Anh Phan
What is your specialty?
My specialty is in Character Effects (hair, cloth, muscle simulations) and procedural environments. I really enjoy the blend of technical and artistic aspects of VFX, so these two areas perfectly satisfy this niche.
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
I remember watching a VFX breakdown of 'The Jungle Book' on YouTube and being mind-blown by the realization that the stunning environments in the movie were not real but CG set extensions. Before this, I was completely unaware of the industry, and this video opened my eyes to the possibilities of CG and what it can achieve.
Share one of your favorite pieces you've created!
My favorite piece of work right now is a dragon creature that is part of my senior thesis: Amaryllis. I was responsible for all the grooming, feather and muscle simulations, as well as rigging for it. This project posed many challenges: implementing the new Houdini 20 feather workflow, setting up muscle simulations, and rigging a quadruped for the first time. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the technical challenges and am proud of the results.
Felix Eyal
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
As a child, I always gravitated towards animated content rather than live action. I distinctly remember preferring animated cartoons over any live action shows. At 18, I enrolled in a Film College in Israel for two years, where I fell in love with the filmmaking process. However, I couldn't shake off the concerns I had about the downsides of the film industry—particularly the high costs involved in creating anything, from equipment rentals to crew expenses.
Then, I had my spark: I decided to merge my enduring love for animated content with my passion for filmmaking and pursue a career as a 3D animator. It was crucial for me to understand every aspect of the production pipeline to effectively bring my ideas to life. The next step was finding an institution that could provide comprehensive training, leading me to discover Ringling College of Art and Design. I am grateful to have recently completed my junior year in their Computer Animation program and am currently interning here at MAKE.
What are the Top 3 skills you're looking to gain as an intern at MAKE?
- Improve my ability to create scripts that elevate my Technical Artist Portfolio and assist MAKE in streamlining workflow processes.
- Develop proficiency in Texturing and Shading, exploring the depth of possibilities they offer.
- Refine my Animation skills to enhance speed and attention to detail, enabling faster and more precise animations.
Share one of your favorite pieces you’ve created!
My Junior year fall semester Push Pull project is definitely the one I'm most proud of. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone in all aspects and was where I learned the most. Moreover, it was one of the few pieces that truly captured the essence of a film, with its visual style, action, and intensity—a milestone I was thrilled to achieve.
Julia Reshetnyak
What is your specialty?
I'm a 2D Animator, and I am also interested in Character Design/Visual Development!
Share a fun fact about yourself!
I really enjoy archery and used to practice it a lot back home. 🙂
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
I believe Hayao Miyazaki's films and old Disney features were a significant influence on me. Movies like 'Oliver and Company' and 'The Fox and the Hound' inspired me to focus on drawing animals for the longest time. As a child, I started sculpting with plasticine and created many characters from my favorite films. My understanding of the animation process deepened when I received my first art book on 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' which remains one of my favorite shows.
Sofia Tonin
What are the Top 3 skills you're looking to gain as an intern at MAKE?
- I'm looking forward to learning how to collaborate with a large group of talented artists to create a final product and experiencing a real 3D industry pipeline.
- I'm particularly excited about exploring programs and software I've never used before, such as 3DS Max and the V-Ray rendering engine.
- I'd love to delve into a more stylized 2D approach to rendering 3D animations and sets!
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
Growing up, every time I watched an animated movie, there was something that kept me glued to the screen more than live-action movies. I've always loved the idea of creating worlds and stories from scratch, and in late middle school, I realized that 3D animation was what I wanted to pursue as a career. 🙂
Share one of your favorite pieces you've created!
One of my favorite animations that I've created was my Push Pull Assignment. I had so much fun experimenting with the fast-paced horror genre animation and exploring different camera POVs!
Storm Slawson
What is your specialty?
I’m a VFX artist interested in FX and proceduralism; however, I also enjoy compositing and working with live-action footage and cinematography to tell interesting stories.
Share one of your favorite pieces you've created!
My favorite project that I’ve worked on would have to be 'Rider', my senior studio project I put together with my friends. We spent nearly 7 months tirelessly working to create a 3-minute, action-packed sci-fi racing film.
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
Initially, it was short-form animated content on YouTube. I would watch 3D animations of my favorite video games and special interests for hours while growing up. Once I realized this could be a career path, I dedicated all my time and effort to learning the craft.
Weilin Chen
What are the Top 3 skills you're looking to gain as an intern at MAKE?
- The first skill is to animate in 3ds Max.
- The second skill is to collaborate smoothly with the team to produce projects.
- The third goal is to make friends during the internship!
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
My interest in animation sparked from watching the cartoon 'Tom & Jerry'. The original animation sparked my imagination when I was a child.
Share one of your favorite pieces you've created!
This animation, 'Bouncing Girl,' is one of my favorites because I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of creating it. The experience was both fun and rewarding, making it a memorable project as I watched the character come to life.
Yunie Choi
What initially sparked your interest in animation?
As a kid, I watched tons of animated movies like 'The Lion King' and 'Spirited Away' on repeat. However, it wasn’t until I went to 'The Art of Disney Exhibition' in Korea that I realized I wanted to pursue animation as a career. That experience was incredibly inspiring and truly motivated me to follow my passion for animation.
Share a fun fact about yourself!
I can design and create clothes, and I love collecting figures!
Share one of your favorite pieces you've created!
I made a student film in my second year that started with the idea of human mortality and death. I expanded it to a post-apocalyptic setting, exploring Mother Nature’s power after humanity.
