From SCAD grads to Disney giants
By Tristan Lueck
SCAD and Disney collided last night when two employees from Walt Disney Studios came to discuss life in the animation business. But they weren’t just any employees – they were also SCAD alumni.
It was a relatively well-known fact that nine former students of the School of Digital Media were picked to work on “Wreck-it Ralph,” a Disney animated film featuring a video game villain that was desperate to be seen as a more than just the bad guy. Two of these alumni returned to SCAD to discuss life after graduation and their jobs and experiences at the Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Zach Parrish and Nathan Engelhardt, both animation alumni who graduated in 2007, started the panel with a brief description of what they wished talked about and the promise of a sneak peak at “Big Hero 6,” the latest in Walt Disney Animated Classics. Coming back to SCAD for them is “a full circle in their careers,” which was both “a dream” and “mind-boggling.”
Englelhardt and Parrish met at school, where they both took different paths that finally converged when Engelhardt came up with idea of producing a short film. The film, titled “Cereal Killers,” was a complete fail but taught both of them valuable lessons that they continued to use once they left SCAD and entered the real world.
After graduating, Parrish joined Rhythm and Hues Studios, where he worked on “Alvin & the Chipmunks” (2007) and “The Incredible Hulk” (2008). He was recruited to Disney in 2010, where he worked on “Tangled” before becoming animation supervisor for “Wreck-it Ralph” and immediately hiring Engelhardt.
Engelhardt, on the other hand, had worked at Blue Sky Studios after graduating and worked on “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (2009) and “Rio” (2011) before moving to Disney. He is now animation supervisor of “Big Hero 6” with Parrish as head animator.
Parrish said little about actually working for Disney but mentioned how he walked into a room his first day on “Tangled” and met Glen Keane, who is “arguably the best 2-D animator who has ever lived, and listening to him was constantly inspiring.” Keane animated some beloved childhood characters, including Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and titular character of “Aladdin.”
Both advised students, “Don’t be afraid to suck” and to follow the Pixar motto of “Fail early, fail often.” They also encouraged students to be diverse, learn new skills and learn to collaborate, stating that it is a big part of the business.
They ended the night with an exclusive sneak peak of “Big Hero 6.” No photography or recording of any kind was allowed, giving the students who attended an incredible secret to hold over friends who didn’t come. The clip, never before been seen by anyone outside of Disney, showed the first flight of Baymax and Hiro, two of the main characters of the film. After the clip there was a brief Q & A before “Wreck-it Ralph” began.
Elisha Frazer, the special events coordinator for the Student Activity Council and a third year performing arts major, said that “[The event] was very well done and kept everyone engaged. Since they were SCAD students it gives the current students an idea of where they could go.”