring AI in game development鈥攈ave made a strong impact on career and technical education at his campus.

Janie-Maria Kikila of Leeward Community College is a driven and entrepreneurial student who returned to college to pursue a Business Management degree, founding a campus marketing club and leading impactful initiatives to boost student engagement and success.

Students from University of Hawaiʻi campuses scored huge wins at the . new media arts students won 19 out of 24 awards, and students won 3 awards. From , an alumnus who also studied at won 3 awards including 2023 Best Of Show 鈥� College, and a lecturer was named American Advertising Federation 鈥� Hawaiʻi 2023 Ad Person of the Year. The Pele awards recognize excellence in advertising and design in the State of Hawaiʻi for the past calendar year. Awardees were honored at the Pele Awards Show, which was held on May 6 at the Elks Lodge Honolulu in Waik墨k墨.

Kapiʻolani CC winners

Pele Gold

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Piko Website
  Medium: Online/Interactive Website (Desktop or Mobile)

• Tre Zamora
  Project: ISLE Mobile App
  Medium: Online/Interactive App (Mobile or Web-Based)

• Cassandra Neri (Judges Award Winner)
  Project: Jaipur Tourism
  Medium: Point of Purchase

• Leighna-Ann Lariosa
  Project: Book Cover Designs
  Medium: Sales & Marketing Collateral Material, Publication Design Cover

Pele Silver

• Cassandra Neri
  Project: Happy Worms
  Medium: Product or Service Sales Promotion Packaging

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Forge Web Design
  Medium: Online/Interactive Website (Desktop or Mobile)

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Forge Logo
  Medium: Logo Design

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Piko Logo
  Medium: Logo Design

Pele Bronze

• Kimi Li
  Project: Sango
  Medium: Stationery Package 鈥� Single or Multiple pieces

• Leighna-Ann Larioza
  Project: Typography Book
  Medium: Editorial Spread or Feature

• Sua Lee
  Project: Typography
  Medium: Cover/Editorial Spread or Feature 鈥� Series

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Hana Social Media Campaign
  Medium: Online/Interactive Single Execution

• Kimi Li
  Project: Sango
  Medium: Stationery Package

• Leighna-Ann Lariosa
  Project: Typography Book
  Medium: Editorial Spread or Feature

• Sua Lee
  Project: Typography
  Medium: Cover/Editorial Spread or Feature

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Forge Branding & Identity Design
  Medium: Integrated Brand Identity Campaign

• Jennifer Zuniga
  Project: Mexico City Logo
  Medium: Logo Design

• Cassandra Neri
  Project: Happy Worms Illustration
  Medium: Illustration

• Michael Harrell
  Project: Cohort
  Medium: Cinematography

• Tre Zamora
  Project: Piko Video Reel
  Medium: Cinematography

• Sua Lee
  Project: BLT Sandwich
  Medium: Animation or Special Effects

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 winners

Pele Gold

• “,” (all 4 student videos), 1001 Stories – Jonathan Walk
  Medium: cinematography campaign

• “Finding Our Kuleana,” (Beau), 1001 Stories – Johnathan Walk
  Medium: cinematography single

• “Finding Our Kuleana,” Johnny Helm
  Medium: music campaign

Pele Bronze

• “Finding Our Kuleana” (Kahea)
  Medium: Corporate Social Responsibility – Film, Video, Sound

• Divine Grace Cabico
  Online/Interactive – Website (Desktop or Mobile) for “Finding Our Kuleana”
  Integrated Brand Identity Campaign

东精影业 West Oʻahu winners

Pele Gold

• Dexter Corpuz
  Slappy Cakes Maui – Rebranding
  Medium: Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign

• Dexter Corpuz (东精影业 Maui College)
  Cosmic Brewery Company
  Medium: Elements of Advertising Logo Design

Pele Silver

• Dexter Corpuz
  Tesla – Take Charge of the Future
  Medium: Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign

American Advertising Federation 鈥� Hawaiʻi 2023 Ad Person of the Year

• Brian Watanabe

.

In addition to Pele College awards, scholarships were awarded for excellence in design.

American Advertising Federation Shining Star Scholarships

• 1st Place – Hezekiah Kapuaala, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补
• 2nd Place – Tre Zamora, Kapiʻolani CC
• 3rd Place – Nanea Ah You, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补

Eleven17 College Pele Program

• 鈥�1st Place – Dexter Corpuz, 东精影业 West Oʻahu
• 2nd Place – Tre Zamora, Kapiʻolani CC

Cutting edge skills in new media fields, including video game and esports design, digital film production, and new media theatre and dance performance, are the focus of a new certificate for undergraduate students.

