How did MICA prepare you for working on Coraline?
I wanted to make movies, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to a school that would teach me nothing but that. The community of MICA is so open that I was able to pursue my various interests with equal passion. The illustration, animation, film, sculpture, and teaching programs never conflicted, only complemented-in hindsight, even during times of incredible stress. The faculty is amazing. They all work in their fields, and are so generous to give students that window into their lives. That takes a lot and I can’t thank them enough for being able to achieve that balance of mentorship and professionalism. Also, Baltimore is a great city for art. Staying current by visiting shows, participating in community arts, visiting Washington, D.C. -it’s so important to not work in a vacuum. How did you land the job that gave you this opportunity? I’m very thankful to Laurence Arcadias, my animation professor who arranged my portfolio review with LAIKA. She met a director from LAIKA while she was
