2025/26 Merit Scholarship Recipient: Kenya Zuniga

How/why did you choose your major?

I've loved animating ever since I was young and that passion has followed me all the way to MCAD and will likely stay with me beyond.

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

The work I submitted is some of the best work I've made during my animation courses at MCAD! Solice was my final for my Intro to Animation class, which was the first ever major animated film I made! Colima Dance was my final for my Character Animation 1 class, where I wanted to challenge myself by animating two characters dancing, since I'd never done it before. Cave Beast was my final for my 2D Digital Animation class, where I made two brand new rigs and did a full rendering pass with backgrounds and full compositing in Adobe After Effects. I think the progress I've made at MCAD is apparent in these works and I am quite proud of all of them!

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

I came to MCAD because it was the only nearby college that had a dedicated curriculum for 2D animation.

What are your plans for your senior year? And beyond?

For senior year, I plan to work hard and make my thesis film the best it can be. Afterward, I want to start the pilot episode for my passion project and hopefully get a studio job!

Favorite thing about college life (so far)?

I really like the community and the people I've met and connected with so far. I always feel welcome and comfortable at MCAD since most everyone I know is in the same boat as I am.

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by the media I love! I've taken inspiration from all of my favorite movies, tv shows, and video games. The video game series Halo and Red Dead Redemption have been the main inspirations in a lot of my MCAD work. I'm also inspired by many aspects of my culture, as it's where I take a lot of my subject matter and design inspiration from.

Do you have a favorite piece you've made? Describe it!

My favorite animation so far is the final for my Character Animation 2 class, where I animated one of my characters pulling a silly prank on another by dropping a lit bomb in their lap. While I wasn't able to fully render it, it was fun to animate these two characters interacting, as I plan for them to be the main characters in my senior thesis film.

Anything you're obsessed with at the moment?

I've been obsessed with the animated show, Invincible! It's been giving me a lot of motivation when it comes to my prospects of directing my own show later in my career.

What's the best thing you've found on the Free Shelf?

The free shelf has blessed me with many empty sketchbooks and a really cool jacket.

Lastly, do you have a favorite question we didn't ask? Tell us and answer it!

It's not a very interesting question, but my favorite color is red!

Kenya Zuniga, Better Solice Frame