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Film/Stage

Sikh-American Animator is Wiz Behind "Frozen":
Avneet Kaur

PRIYANKA SHARMA, et al

 

 

 

Sikh-American Avneet Kaur, is the wiz behind the newly released Hollywood animation film, Frozen. She worked on it as its Simulation Technical Director.

It was a challenge, she says: "Working on Frozen was an absolutely wonderful experience. I loved the story idea of this film from the get go, and all the creative and technical challenges that came along with it.”

"I believe this movie raises the bar in every aspect of computer generated (CG) filmmaking - be it environment, character design, animation, effects, look, simulation and lighting, etc.," she adds.

Frozen is an epic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It is  a captivating and emotionally tugging animated story.

Avneet’s involvement in the film revolved around the simulation work for the lead characters Anna and Hans in addition to other characters like Baby Anna, Hans's Horse and Duke of Weselton and more.

"The intricate and beautiful designs of hairstyles and clothing for the characters in this film presented thrilling challenges for the simulation team," said Avneet.

What made the work easier was how "the production crew was constantly researching new ideas and exploring innovative techniques, to bring the creative vision of the characters and wonderful world of this film, to life".

"It was a lot of hard work, but well worth it. I am very proud of being part of this amazing film," she added.

She says that, from hand-drawn and cel (celluloid) animation [traditional animation] to the advent of fully computer generated animated features, stop-motion animation, photo realistic shading, motion capture, facial capture, stereoscopic 3D technology, etc., the animation industry has come a long way in the past few decades.

"It is continuing to evolve in domains of creative ideas and advancements in technology," she added.

Avneet joined Sony Imageworks after graduating from Texas A and M University in 2003 and worked on "The Polar Express".

In 2005, she moved to Walt Disney Animation Studios and has since worked on animated features like "Meet The Robinsons", "Bolt", "A Christmas Carol", "Prep and Landing", "Tangled" and “Wreck-It Ralph“.

A student of architecture, Avneet says her shift to animation was a natural extension.

"I always loved to draw as a kid. My parents encouraged my passion for the arts which resulted in my pursuing higher studies in architecture. I believe that studying architecture gave me a very well-rounded education, in art and sciences ... in addition to the fundamentals of design.

"With a desire to advance my expertise, I applied to the Master’s program at Texas A and M University. It was while pursuing the course, I was completely intrigued by the amalgamation of the artistic and technical processes involved in computer generated filmmaking.

"It also played wonderfully with my ever-growing love for films … Animation thus became the area of advanced focus for my graduate studies. A career in the animation field was a desired outcome and seemed like a natural extension of what I loved to do," she added.


[Courtesy: Pinkvilla and New Kerala. Edited for sikhchic.com]
December 18, 2013
 

Conversation about this article

1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), December 18, 2013, 4:40 PM.

But for sikhchic.com, gems of the likes of Avineet would have remained hidden. There is no field of endeavour in which Sikhs, despite being an infinitesimal minority, have not excelled ... perhaps excepting one: in educating the world that Sikhs are not terrorists but their friends and nation-builders.

2: Hardev Singh (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada), December 19, 2013, 12:05 AM.

Congratulations, Avneet. Wishing you much success in your chosen field.

3: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), December 19, 2013, 9:06 AM.

We need to get Sikhs like Avneet Kaur involved in community media projects as well.

4: Rubina Sultana (Bangalore, India), December 21, 2013, 12:39 AM.

We all saw this movie in our neighbourhood mall. we loved it thoroughly. It was the best animated movie from Disney so far. Thank you, Avneet, keep it up! You made us all proud!

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Avneet Kaur"









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