(ICS) Professor Jason Leigh was one of seven faculty members who developed the . He teaches two elective courses offered in the program on data visualization and video game design and development. Leigh said the certificate will empower students with computer-savvy skills to prepare them for careers in the media industry, which was worth about $235 billion in 2020, including $166 billion in video games.

So, if you have the passion, we鈥檒l give you the skills.
—Leigh

“The game industry itself is growing at a rate of 13% per year and computer-related jobs are at about 11% per year, and that鈥檚 a rate that鈥檚 double on average of all jobs in the United States,” Leigh said. “Because there is such a huge demand for people with these kinds of skills right now, what we hope this certificate will do is fast track students to employers in these digital industries.”

Leigh added, “The program is not an easy program. And, of course, it鈥檚 not an easy program because media companies aren鈥檛 going to pay you a lot of money if you don鈥檛 have the passion and the skills. So, if you have the passion, we鈥檒l give you the skills.”

Impact across departments

The CCM certificate program was established through a collaboration between ICS, (ACM), (ECE) and the . To earn the certificate, students must complete 18 credits from in all four departments with a 2.5 minimum grade point average. All 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students are invited to enroll in the program.

Leigh said the certificate was created not from a set of “talks” but a set of “dos.” Individual courses were initially launched after faculty and students were interested in developing these new media skills. Leigh said the success of those courses resulted in a larger program.

The other members involved were ICS Associate Professor Guylaine Poisson, ACM Founding Director Chris Lee, ACM Chair and Professor Christine Acham and Assistant Professor Brittany Biggs, ECE Assistant Professor Darren Carlson, and Theatre and Dance Chair and Professor Markus Wessendorf and Associate Professor Kara Jhalak Miller.

“In addition to enhancing our ACM students’ animation and filmmaking skills, I believe those who participate in the CCM certificate program will develop stronger communication and organizational skills, and they’ll learn how to work effectively in a team setting,” Biggs said. “They will also be exposed to concepts from these complementary fields, so they’ll have that bigger picture understanding of what’s required in these innovative creative productions.”

“Interactive multimedia systems like video games, mobile apps, vehicle displays and digital health tools increasingly pair software with advanced sensors, actuators and other hardware systems—providing exciting and lucrative opportunities for engineers from a variety of disciplines,” Carlson said. “For example, many modern video games are developed by multidisciplinary teams of programmers, electrical and computer engineers, mechanical engineers, and a wide range of artists and designers working in tandem to produce immersive digital experiences that feature richly detailed storylines and engaging gameplay.”

Miller said that the certificate program will deepen theatre and dance students’ tool kit, expand their imagination and respond to the role of digital technology as a catalyst for change locally and globally.

“It provides our students with the interdisciplinary training necessary to enter into job markets relating to digital film, screendance, theatre and dance virtual performance, and movement media art installation. Theatre and dance students who pursue this certificate will have a competitive edge in the performing arts workforce,” Miller said. “One of the key puzzle pieces that the Department of Theatre and Dance contributes includes sharing experts in the performing arts field that create choreographies that form the foundation of movements that are then digitized into movement media art.”

Learn from world-class resources

Leigh is also the director of the (LAVA), which features numerous ultra-high-resolution stereoscopic 3D and 2D touch-enabled display walls, and the world鈥檚 highest resolution hybrid reality visualization system, created by Leigh.

“The virtual reality class, the video game design class and the data visualization class all use LAVA for their work,” Leigh said. “At LAVA, we have the best virtual reality systems in the world, the highest-end computer graphics cards to develop video games with, so it鈥檚 all there. But we鈥檙e also expanding. We鈥檙e creating a sister-lab at 东精影业 West Oʻahu called CreateX and this will be housed in the new building.”

Related 东精影业 News stories:

• New state-of-the-art Academy for Creative Media facility ready for students, February 7, 2021
• Cutting edge LAVA gets $5M AI upgrade, July 1, 2020

How to apply

Undergraduate students intending to complete the certificate are advised to to be assigned an advisor and added to the program mailing lists for special events, guest speakers and employment opportunities. Registering will also help organizers adapt class sizes to meet demand. After completing the program, students must file a verification of minor or certificate form with their respective college prior to graduation.

