Richard Akira Pellizzetti, Major: Animation, Current Semester: Spring 2021, Graduation semester: Fall 2021.

Back in elementary and all the way through high school I would always have a sketchbook on me, doodling in class instead of studying for my next test. Drawing has been my life for as long as I can remember, and when entering the University of Tampa, I wouldn’t have come as far as I have without advice from professors like Santiago Echeverry, Greg Perkins, Dana Corrigan, and Marcio Goncalves. With their aid in my education, advising me as well as giving me advice and pushing me to the best I can be, I’ve gotten incredibly far in my studies. I’ve learned technical skills in 2D and 3D animation as well as creative coding and sound design/ video editing, and with the amazing staff in the FMX department, I’ve been able to excel and truly bring out my potential.

When it comes to the creative process, my strongest points really shine when it comes to my skills in illustration and storyboarding. Ever since I was little, my love for writing and making my own comics has been prevalent, as I have a good sense of motion as well as knowing how to tell a story, construct a scene, and display a large variety of different emotions. I also have a good grasp of 2D animation, having worked with frame-to-frame animation for a good portion of my college life, as well as in a more hobby-like setting. I have a brief background in video editing and am knowledgeable in how to splice and edit videos together to become more appealing.

I have a weakness when it comes to coding and 3D animation. They are much more different and complex than illustration 2D and animation, which makes them harder to grasp. I understand that there are tutorials to aid with these problems, but I have trouble sitting down and understanding them. I find it easier to learn it in a classroom and even then I have trouble following along. But I am determined to improve myself and present a more hardworking and dedicated individual.

After my graduation, I plan on using my degree to pursue the path of becoming an animator, a concept artist, or a storyboard artist. My plans are also not limited to the animation industry as doing graphic novels is also one of the dreams I hold very dear and work on achieving whenever I have free time to draw. I aim to take my stories and turn them into long-running series and give them all animated adaptations, perhaps you’ll read them sometime in the future.