“That always goes a long way in times of need," he said. Even during a pandemic, its cinematic productions helped people feel connected. With so many box office hits, Grun thinks what makes DreamWorks special is its sense of humor. "It’s really given me the room to stretch my wings creatively at the studio." “The director and production designer have given me a lot of leeway to fulfill my role as I see fit," he said. His favorite project so far is The Boss Baby: Family Business, released this past June. Now, as head of locations, he facilitates communication, environments, and props through the studio departments. Grun joined DreamWorks as a matte painter in 2013, creating environments like the Capitol City in The Hunger Games and computer-generated dinosaurs in Land of the Lost.
The Capitol, from the Lionsgate film The Hunger Games. Those are the people who can lead you to another job or another industry.” Keeping in contact with your school and work friends is the best way to keep a lifeline when things get rough. "Having the rug pulled out from under you can be daunting.
“It’s a part of the industry they don’t really tell you about in school," he said. Unfortunately, the entertainment companies he worked for when starting his career went bankrupt. His ability to forge lifelong friendships would serve him well, and he was hired soon after graduation. Grun, who received an Outstanding Alumni award in 2016, enjoyed the camaraderie with other artists at UW-Stout – an experience he didn’t have at the other schools. It's really given me the room to stretch my wings creatively at the studio. The director and production designer have given me a lot of leeway to fulfill my role as I see fit. "Animation was booming in those years and there were many jobs available all over the country." “It opened my eyes to what was possible in entertainment," he said. The experience pushed his drawing skills. He'd heard about UW-Stout, and how it was regarded as one of the best art schools in the Midwest, so he transferred to the graphic design program.ĭuring his undergrad, Grun spent two summers at Sheridan College International School of Animation near Toronto. He attended the Minneapolis College of Arts and Design for one year but needed something more affordable. Growing up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Grun drew X-wing starfighters and stormtroopers after seeing Star Wars in the theater. “They were a pleasure to work with and we are incredibly proud to see their names in the credits of so many DreamWorks projects.” FALLING INTO THE DREAMĪs the field of animation surged in the early 1990s, with studios creating multimillion-dollar box office hits such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Whisper of the Heart, graphic artists were in high demand, and Chris Grun wanted to be part of it. “These were some of the most dedicated, talented and hard-working students from their cohorts,” Williams said. The School of Art and Design "Dream Team,” as game design and development-art Program Director Andrew Williams calls them, is Chris Grun (who graduated with a degree in graphic design in 1995), Benjamin Pease (who graduated with a degree in game design development art in 2015), Margaret Rigotti (who graduated with a degree in game design development art in 2018), and Hue Vang (who graduated with a master's degree in design in 2018). (Submitted photo)įour UW-Stout alumni have helped create some of the highest-profile animated films and shows on the planet at the DreamWorks Animation studios in sunny Glendale, California – or, remotely from their homes in Hollywood hills. He also created Barb’s map in Trolls World Tour. UW-Stout grad Hue Vue has worked on films such as The Croods: A New Age and Spirit Riding Free.