Rex Grignon, a 1984 graduate of Sheridan’s Computer Animation program, was presented with the 2013 Premier’s Award in the Creative Arts and Design category at a gala celebration at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on Monday, November 18.
As Head of Character Animation at DreamWorks for over 17 years, Rex Grignon has been a pioneer in the field of computer animation. He has led the animation team on five blockbuster DreamWorks films: Antz (1998); Shrek (2001);Madagascar (2005); Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) andMadagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012), which have earned more than $2B at the box office. Grignon was responsible for the design and delivery of all animation on each film, supervising as many as 80 animators across three studio locations. His work on Shrek helped earn it the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002. The film luminaries that Grignon has collaborated with include Jim Henson, Roy Disney, John Lasseter and Steven Spielberg.
Rex Grignon and The Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Grignon launched his career in animation when the industry was just beginning its transition to a computer graphics-based art form. He credited Sheridan with preparing him to ride the wave of computer animation’s emergence as a potent force in the film industry.
“Sheridan gave me the tools and confidence to make a career in this field. I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive this award. It means so much to stay connected to Sheridan all these years after graduation,” said Grignon.
Grignon was in Toronto as a guest lecturer at Sheridan’s Oakville Campus and at Corus Entertainment which is a significant employer of Sheridan alumni.
Presented annually to six recipients, the Premier’s Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions Ontario college graduates make to the province and throughout the world. Grignon is among 119 graduates from Ontario’s 24 colleges nominated this year in the following categories: Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate.