As they discovered their love of storytelling through hand-drawn illustrations, or found their unique style through animated images, Cal State Long Beach students and alumni have excelled as storyboard artists, working for some of the biggest film and TV studios in the industry.<\/p>\n
Storyboards \u2014 visual blueprints for film or TV productions \u2014 ensure that everyone is on the same page, and knows what\u2019s going to happen next, often frame by frame.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith strong roots in illustration and representational drawing, we help prepare our students for work in several fields,\u201d said Aubry Mintz<\/a>, professor of animation in the College of the Arts<\/a>. \u201cIn both the illustration<\/a> and animation<\/a> program, we offer students a course to learn and develop a portfolio in storyboarding.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Many supporters have helped COTA and its School of Art<\/a> over the years, including Sally De Witt, mother of Elizabeth Alice De Witt \u201811 (BFA in drawing and painting). She recently completed commitments to the De Witt Kick Start Cache Fund, which supports graphic design, drawing and painting and a visiting artist series.<\/p>\n Three School of Art alumni shared how The Beach helped them accomplish amazing things in the illustrative world of storyboards.<\/p>\n Jeremy Spears \u201807<\/p>\n Jeremy Spears ’07<\/p>\n Spears graduated from CSULB with a BFA in art illustration. After graduation, he got an internship with Pixar; he\u2019s worked for Disney-Pixar ever since. \u00a0<\/p>\n Spears has worked as a story artist on blockbuster animated films such as \u201cZootopia 2,\u201d \u201cZootopia,\u201d \u201cFrozen,\u201d \u201cMoana\u201d and \u201cBig Hero 6.\u201d He also recently produced, wrote and co-directed a short,\u202fanimated film, \u201cForevergreen,\u201d<\/a> which has won\u202fsome noteworthy awards, including best animated short at AFI Fest. \u00a0It\u2019s made the\u202fshortlist\u202ffor Best Animated Short Film for the 2026 Academy Awards. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI loved my experience at Long Beach State,\u201d Spears said. \u201cI\u2019ve appreciated it more and more over the years. It\u2019s where I developed as an artist. I\u2019m just really thankful the professors invested in us the way that they did. We had everything we needed to get better at our craft.\u201d<\/p>\n Spears recalls learning a lot from Professor Robin Richesson<\/a> \u201882, \u201895, who\u2019s had a long career as a storyboard artist and costume illustrator<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe was great to be able to talk to, because she had done it,\u201d he said. \u201cI really thought (CSULB) helped me prepare for composition, telling a story with one drawing, and never being satisfied with the first idea.”<\/p>\n Jeremy Spears’ storyboard, above, and completed scene from “Zootopia 2”\u00a0<\/p>\n Danelle Davenport \u201812<\/p>\n Danelle Davenport ’12<\/p>\n Davenport was already a storyboard artist before The Beach, but she learned to refine and expand her vision while obtaining an MFA here, with a specialization in illustration. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat drew me to Cal State Long Beach was the opportunity to expand my skills, add to my portfolio of skills and strengthen my painting, drawing and design,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cThe graduate degree actually strengthened my storytelling skills and gave me more confidence in my own voice.\u201d<\/p>\n Davenport has worked on art and storyboards for some major projects, including \u201cAvengers: Age of Ultron,\u201d \u201cGuardians of the Galaxy,\u201d \u201cAnt-Man,\u201d \u201cShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings\u201d and\u202f\u201cA Wrinkle in Time.\u201d<\/p>\n She credits art professors Yu Ji<\/a> and Marian Stewart<\/a> \u201803, \u201806 for helping her structure and compose the ideas brimming inside her head.<\/p>\n Scenes from \u201cShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” drawn by Danelle Davenport ’12<\/p>\n Jennifer Yuh Nelson \u201894, \u201823<\/p>\n Jennifer Yuh Nelson ’94, ’23<\/p>\n