For a list of courses and more details, .

This program is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

Two New Media Arts (NMA) students have won national advertising awards. In July, Raleigh Harris and Liana Michelle Young both won silver awards or “Addys” from the American Advertising Awards.

Earlier this year, Harris and Young won Hawaiʻi State Advertising Awards, or Pele Awards in a regional competition. Harris won the , and Young won a Pele Gold for her

Their Hawaiʻi wins took them to a national competition at the American Advertising Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. Their silver Addys represent “outstanding and worthy of recognition.” This competition on the national stage attracts nearly 35,000 entries every year and is considered the largest and most representative competition in the entire advertising industry.

Adam Moura, NMA鈥檚 program coordinator, said, “We are thrilled to be awarded regionally at the Pele鈥檚, and we are even happier that our students are again receiving well-deserved recognition at the national level for the accomplishments they have achieved in our two-year program.”

Harris and Young will be recognized in the 2021 Pele Show as national winners.

Four University of Hawaiʻi media students showcased their works in front of a national audience.

Films by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (ACM) spring 2020 graduates Gavin Arucan and Suky Zhao, and Kapiʻolani Community College (NMA) students Hannah Woodward and Raleigh Harris, were selected for the , hosted by the Animation Educator鈥檚 Forum.

“ACM is very proud of the films created by Gavin and Suky,鈥� said Christine Acham, ACM 惭腻苍辞补 chair. “As seniors, they were an important part of the 2020 animation cohort. The acceptance of their films into this competitive showcase is symbolic of the bright future that lies ahead for these graduates.”

“I’m proud to say that Kapiʻolani‘s New Media Arts program is a part of this international showcase,” said Adam Moura, Kapiʻolani CC鈥檚 NMA coordinator and assistant professor. “It shines a light on the dedication and talent of our students.”

Midnight Showing

Arucan鈥檚 film Midnight Showing is a horror/comedy short about an exhausted movie theater usher who is tormented by a phantom haunting his workplace. Arucan called it one of the most ambitious projects at ACM 惭腻苍辞补 due to its 10-minute duration and use of mixed media such as stop motion animation. He said stress levels were high, but the crew of approximately 20 people was able to complete the film on time.

“With a lot of film festivals being postponed or done virtually due to the pandemic, I’m glad that this showcase got put together to feature student work,” Arucan said. “I was afraid our film wouldn’t be getting the same attention it might get in any other year.”

Since graduating, Arucan has been working on perfecting his capstone films. He is also beginning freelance animation director jobs and sharpening his skills to pursue a story art job in the TV animation industry.

Poked

Zhao鈥檚 film Poked is about a “clumsy, quirky aloe plant” in a flower shop that wants to be sold to find a forever home. However, when it meets a cactus plant in the shop, it learns “that dreams are best achieved when done with a companion.”

“Being able to see my work alongside the works of such talented animators from both our animation department and other schools in the 2020 Animation Virtual Showcase is nerve-wracking,” Zhao said. “But I’m grateful to Professor Brittany Biggs for giving me and all my crew members/animators this opportunity.”

Zhao said there were some challenges during the production process but credits her production manager and other animators who persevered and got the job done. Since graduating, Zhao has worked on animating sequences for two documentaries and background art for another animated film.

Frog Birthday

Woodward, a Kapiʻolani CC New Media Arts major with a concentration in animation, loves creating whimsical and fantasy worlds. Frog Birthday started from a vision of what a birthday party for a frog would look like. It was inspired by concepts and illustrations from Alice in Wonderland. Woodward said all of the different moving parts and animations keep the film interesting and unpredictable.

“Collecting all of the textures and assets took a bit of time,” Woodward said. “Trying to find the right image and then editing it to fit the scene was a large part of this project. Each scene file has about 100 layers of images and textures to get everything to look just right.”

Up in Smoke

Based on the style of a 1920s black and white cartoon, Up in Smoke is an anti-vaping PSA that mimics old commercials promoting smoking as a healthy behavior. Harris said the implication was that the claims that vaping is healthy and safe may be false in the future. The film features two classic cartoon characters selling a vintage-style vaping device in a tongue-in-cheek manner. In addition to being selected for the Class of 2020 Animation Virtual Showcase, Up in Smoke was nominated for an ADDY award presented by the American Advertising Federation.

