Graduate student Grace Denner is on a mission to recast 2D animation as a major entertainment option for audiences online and in theaters.

“I miss the 2D animation that used to be prevalent in popular media,” she said. “So I’m hoping to be able to put a little bit more of 2D media into the world, even if it’s just me doing it.”

At The University of Texas at Dallas, Denner is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in arts, technology, and emerging communication in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (AHT). The degree track is part of the University’s sought-after animation and games program. According to Animation Career Review, UT Dallas ranks No. 27 in the U.S. in top animation colleges and No. 27 in game design.

Denner has been drawing still art since childhood. She said her interest in film developed as an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in cinematography and film/video production. She began focusing on live-action filmmaking and then taught herself 2D animation.

“I just like telling stories,” she said, “especially storytelling in the form of movies, videos, TV shows and more. Being able to use my artistic ability while also telling a compelling story is what gets me excited.”

2D animation requires a large amount of illustration, as every frame needs to be drawn, either on a digital tablet or by hand. In comparison, 3D animation creates movement via a 3D model that can be manipulated in a virtual 3D space.

For a number of decades, 2D was the only method of creating animated films, cartoons and TV shows. The first 2D animation, “Fantasmagorie,” was released in 1908 by French cartoonist Émile Cohl. Twenty years later, Walt Disney Studios released the classic short film “Steamboat Willie” with synchronized sound.

3D animation gained popularity with the release of Disney/Pixar Animation Studio’s hit movie “Toy Story” in 1995. Recently, though, 2D has experienced a comeback – thanks to the internet.

“2D animation is becoming the most prevalent animation, and it’s all because of what’s happened with streaming,” said Todd Fechter, associate professor of arts, technology, and emerging communication at UT Dallas. “2D is having a renaissance of sorts.”

The ability to share work online adds to the passion that Denner has for her art.

“There are now more opportunities for artists, thanks to technology,” she said. “YouTube makes it really easy for somebody like me to put their content out there.”

In the animation MFA program, Denner works with five other graduate students on various animation projects. Each cohort member brings something unique to their collaboration; Denner focuses on storytelling, cinematography and 2D animation.

“They’re all doing something slightly different, although everyone’s work is bound by the same basic rules,” Fechter said. “They learn from each other by trial and error and by seeing what other people are doing. It makes it really interesting and fun.”

Denner said she entered the UTD MFA program to benefit from the technological and faculty support while learning new skills. She already has two credits (for special effects and for costume and wardrobe) in a full-length narrative film that released in January 2020, and she has directed several shorts and written several full-length scripts.

“The graduate students already know how to animate characters and how to do the basics,” said Fechter, whose own credits include “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.”

“We’re making sure these students know how to structure and build entire projects,” he said.

As Denner discussed her love of 2D animation, she recalled memorable films that used the technique and the animators who brought the scenes to life. She particularly noted Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who directed the “Kung Fu Panda” movies, one of which earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

“I would watch the behind-the-scenes pieces on those films. Nelson’s ambitions were so large they had to rebuild a lot of the rigs and create new methods of animation,” Denner said. “Directing an animated film like that would be my dream job.”

Denner does not rule out, however, an eventual return to academia as an instructor. She said she loves school and appreciates the opportunity to learn from professors and her cohort.

Fechter said Denner’s motivation and determination allow her to thrive in the UTD animation program and will likely bring her success in her animation career.

“She’s motivated and figures things out on her own. She doesn’t just wait around for you to show her how to do something,” Fechter said. “If you have that kind of determination, that’s 99% of what you need to be successful in animation.”

– Phil Roth