Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Abney, Bobby Pontillas, Monica Lago-Kaytis and Trent Correy.
Rise Up Animation started in the midst of the BLM movement, following the murder of George Floyd and the protests for racial injustice. It all began with a simple question between friends, “how can we do something in our animation field to support BIPOC artists, become their allies and be part of a positive change in the animation industry”. A week later, Rise Up Animation was formed! We quickly put the call out to our friends and colleagues spanning the industry, and within a week, 300 volunteers came forward to support the initiative and offer their support. Industry professionals from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Netflix, Sony, Bluesky, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and many more came forward with the desire to mentor, conduct panels and volunteer in any capacity needed.