Brian Menz's path from Kearney to an Oscar

Rochester native Brian Menz, 36, was an integral part of the animation team that won an Oscar recently for Walt Disney's animated hit movie, Big Hero 6.

His career as a computer animator has certainly taken off, as he has now had a hand in nearly 10 films.

"It's what I wanted to do since I was 8," Menz said by phone from his office at Disney Studios in Los Angeles.

As a senior at Bishop Kearney High School, Menz and his twin brother Carl — now the art director for a medical media publisher — were signed up for an Animatus workshop thanks to their mother, Elsie. Now in its 25th year, Animatus is a full-service animation studio located in the city at 34 Winthrop St.

"It was a great introduction to how much work was involved, to what I was in for," Brian said. "Fred (Armstrong) and Dave (Puls) were super encouraging."

After graduation in 1997, Brian and Carl went their separate ways.

Brian attended Edinboro University, while Carl studied at the University at Buffalo. Brian returned to Animatus for an internship in his sophomore year. This time, he perfected the animation for the studio mascot, a Viking named "Derf."

"I could tell right away he was going to be a great one," said Armstrong.

Menz graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts but found that his options working as an artist who specialized in hand-drawn animation were limited. He taught himself computer graphics and followed five animator friends to Texas, where they worked for DNA Productions.

"For a few months, I would hang out during the day while they were at work," said Menz. "When they were home they helped me prepare for an interview."

He got the job, working on popular kid shows Jimmy Neutron and the film Ant Bully.

Menz said that the studio closed its doors, forcing him to look elsewhere for work. Again, he landed on his feet, this time at Laika Entertainment in Portland, Oregon. He was instrumental in creating three dimensional, interchangeable faces for the stop motion film Coraline. After the 14-month project, he sent his reel to Disney, where he has worked ever since.

Menz has worked on the films Bolt, Ice Age 3 and Ice Age 4, Rio, Wreck It Ralph, Oscar winner Frozen, and Big Hero 6. His next work can be seen in Zootopia, set for release this month.

It's not all work and no play for Menz and his fellow animators. He got to meet actors John C. Reilly and Kristen Bell, and he was in awe of Idina Menzel, the voice behind Frozen's Elsa.

"She said she was really freaking out before meeting us, and here we are a bunch of geeks sitting behind a computer," said Menz.

While each animator did not get to take home the hardware, Menz said he was happy just to hold the gold statue after the February win. He said he has already received the top prize of a great career.

"It's hard work, but when people enjoy the films we create, that's the real reward," he said.