“I was pretty surprised, I wasn’t expecting it to go as far as it had but I’m glad that people are enjoying it,” Harris said. “The hardest part was learning how old cartoons were styled and trying to match their animation to make the film look as authentic to the 1920s look as possible.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Kapiʻolani and Honolulu Community College students recently won 11 Pele awards, including Best of Show for Kapiʻolani CC student Raleigh Harris‘ design in the category of Animation/Special Effects. Harris took home the Pele Gold along with a $1,000 prize. This is the third consecutive year that Kapiʻolani CC students have won the prestigious and coveted Best of Show award.

Other winners in this year’s competition include Kapiʻolani CC students Liana Young (Gold) for Publication Design, Cheryl Soong (Gold) for Integrated Branded Identity Campaign, Christi Gonzalez (Silver) for Integrated Branded Identity Campaign, Tomy Takemura (Silver) for Logo Design, Ariana Enomoto (Gold) for Logo Design, Adrian Remoh Mangahis (Gold) for Illustration Campaign and Hannah Woodward (Gold) for her work in Animation/Special Effects. Honolulu CC鈥檚 Jordan Dowkin鈥檚 earned awards (Silver) for Collateral Material-Stationery Package design and two (Silver) for Logo Design.

“We’re thrilled about the recognition our students have received by industry professionals locally and regionally,” said Adam Moura, Kapiʻolani CC鈥檚 new media arts coordinator. “Students come to [New Media Arts] to build a professional portfolio, and for them to be awarded at this level with scholarships and representation at the national awards is really inspiring. We are indebted not only to the phenomenal Art Department here on campus, but also the institutional support provided by [Academy of Creative Media System] and Kapiʻolani.”

The Pele 2020 winners can be viewed here: and full animation sequences may be viewed here: .

The Pele Awards is one of 15 national district competitions for the American Advertising Awards, the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 40,000 entries every year from across the U.S. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising and design.

What do Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Ice Age, Corpse Bride and covers of the New Yorker magazine have in common? Four acclaimed artists, with top-tier animation and illustration credits such as the aforementioned, will share their knowledge with animation students at .

The students will meet with the animators on February 7, 2020. Later that night, at a free public event at 7 p.m., the award-winning artists will discuss their art, work and collaborations at the Honolulu Museum of Art鈥檚 Doris Duke Theatre in “Casting Call: Populating Feature Animated Movies.”

Andrea Blasich

has worked in the animation industry for 30 years. Some of the animations he has worked on include How to Train your Dragon, Shark Tale, Ice Age, Brave and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He has worked on the video games BioShock 2 and The Witness and the animated short The Dam Keeper.

Two of his sculptures were selected as finalists for the National Sculpture Society Awards.

Peter de Sève

was the sole character designer for the film Ice Age including the iconic Scrat. A few of the many other films he has worked on include Finding Nemo, Robots, The Little Prince and The Grinch.

His many distinctions include the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, and a Daytime Emmy Award for best character design in a television show. In 2016 he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators prestigious Hall of Fame. He is, perhaps, best recognized for his many New Yorker covers.

Carter Goodrich

has designed characters for numerous feature animations including Prince of Egypt, Monsters Inc., Sinbad, Finding Nemo, Brave, Open Season, Hotel Transylvania, Coco and Despicable Me.

He has won Annie Awards for his designs for Ratatouille and The Croods. He has two Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Awards and 21 New Yorker covers. He has written and illustrated seven award winning children鈥檚 books.

Carlos Grangel

designed characters for DreamWorks from 1993 including Prince of Egypt, Spirit, Sinbad, Madagascar, Flushed Away, Kung-Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. He was handpicked by Tim Burton to not only design all the characters for Corpse Bride, but also logo, title, prop and costume design.

He won the Annie Award for character design for Spirit. His work has been exhibited at museums around the world including The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The World Expo Shanghai 2010.

For more information, contact Kapiʻolani CC Professor Sharon Sussman at (808) 734-9382. The New Arts Lectures 2020 event is supported by the Honolulu Museum of Art, the Wallis Foundation and Kapiʻolani CC.

The designer and illustrator for hits such as The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean and Beauty and the Beast will share original pitch board drawings in a public lecture at on Monday, November 18, 7–9 p.m in Kopiko 202A.

