News
School of Film and Animation

Animation is most often viewed on a screen. But when animators break traditional rules and abandon the “almighty rectangle,” Christine Banna says artistic magic can happen.

The Character Mosaic Project is a recently revived initiative that aims to build a library of 3D characters — diverse in their ethnicities and backgrounds — that are open source for animators to seamlessly use as a broader range of subjects in their films. The project is led by Kevin Bauer, graduate director of the film and animation MFA program.

Having the right networking connections can make or break a career in the film industry. Thankfully for Marica Joseph, there are plenty of RIT alumni who she can learn from.

Accomplished alumni, creative technology research, and interdisciplinary program offerings set RIT’s School of Film and Animation apart from others on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 top film schools list. RIT was ranked number 22 this year, a leap ahead from the school’s rank in 2024.

Many employees of RIT City Art Space have used their experience working in the gallery to prepare for fulfilling careers in museums, community art centers, and project and event management.

Meghdad Asadilari, assistant professor in the School of Film and Animation, was awarded the 2025 ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum Faculty Grant.

RIT graduate Sebastian Nazario-Colon presented at the Cannes Film Festival. He says documentary filmmaking courses and the RIT in LA study away program paved the way to his success.

Carson Munn '26 has taken advantage of the endless resources available in RIT's School of Film and Animation, including well-equipped facilities, supportive faculty, and an opportunity to spend a semester studying in an entertainment epicenter, Los Angeles.

When RIT students create video games, they don’t just mail it in. A team of students recently won the Grand Prize at GameFest 2025 for developing Pelican Post. The game is about a pelican mailman delivering mail to a small town of unique characters.

Ryan Adriandhy '19 MFA (film and animation) speaks to Deadline about his directorial debut for the movie Jumbo, which features a boy attempting to stage a play in a local talent show after feeling underestimated by his peers.

Max Schaefer ’25 (motion picture science) did it all at RIT. He was a mainstay on student and commercial production sets. A live shader for RIT Sports Network hockey broadcasts. A leader in RIT’s Fraternity Life community. Conducted virtual production and motion capture research. And enjoyed an inspiring work experience with Universal Studios Hollywood.

Between a moving performance, building an award-winning iron-melting device, and featured exhibitions, RIT students, faculty, staff and alumni were present in every corner of the National Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art and Practices.