The novel revolves around the theme of “here comes the rain” and includes the work of more than 15 animators and illustrators. Work ranges from digital media to traditional watercolor.

The group hopes to publish the book in October, and they are raising support and money through the online fundraising site kickstarter.

Richner’s book cover

Associate Professor Thomas Richner recently self-published the first volume of his series The Saga of Captain Cheeseball: Volume I, which includes three separate stories.

“The idea is based on bedtime stories I’ve been telling my kids for a while,” Richner said in a recent animation interview.  “I decided to write this one down, illustrate it, and put it into book form.”

The volume chronicles the adventures of a misfit pirate named Captain Cheeseball as he embarks on a quest to find treasure. It is the first in the series, and he has already started working on the second, planning on releasing six total.

“I am very excited about this project and plan to have the next series released this summer,” Richner said.

In the interview Richner discusses his professional journey from working on episodes of The Simpsons to his current work as a professor at CCAD.

“I think I knew back in college that I might one day want to teach,” Richner says in the interview. “I enjoy helping students pursue their dreams. Having been in the industry, I feel like I am able to give students a real world perspective on our field. I enjoy passing on what I’ve learned.”

Richner currently teaches animation and time-based media. In additional to producing his own short films, which have screened at festivals around the U.S., he continues to work with animation industry professionals in Hollywood to develop and pitch animated properties primarily for television.

To read Richner’s full interview, click here.

Final image in Nationwide video, painted by Alan Becker

Twenty-five students in CCAD’s Pipeline Project recently created a video for Nationwide to display in the lobby of their downtown Columbus corporate offices.

The Pipeline Project, now in its sixth year, is an extra curricular program at CCAD that provides students a chance to produce a film in a collaborative, team-oriented manner that mirrors professional practice.

The project was led by Assistant Professor Thomas Richner, who met with executives from Nationwide throughout the process and presented the final 30-second video.

The final video focused on the history of Nationwide. It featured a white eagle flying over different Ohio landscapes and a chronological succession of buildings bearing Nationwide’s logos.

“The Pipeline Project allows students to work with real-world factors such as deadlines, meetings, and client requests,” Richner said.

Mardi Girard, a senior in Animation, has participated in the Pipeline Project twice.

“This project was not only a resume builder, but it also taught me how to work with other animators when trying to make a cohesive animation,” Girard said.

Animation senior Bekah Nunn was excited to work in a large group.

“It modeled what we will be doing when we leave school,” she said. “I was able to network with other students and get more experience in completing a team project start to finish.”

Other students who worked on this year’s project include Animation sophomore Kelly Cumpson; Animation juniors Joann Cundiff, Jonathan Pezzatta, Donald Yoakam, Chris Campbell, and Tyler Crowley; Animation seniors Brittney Kellogg, Victor Dearing, Shannon Beech, and DeJuan McCoy; Media Studies juniors Alan Becker and Manuel Austin; and Media Studies senior Jessica Miera.

The commercial for Ohio-based Imaginatives, Ltd., which was produced within four weeks by Thomas Richner, assistant professor, Animation, adjunct instructors Andy Friz and Dwayne Marley, and alumni Mark Fitzpatrick (CCAD ’07) and Steven Umbleby (CCAD ’08), features an animated elf and a companion illustrated book. It won bronze awards in the following categories: Local TV & Local Cable-Children’s Audience, and the Local TV & Local Cable-Use of Animation.

The Christopher-Pop-in-Kins commercial combines 3D and 2D elements and animation. The commercial aired in December 2009 in the Akron and Canton, OH viewing areas. The Telly Awards honor local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as video and film productions, and work created for the Web.

For more information go to www.tellyawards.com.