Darek Gogol, who has worked on the visual development of more than 40 Hollywood movies, will discuss how illustrations ignite the creative process and will show how concept ideas are shaped into camera ready form.

“So many times, directors have said to me, ‘Show me a world that’s never been seen before,’” Gogol said. “Digital tools have opened up new frontiers for concept artists, but the challenge remains the same: to conjure up a world that is visually astonishing.”

Kapiʻolani animation students will benefit from Gogol’s visit

While he is in Hawaiʻi, Gogol will also work with animation students at Kapiʻolani CC. He last visited and worked with Sharon Sussman‘s students in 2013. Filmmaker Edgy Lee produced a video about that visit for Pacific Network TV.

Sussman said she first met Gogol in 1996 when he was working at DreamWorks Animation as a production designer for The Prince of Egypt.

“He was one of the most innovative artists in the studio,” said Sussman. “Since that time I have watched him excel at so many different studios, with so many different directors, and on so many different types of movies. And this isn’t only working in different situations, this is drawing all types of environments and characters, creating stories about all kinds of different topics taking place in different places and in different centuries.”

The public talk is a co-presentation of the New Arts Lecture Series and Kapiʻolani Community College with special support from the Wallis Foundation.

Gogol鈥檚 filmography includes Pirates of the Caribbean 1-4, The Matrix, Minority Report, Stargate, Armageddon, Enchanted, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt, I am Legend, Dreamgirls, Windtalkers, Broken Arrow and the Academy Award-winning Memoirs of a Geisha. He is currently developing a new musical for Universal Studios.

(Video credit: PurePacific.tv)

Legendary animators Ron Clements and John Musker headline 鈥檚 New Arts Lecture series at the Honolulu Museum of Art at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3. Their appearance is spearheaded by Professor Sharon Sussman, in partnership with and the .

Sussman said “I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing how this very special visit by these giants of the animation industry will inspire the Kapiʻolani CC New Media Arts students—the next generation of animation storytellers.”

Among Clement驶s and Musker驶s collaborations are the Oscar-nominated Moana and Disney驶s 2009 return to hand-drawn animation The Princess and the Frog.

Clements is a renowned storyteller and filmmaker at Walt Disney Animation Studios. With his longtime collaborator Musker, Clements has written and directed iconic feature films that have become part of Disney鈥檚 legacy. They include beloved classics like The Little Mermaid (1989) and Aladdin (1992).

Musker is a 40-year veteran of the Walt Disney Animation Studios where he was an animator, storyboard artist, writer, director and producer. He became an animator on The Fox and the Hound (1981), and later joined Clements to direct The Great Mouse Detective (1986) alongside Disney veterans Burny Mattinson and Dave Michener.

The duo鈥檚 credits also include 1997鈥檚 epic comedy Hercules and the intergalactic adventure Treasure Planet (2002).

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The lecture is supported by the Honolulu Museum of Art, Wallis Foundation and Kapiʻolani Community College. For more information, contact Sharon Sussman at (808) 734-9382 or ssussman@hawaii.edu.

, a professor of art and coordinator of the at , was awarded the 2018 Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions in Vocational Education.

Sussman began her career in California first as a painter, then as a teacher, then jumped into the world of computers when she started her graduate studies in computers in art, design, research and education. This led her to a job at DreamWorks Feature Animation. She then brought her skills in traditional art and digital art, and her passion for teaching to Kapiʻolani CC to design the NMA animation program.

Sussman conceived and developed the prestigious New Arts Lecture Series, bringing top-notch, prominent artists and animators to the college to lecture and teach workshops. The impact of this lecture series cannot be overstated as it has exposed students and the general community to experts and the artistic aspect of the entertainment industry.

, Sussman’s department chair said, “Ms. Sussman has provided steady leadership from the start. She is the voice of reason in times of chaos and is a role model for her students. She is constantly pursuing new opportunities for her students and encourages them to think beyond the box. For example, the New Media Arts program continues to explore the possibility of a new AA degree in NMA and in inter-disciplinary certificate for various initiatives that blend art and technology such as STEM and creativity academies. Ms. Sussman is accessible, motivated, hardworking, dedicated and empathic. She is passionate in all that she does and I cannot think of anyone more worthy of this award.”

