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MTSU Animation Students Shine at Unreal Fest 2025 in Orlando

Jun 23, 2025 at 02:29 pm by WGNS News

(Submitted photo)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Ten Middle Tennessee State University animation students and recent graduates had the opportunity of a lifetime to connect with top industry leaders at a conference in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month.

Led by MTSU assistant professor of animation Paul Griswold, the team attended Unreal Fest Orlando 2025, which was held at the Orange County Convention Center June 2-5.

Unreal Fest is Epic Games’ premier annual event, bringing together professionals from animation, film, games, virtual production and live events. With more than 190 sessions and hands-on labs, the event provides unmatched access to emerging tools and real-time production workflows.

Four MTSU students —  Seth Savage, Eiley Jacobs, Skye Baxter and Cooper Rogers —attended as part of a summer research project supervised by Griswold. Their travel was made possible by the support of College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel and Department Chair Bob Gordon.

“Unreal Fest was an incredible experience for me and our students — it gave us a firsthand look at how animation, real-time technology, and storytelling are shaping the future of media and entertainment,” said Griswold.

Thanks to MTSU’s designation as both an Unreal Academic Partner and host of Tennessee’s first official Unreal Community chapter, three students were also awarded complimentary passes, valued at $750 each, to the event.

One standout session featured world-renowned artist Deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman), who gave an in-depth presentation on how he uses Unreal Engine to drive audio-reactive live visuals and immersive show design.

The session was especially relevant given that MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment houses the nationally recognized Recording Industry program and supports Media Arts participation in major events like the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The crossover between music, real-time visuals, and interactive design reflects the kind of interdisciplinary opportunity MTSU is uniquely positioned to support.

Students also connected with major figures such as YouTuber Jae Solina (JSFILMZ), a leading voice in Unreal Engine education, and virtual production pioneer Matt Workman, one of the original developers behind LED volume and In-Camera VFX workflows. Workman was also a featured speaker during Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney’s keynote on opening day.

Recent graduate Shelby Holcomb interviewed with a Fortnite developer during the event and received a job offer — demonstrating the direct career impact of this kind of access.

Students also had the opportunity to meet and discuss current production trends in Japan with Yuta Shimada, a senior Unreal Engine engineer at Studio Bros., based in Tokyo. Studio Bros is known for its cutting-edge real-time production work across animation, gaming, and interactive experiences, combining technical expertise with high-end creative direction.

Shimada shared insights on the growing adoption of Unreal Engine in Japanese virtual production and animation pipelines, offering students a global perspective on how real-time workflows transform content creation across cultures.

Griswold held exploratory meetings with Epic Games and received a very positive response about the potential of bringing Unreal Fest 2026 to Nashville, further establishing MTSU and the region as a hub for animation and real-time production.

Griswold also met with vendors to discuss long-term support for MTSU students through technology partnerships, including a conversation with Captury, the creators of a next generation markerless motion capture system.

“Events like this show exactly why we focus on preparing students for the real world of creative production. If you’re a high school student — or a parent — wondering what animation at MTSU offers, this is it: hands-on experience, industry connections, and access to the latest tools,” said Griswold.

The event wrapped with an industry-wide celebration at the House of Blues in Disney Springs. Students returned energized and inspired, equipped with the knowledge and industry connections to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving creative economy.

PHOTO ABOVE ARTICLE: From left, Middle Tennessee State University animation students Skye Baxter, Seth Savage, Eiley Jacobs, Cooper Rogers and Steve Granados attend Unreal Fest Orlando 2025 in early June where they had the opportunity to connect with top industry leaders. (Submitted photo)

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