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Olive the werewolf and Trevor the vampire deal with the quirks of being on a first date. They eventually connect over an unexpected shared love.

Steak to the Heart was produced by a team of five and has been selected by the Blue Plum Animation Festival, Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, and the New Animation & Cartoon International Film Festival.

Process Gallery

  • Stylized title card for the film Steak to the Heart in red letters, with a white plate on a teal background
  • Credits slide for the film Steak to the Heart with various monster portraits standing in for the crew's likenesses
  • Story slide for the film Steak to the Heart, describing the plot and overall message of the action
  • Character inspiration slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting skeletons, demons, and vampires as reference points
  • Character design slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting stylizations that were actively avoided in the characters
  • Character Materials slide for the film Steak to the Heart, highlighting shadow, hair, and costume design choices
  • Shaders slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting shader setting choices and effect on a pink vampire character
  • Character slide for Olive the Werewolf in the film Steak to the Heart, describing her demeanor and inspirations
  • Sketches and drawings of Olive the Werewolf from the film Steak to the Heart, both black and white and color
  • Three final designs of a blue werewolf from the film Steak to the Heart from the front, side, and back
  • Designs of a blue werewolf in various action poses, such as waving, sitting, licking a cup, and panting
  • Facial expressions of a blue werewolf, including excited, shocked, disappointed, and confused
  • Character slide for Trevor the Vampire in the film Steak to the Heart, describing her demeanor and inspirations
  • Sketches and drawings of Trevor the Vampire from the film Steak to the Heart in black and white poses
  • Three final designs of a pink vampire in a tuxedo from the film Steak to the Heart from the front, side, and back
  • Designs of a pink vampire in various action poses, such as gnawing at a steak, leaning on a table, and being shocked
  • Facial expressions of a pink vampire, including ashamed, nervous, blushing, and shocked
  • Environmental Prop slide for the film Steak to the Heart, showing inspiration and guidelines from props in the scene
  • Environment Color slide for the film Steak to the Heart, describing guidelines for coloring and lighting the scene
  • Environment Staging slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting desired focal points on the subjects
  • Environment Shapes slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting inspirations taken from design of the film Paranorman
  • Environment Materials slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting inspiration from tone, depth, and patterns being referenced
  • Black-and-White sketch of a fancy, spooky restaurant adorned with skulls. Two characters seen at a far table.
  • Black-and-white sketches of props with skull motif, including candles, chairs, chandeliers, menus, tables, and steak
  • Environment Map slide for the film Steak to the Heart, layout of the room, tables, characters, and props seen from above
  • Look and Feel slide for the film Steak to the Heart, with a blue werewolf and pink vampire sitting at a candlelit table in a restaurant
  • Movement Reference slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting 8 images from a Buster Keaton film as a reference
  • Animation reference slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting the movement of a fisherman luring a fishing rod on a boat
  • Animation reference slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting the movement of a bashful purple alien offering a cup
  • Animation reference slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting the movements of a person in a conversation
  • 2D effects slide for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting the style and effect of a liquid spilling out of a cup
  • Color Script for the film Steak to the Heart, depicting the story in 6 frames, from beginning to end

Awards and Recognition

Official Selections and Screenings

  • 2016 Blue Plum Animation Festival
  • 2016 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
  • 2016 New Animation & Cartoon International Film Festival

The Team

  • Jessica Alves

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Environment Artist, Compositor

  • Emily Baldado

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Art Director, Concept Artist, Animator

  • Kelsey Canaga

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Producer, Character Artist, Animator

  • Eric Delgado

    BA in Music and Sound Design

    Role: Sound Designer

  • Sion Jang

    BA in Music and Sound Design

    Role: Composer

  • Aerik Lansel

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Look Development

  • Amanda “Nemo” Nemiroff

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Lead Animator, Rigger

  • Jose Vargas

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Additional Animation

Animation Stills

  • A blue werewolf in purple clothing leans on a candlelit table, looking out a window flanked by red curtains with skulls above
  • A blue werewolf in purple clothing leans on a candlelit table, looking out a window flanked by red curtains with skulls above
  • A blue werewolf sitting at a table moves a cup to its face, but the water misses its mouth and spills on its chest
  • A vampire in a suit seen from behind sits at a candlelit table and looks across at a werewolf hiding behind a red menu
  • A blue werewolf and pink vampire sitting at a table look at a nearby cart with a lidded plate on it
  • A pink vampire in a suit and a blue werewolf stare intently downward between them
  • A closeup of a glistening uncooked steak on a white plate. Blood puddles underneath it.