An animator currently directing her own independent film, with the help of 350 artists from 35 countries around the world, will give a free public lecture at on April 19, 7–9 p.m. in the ʻ艑丑颈ʻ补 Auditorium. Artist Cinzia Angelini will discuss her experiences, challenges, tips and tricks in “The Making of Mila.”

is a high-quality computer generated short film about a little girl whose life takes an unexpected turn during World War II. The hundreds of artists involved are united by a common goal of creating socially relevant animation and have volunteered their time and talent under one “virtual roof.”

UNICEF Italy says it supports Mila “…for the powerful universal language conceived by artists from around the world; for the excellent quality of the work, and above all, because the story of this little girl from Trento, who survived the bombings of World War II, represents all those children who across the ages and around the planet, are in danger.”

Angelini鈥檚 other projects include Balto, Prince of Egypt, Eldorado, Spirit, Sinbad, Spiderman 2, Open Season, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, The Minions Movie and Despicable Me 3. She also worked on the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem theme park project for Universal Studios.

Mila trailer

“They are awesome. They are really fun people. I like being around them. They work really hard.”

That鈥檚 how award winning Disney animator Renato do Anjos described the he was working with.

The students in the five-day workshop enjoyed instruction and one-on-one interaction with a master who served as head of animation for Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph.

• Related 东精影业 News story: Zootopia head animator gives public talk, works with students, at Kapiʻolani CC, November 3, 2017

“It鈥檚 a lot harder than it looks, definitely,” said Kapiʻolani CC student Koreena Nagai. “I鈥檝e been having a great time in this program and I鈥檓 very grateful for him coming out.”

Dos Anjos demonstrated the minute details of creating natural hip and leg movements using the MAYA animation software program projected on a big screen. Then the students worked on their ongoing animation projects, while he offered helpful hands-on hints.

“For me the most important thing about the work is the potential and (for) all of them, I saw that,” said dos Anjos. “ I驶m really happy with what they are doing.”

—By Kelli Trifonovitch

Award-winning Disney animator Renato dos Anjos will discuss his 30-year career and what it takes to stay inspired and continue to grow and learn as an artist in a free public lecture on Wednesday, November 15, 6–8 p.m. at , 驶Ohia 118.

During his third visit to the college as part of the , dos Anjos will also hold a five-day animation workshop for students.

Dos Anjos served as the head of animation on the Academy Award winning Disney feature Zootopia. Other films he has worked on include: Moana, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph (head of animation), Tangled and Bolt (supervising animator). He is also serving as the head of animation for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, which is scheduled for release in March 2018. Before Disney he worked at Sony on Surf鈥檚 Up (supervising animator), Open Season (supervising animator) and Polar Express. Before Sony, he was lead animator on Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, dos Anjos started out wanting to be a comic book artist, but fell in love with and started working in animation as an intern in 1987 at the age of 14.

His visits to Kapiʻolani CC were arranged by Professor Sharon Sussman and made possible by a grant from the Wallis Foundation.

graduate won Student Gold at the for her in the website (desktop or mobile) category.

The American Advertising Awards are presented by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The AAF Student American Advertising Awards Competition is a unique national awards program designed specially for college students that follows the same framework of entry and judging as the professional industry awards.

Lee’s goal in CMYK Magazine was to redesign a well-organized and contemporary-looking website that draws users’ interest at the first-sight. For visual interest, she used a vivid video background, but for the legibility, the video gets dark quickly when focused.

“The fun part was solving the problem, making the project contemporary looking with high functionality,” Lee said. “The challenge was programming. It was hard to figure out complex javascript such as multi video backgrounds, overriding pages and anchor point animations.”

“Hyela Lee is an all-star,” said Assistant Professor Christopher Gargiulo. “She can design, she can code and she can write copy. Her combination of visual, technical and conceptual skills make her a unicorn in this industry—the ideal web designer. What makes her stand out from others is her passion, commitment and determination.”

The awards ceremony in Anaheim, California was a highlight for Lee. “The show was so fabulous like the Academy Awards!” she said. “The Hawaiʻi AAF team was so kind and funny, it was a pleasure. I met lots of industry leaders, got great advice and saw inspiring works.”

Lee plans to move to New York to pursue more experiences in the design industry.

“She earned this honorable award because she is willing to put in long hours and go above and beyond to produce high quality work,” said Gargiulo. “She also has a great personality, a witty sense of humor and is a joy to work with. She embraces feedback humbly, accepts criticism well and makes time to help others, too. We are very proud of Hyela and look forward to seeing many great things from her in the future!”

—By Heidi Sakuma