Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of DreamWorks DreamWorks animator Rex Grignon worked on such movies as "Toy Story" and "Madagascar."

From the beginning of the school year, a new face has been seen around campus. He is about 6 feet tall and has short, spiky hair and a knack for turning stick figures into movies such as "Shrek" and "Kung Fu Panda."

His name is Rex Grignon, and for 20 years he has been a DreamWorks animator. Just recently, he became a "distinguished educator" in SJSU's art and design department.

At 46, Grignon worked on the first computer-animated feature film, "Toy Story." Since then, he has been the head of character animation for both "Madagascar" movies.

He said he has been working with students on bringing a character to life on screen.

"What I try to do is focus on acting and the way the character's perceived by an audience," he said.

Grignon said he has high hopes and expectations for SJSU.

"Part of what DreamWorks wants to get involved with is to really raise this program to a world-class character animation program," he said. "Me being here for 18 months is a really good start to help get the curriculum going."

Alice Carter, SJSU's animation and illustration program co-coordinator, said Grignon's availability would not have been possible if it were not for DreamWorks' $300,000 donation to the department.

"When (CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg) announced that that was his gift to us, we thought, 'This is going to be difficult,'" she said. "Rex is an absolutely fabulous colleague and a wonderful natural teacher. I can't think of a better gift they could have given us in the loan of somebody of that caliber."

Chris McKane, a senior animation major, said having Grignon at SJSU has been a great experience.

"Before he came to San Jose State, it was like taking stabs in the dark," he said. "We really didn't have any formal instruction with animation."

McKane said that although the school offered ACME, an interactive closed-circuit television transmission with artists and animators from DreamWorks and Pixar, it was not nearly as effective as having Grignon on campus.

"He's here three times a week, and he's here three hours every time he's here," McKane said. "We have a lot of time with Rex, and it really helps because he critiques our work and tells us how to improve it."

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