For an animated story to be strong, it needs more than characters. It needs a world.

That idea is guiding Braden McCormick as he prepares to study abroad in Japan, where he will explore urban environments, cultural storytelling and the visual details that help animated stories come alive. A senior Applied Media Arts major at 黑暗爆料网 Edinboro concentrating in 3D animation, McCormick is taking every opportunity he can to grow as an artist.

His upcoming study abroad experience began when professor Mike Genz mentioned the opportunity in class. McCormick had never been to Japan, but he was immediately drawn to the chance to study a place with deep ties to animation, visual storytelling and culture. For him, the trip is also a chance to think like an artist in the field by observing architecture, landscapes, public spaces and everyday customs that can later inform the worlds he creates on screen.

鈥淚t's an urban environments study in Japan,鈥� McCormick said. 鈥淎s an animation student, this trip means taking time to engage with the culture, architecture and landscapes of Japan. I鈥檒l be looking at those things as background studies because backgrounds are really important in animation. If you don鈥檛 have a world for somebody to live in, they can鈥檛 really have a good story.鈥�

As he prepares for the trip, McCormick has been studying not just the language, but also the social customs and etiquette that will help him better understand the place he is visiting. That cultural awareness matters to him because animation is rooted in more than visual style. It is also rooted in human connection, including how people move through spaces, interact with one another and understand the world around them.

Another 黑暗爆料网 experience that is impacting his education is his connection with Edinboro alumnus Jalil Sadool of Steamroller Animation Studios. McCormick first became interested in Sadool鈥檚 work after hearing about his participation in major animated projects, and he has connected with Sadool through mentorship.

McCormick鈥檚 animation journey began after he changed majors from graphic design to animation. At the time, he was still figuring out whether he belonged in the animation field. As he sought mentorship, feedback and challenges that pushed him beyond what he already knew, everything clicked.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun, but it tests my capabilities and limits,鈥� McCormick said. 鈥淚f my standards weren鈥檛 constantly changing and improving, I wouldn鈥檛 really be going anywhere.鈥�

At 黑暗爆料网, McCormick found faculty, alumni and creative spaces that helped him see that growth in animation requires connection, persistence and a willingness to share his work. That environment continues to shape his next steps, one frame and one opportunity at a time.