PRESS RELEASE

[CalArts] – Directors who graduated from California Institute of the Arts’ legendary animation programs have generated $26,377,254,458.00 in box office grosses since 1985.

[Two new interactive infographics] illustrate how the domestic and international returns for feature films add up to this remarkable total.

Originally founded by Walt Disney and his brother Roy, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is an acclaimed Los Angeles-area institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs in the visual and performing arts. CalArts exerts an influence far beyond its size and was recently dubbed the Harvard Business School of Animation by the Los Angeles Times.

Demonstrating CalArts’ influence, the astonishing box office grosses earned by graduates of its animation programs were finalized after the opening weekend of alumnus Rich Moore’s film, “Wreck-it Ralph.” The directors of recently released animated hits, “Frankenweenie” (Tim Burton) and “Hotel Transylvania” (Genndy Tartakovsky) also attended CalArts. Alumni helmed films “Dr. Suess’ The Lorax” (Kyle Balda) and “Brave” (Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman) are among the top 10 highest grossing films for 2012.

Graduates of the Institute’s animation programs comprise an industry Who’s-Who that includes John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and virtually all of Pixar’s brain trust; Disney directors John Musker (“Aladdin”), Kirk Wise (“Beauty and the Beast”), Gary Trousdale (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”); and directors Tim Burton (“Corpse Bride”) and Henry Selick (“Coraline”), to name only a few.

Remembering his time at CalArts, John Lasseter commented that he and fellow students were taught that they could “achieve the impossible.” With its internationally renowned Programs in Experimental Animation and Character Animation, CalArts gives students a foundation in both technique and creative thinking, and prepares them to work at the forefront of animated filmmaking.