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Computer science and studio art major develops passion for animation through Micro Fellowship

Atomu Maruyama �26, a computer science and studio art major at ������˾��,��blended his creative and technical skills��throughout the summer,��interning��as an animator and 3D modeler with The AAT Project, a media and innovation company.��During the Micro Fellowship,��Maruyama��designed 3D assets and animations that contributed to the organization�s brand identity and marketing initiatives, allowing him to explore his passions in design��and programming.��

�Through this internship, I gained practical skills that I�ll carry forward in my career, especially in 3D modeling and animation.�����

���Atomu Maruyama �26��

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES����

I��found out��about this internship opportunity through Handshake, the��student��employment website.��The��role of��a��3D modeler/animator��seemed like an��ideal fit for me because it aligned closely with both my academic background and career goals.��I�m��passionate about entering the video game or animation industry, and this internship��provided��valuable experience in creating 3D assets, rigging, and animation skills that are essential for my professional development.��

Atomu Maruyama ’26 expanded on his skills in game design while working with The AAT Project.

LESSONS LEARNED����

What interested me most about the work was discovering the differences between 3D models in video games��and��animation. Since my��role��was��involved in the video game industry, I learned the importance of��optimizing��assets by keeping the polygon count as low as possible. Each day, I worked��

on background environment modeling using��softwares��like��Maya and Blender.��I��also��focused��on animation clip organization,��ensuring��the animations��were coherent��in the game engine��Unity.����

EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE����

This internship confirmed that I enjoy working in 3D modeling and animation, especially for games. I learned how to��optimize��models for game engines, manage low-polygon��workflows, and work with rigs tailored for Unity. I also improved my ability to import and organize animation clips, edit animations, and troubleshoot within both Maya/Blender and Unity.��Through this internship, I gained practical skills that��I�ll��carry forward in my career, especially in 3D modeling and animation.��

WHAT�S NEXT��

The APEX Micro Fellowship experience motivated me to continue developing my skills through personal projects and gave me a clearer idea of the kind of work I want to pursue in the future.��The technical skills��I�ve��developed this past summer, along with a better understanding of production pipelines, have strengthened my foundation for a future in the video game or animation industry.��

Featured image: Atomu Maruyama �26 interned as an animator and 3D modeler with The AAT Project over the past summer. Photo provided by subject.

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2025 on August 6, 2025.