"Moana 2" is out in movie theaters now! Alumnus David Derrick Jr., director of "Moana 2," got started in the Department of Art & Art History where he was on scholarship as a painting and drawing major with a focus in graphic design. Derrick Jr. later moved to LA to continue a focus in animation.
"Working on Moana was a gift, personally and professionally. The film Moana caught and shared the spirit of Polynesia with the world. I have ancestors from Samoa and just as Moana comes to understand her heritage, working and researching this film brought me closer to my own. I am honored to continue her story and to celebrate the rich and beautiful cultures of the Pacific Islands."
Born and raised in Farmington, Utah, Derrick decided to pursue a career in the animation industry after seeing “Tarzan” while in college. He joined Walt Disney Animation Studios to work on the movie. He previously worked at DreamWorks Animation where he served as a story artist for “Megamind (2010),” “How to Train Your Dragon (2010)” and “Rise of the Guardians (2012),” among others.