Alum Wayne Unten Animates Disney Christmas TV Special

With Disney-Pixar Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter, renewing the tradition of original, made-for-TV, Christmas animated specials, one of our alum, Wayne Unten, got to partake in this holiday tradition. Unten, who has been working for Disney Animation for more than two years, including as a Supervising Animator on Bolt (2008), animated some of the reindeers and other characters in the holiday special, Prep and Landing. The Disney special airs December 8, at 8:30pm (Pacific) on ABC. Unten, who graduated with a BFA in Entertainment Art/Animation, periodically visits the CSUF Visual Arts Department to coach students on animation practices such as demo reel preparations.

Prof. McDonald Illustrates Coming of an Age Book with Indian Creek Poet

Mercedes McDonald's latest illustrated book, For a Girl Becoming, is a rare publishing gem: an illustrated picture book with appeal to teen audiences. Although it is an all-ages book according to Joy Harjo, the poet who wrote the book, very few picture books in today's market address readers in their teens. McDonald handled the illustrations with elegance and an eye for lively earth tones, reminiscent of the Indian Creek tradition to which Harjo belongs. The Los Angeles Examiner published a review and interview of the author, where Harjo discusses her working relationship with McDonald. We're fortunate to have McDonald among our faculty this semester as she teaches one of our Traditional Illustration classes.