Congratulations to Monroe-Woodbury High School Class of 2005 alumna Miho Tomimasu, who received the Individual Achievement in Animation - Background Design Emmy Award on Saturday, March 15.
She was recognized for her work on Orion and the Dark, which is a feature length animated movie produced by DreamWorks Animation and premiered on Netflix in February of 2024. The script was written by Charlie Kaufman and it was based on a children's book by Emma Yarlett. The film is about a boy, Orion, who is afraid of the dark and his journey in facing his fears. I was lucky enough to be brought on as a Visual Development artist for the project, which means that I drew and painted concept art that was then used as reference for the other departments that followed.
When asked to give advice to young students, Tomimasu said, "My best advice to students would be to always be curious. Art is a lifelong pursuit that involves searching, evolving and constantly questioning. Also, have fun! I found that I do my best art when I'm truly enjoying the experience and not worrying about the outcome."
Congratulations on this amazing achievement. The entire Crusader community is so proud of you.The Class of 2025 had it right when they voted Tomimasu "Most Likely to Succeed!" #crusaderpride #mwfam #mwinspiresuccess #mwlegacy⭐️👏💜