Trailblazer Academy Announces Grand Opening and Appoints New Director

Frames + Games Film FestivalStudent showcase to feature original animation, game demos, and a rare screening of Musker’s acclaimed short film LAKEWOOD, CO, UNITED STATES, April 16, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Rocky Mountain College Of Art + Design (RMCAD) will host the 2025 Annual Frames + Games Festival on Friday, April 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Mary Harris Auditorium on its Lakewood campus. Also known as the ANGA Film Festival, this yearly event celebrates the creative achievements of students in the college’s Animation and Game Art programs and provides a space for students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to engage with innovative digital storytelling. This year’s festival will include screenings of original student work, from animated shorts and animatics to 3D renders and game demos, ending with an awards presentation recognizing excellence in various categories. Students interested in participating must submit their work by March 31. The event is organized by RMCAD faculty with the support of internal academic departments. A major highlight of the 2025 festival is the participation of John Musker, a distinguished animator, writer, and director who spent over 40 years at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Before directing, Musker studied English Literature at Northwestern University and later trained at CalArts’ Character Animation Program under Disney veterans like Eric Larson, one of Walt Disney’s legendary “Nine Old Men.” Musker co-directed numerous landmark films, including “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986), “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Aladdin” (1992), “Hercules” (1997), “Treasure Planet” (2002), “The Princess and the Frog” (2009), and “Moana” (2016). He will lead a seminar at the festival, sharing insights from his extensive career in animation and filmmaking. As part of the evening, Musker will present his independently animated short film “I’m Hip,” completed in 2023 after his retirement from Disney. The film—animated entirely by hand—follows a self-confident cat who performs a jazzy song and dance routine, proclaiming his “hipness” to a skeptical world. “I’m Hip” was selected from over 3,200 submissions for screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. It was also featured at Animasyros in Greece, BIAF in South Korea (where it won a Diversity Award), and the Mill Valley Film Festival in California. It was officially shortlisted for the 2024 Oscars in the animated short film category, placing it among the top contenders for nomination. Musker’s participation in the event adds unique value, offering students and guests direct exposure to one of the animation industry’s most influential directors. His presence enhances the educational experience and supports RMCAD’s continued efforts to connect academic learning with real-world creative experiences. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets online through Eventbrite. Light refreshments will be available, and the venue offers accessible seating for those who need it. As a campus-hosted event, the festival will follow standard RMCAD safety protocols. It will take place in the Triboro Building, Rooms 108 and 116, at 1600 Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80214.

Web of SilenceKathleen Dutton delivers a thrilling story of love, betrayal, and redemption. LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, April 16, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- How far would you go to escape a past that refuses to stay buried? In "Web of

A bold red and orange Ramo Buchón arrangement by Imaginary Worlds, displayed in Mexico City's historic Zócalo with the national flag in the background.A pastel-toned Ramo Buchón by Imaginary Worlds displayed on a vintage purple car