Backstage

Anatomy Activist Stuart Sumida

Anatomy Activist Stuart Sumida

Stuart Sumida is a professor of biology at California State University San Bernardino where he teaches animal and human anatomy. He is the author of three books and over 100 scientific articles.  His work on animal structure and function led Charles Solomon to suggest him to the Disney Studios to help with the structure of Philipe, the draft horse, and the wolves in “Beauty and the Beast.”  That was followed by extensive work on “Lion King” and he has since worked on over 40 animated and CG/effects films including “Tarzan,” “Reign of Fire,” the first “Harry Potter” film, “Mulan,” “Lilo and Stitch,” “Stuart Little I & II,” “Scooby Doo,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Ratatouille,” “Bolt,” and “Kung Fu Panda,”  He has also worked with audioanimatronic animators for Disney Imagineering, recently helping design a giant Yeti character for the “Expedition Everest” attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida.  Most recently he has lent his anatomical expertise to the upcoming “Rapunzel” for Disney Feature Animation, and “How to Train Your Dragon” for DreamWorks.  He is a frequent speaker at scientific conferences, art schools, and animation festivals including Animex and RedStick.

Sumida earned his B.A. and Ph.D. at UCLA and taught at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago before returning to California to teach at CSU-San Bernardino.  In recognition of his hybrid work in science and art, evolution and education, he was name the 2007 outstanding science and engineering professor for the entire CSU System, the largest state university system in the world.

Sumida will discuss his “favorite five” – the five anatomical take-home lessons he has found most useful to animators, whether traditional or CG.

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One Response to “Anatomy Activist Stuart Sumida”


  1. anatomy animation says:
    April 3, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    [...] animation Anatomy Activist Stuart Sumida CTN Animation ExpoStuart Sumida is a professor of biology at California State University San Bernardino where he [...]