Sophomore Andrew Freire is pursuing a childhood passion as an animation major in LMU’s School of Film & Television. He takes classes in storyboarding and other subjects, and it all connects to one of his first loves: a 1990s-era TV cartoon about a 12-year-old boy and his dog.

 “I remember the first TV show I ever watched was ‘Doug,’” he explains. “I fell in love with it right away.”

Freire especially enjoys his storyboarding course, taught by Jose Garcia-Moreno, assistant professor in the Department of Animation, because he has learned about elements of story and character from Garcia-Moreno’s unique approach to animation.

“He has inspired me a lot,” Freire says. “He has a really original style of art and storytelling. He showed our class some of his conceptual art. It was really beautiful and enchanting, with a sort of surrealist feel that I’ve never seen before.”

That’s just one reason Freire believes he is receiving an education he could not get elsewhere. He also loves the sense of community he sees around him.

“There is a lot of individual attention [given here], and it is almost as if my professors are collaborators and colleagues,” he says.

Freire, whose mother is a double alumna, is a recipient of the Alfred J. Kilp, S.J., Scholarship, which is designated for students who are children and grandchildren of alumni.

“My parents and I really appreciate this scholarship,” Freire says. “I have a younger brother and sister, so my parents work very hard to give us all the best education possible. This scholarship means a lot to me because it has given me the chance to study at LMU – an opportunity I may not have been given otherwise.”

Freire is currently working on an animated music video for his band and considering studying abroad.. “LMU has been a really great experience for me,” he says. “The people, friends and experiences I’ve had have changed me for the better.”