Rachel Asante-Korang- Animation

Fall 2021-Senior

Expected Graduation Date: December 2021

When I was growing up, I was diagnosed with a type of learning disorder called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, that did not stop me from finding something that I was passionate about. When my parents got me my first animated movie on VHS called An Extremely Goofy Movie, I started to fall in love with animation. Since I fell in love with that genre, I started drawing characters from TV shows and movies that I adored. One day in third grade, my art teacher saw my drawings and she was very thrilled. She asked me if I was thinking of becoming a great cartoonist someday, and I replied, “Yes”.

Before coming to the University of Tampa, I had originally attended Saint Leo University to study Multimedia Studies, but they had no courses that involved animation and digital art. I quickly decided that if I wanted to get into the animation field, I would have to transfer to a college that offered it.

When I first came to UT, it took me a while to adjust because I was unfamiliar with the software programs that were used in the classroom. As the semesters went by, I started to familiarize myself with how everything worked. I was a little nervous about using the 3D software Autodesk Maya, but after practicing it a few times I became comfortable with it. In 2D animation with Dana Corrigan, I enjoyed drawing and was very comfortable with using the software. Dana would even give me feedback on what I needed to work on to improve in the course. The class that became my most favorite was Creative Coding, taught by Santiago Echeverry. His lectures and tutorials guided me through how to create illustrations, mandalas, animations, shapes, patterns, and games using Javascript, CSS, and HTML5.

Since coming to UT, I have learned a lot and have gotten to know how to use the software programs provided in all the different classes. One of my strengths would have to be coding because I can create a lot of things using Javascript and HTML5, from patterns to colorful mandalas. One of my weaknesses would have to be 3D animation. Although I can model objects and items in Maya, I am still having trouble modeling characters for 3D animation. As much as I appreciated 2D animation and digital illustration, another weakness of mine would have to be using the drawing tablet. My lines are not very neat when it comes to drawing digitally, so I could use some practice on how to draw neat lines to produce fabulous illustrations.

After I graduate from UT, I plan on becoming a freelance animator and also work with young kids at my former elementary school, Corbett Preparatory School of IDS. I plan on teaching kids how to use Photoshop and how to color shapes by using the paint bucket tool. Aside from illustration and 2D animation, I would want to eventually work for a big studio company such as Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon Animation, among others.