The Animator: Edwardsville Graduate is Causing a High-Tech Stir in Hollywood
By Teri Maddox, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Mar. 9–Who would have thought Eric Froemling could go from winning Lego building contests at Kmart to creating computer animation for hit movies?
Well, everyone, it seems.
Teachers began telling Robert and Laura Froemling of Glen Carbon their son had extraordinary artistic talent in kindergarten, and the praise continued through high school.
“He was light-years ahead of his classmates and the faculty (in computer art),” said Dennis DeToye, retired art teacher at Edwardsville High School.
Froemling was a college student in 2001, when he won the coveted National Alliance for Excellence award in visual arts. He wowed judges with his three-minute video about a “young mischievous alien guy.”
“He’ll be famous someday,” Alliance president Linda Paras said at the time. “There’s not a doubt in my mind.”
Today, Froemling, 26, is a technical director at Pixar Animation Studios, a Disney subsidiary near San Francisco. The company has produced hit movies such as “Toy Story,”"A Bug’s Life,”"Monsters Inc.,”"Finding Nemo,”"The Incredibles” and “Cars.”
Froemling was hired three years ago, just in time to serve on the visual-effects team for “Ratatouille,” the 2007 movie that won an Academy Award for best animated feature last month.
He and three co-workers also received an Effects in an Animated Motion Picture award from the Visual Effects Society. They sat across from legendary director Steven Spielberg at the awards ceremony in Hollywood.
“It’s a great feeling,” Froemling said in a recent phone interview. “I couldn’t have asked for more. It was the first film I worked on. I’m just glad it did so well, and it was so well-received. It’s going to be a hard act to follow, though.”
“Ratatouille” is a comedy about a determined young rat named Remy, who dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Some scenes take place in a Paris restaurant.
Froemling and his co-workers received the Effects award for food-related sequences, including the stirring of soup, chopping of carrots, pouring of wine and sauteing of vegetables.
“I’ve peeled more virtual potatoes in my life than real ones,” said Froemling, who also helped with steam, flames, explosions and “rapids” that Remy rides in the sewer system.
Metro-east roots
Froemling grew up in Glen Carbon’s Ginger Creek subdivision. His father is a dentist who teaches at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton. His mother is a retired teacher for the deaf. His brother, Todd, 22, attends Illinois State University in Normal with plans to become a sports writer.
Froemling showed artistic talent and a knack for building as a toddler.
“Legos were a big thing,” his mother said. “He won all the Lego contests at Kmart.”
Froemling started making animated films in seventh grade, using a Super 8 camera, clay figures and G.I. Joe dolls. He graduated to computer animation in high school while also getting involved in drama and community projects.
Froemling was a junior when Edwardsville High School moved into its new building in 1997. He helped art teachers learn how to use updated computers and software.
“Frankly, he taught me way more than I taught him, especially about computer animation,” teacher DeToye said. “What did I know about computers? I’m an old man.”
DeToye watched in amazement as Froemling drew a stick figure, made it move, added flesh, clothes and shadows and surrounded the newly invented character with a computer-generated environment.
Froemling also designed a memorable Tiger Times cover with a tiger image formed by clouds above the high school.
His crowning EHS achievement was a Class of ’99 senior video reminiscent of “Jurassic Park.” A computer-animated dinosaur chased actual students across the school’s football field and parking lot.
“Cars were spinning around in the air and blowing up,” DeToye said. “A kid runs into the school with the dinosaur in hot pursuit. He chases him down the hallway and into the cafeteria, knocking over tables and breaking glass.”
The dinosaur picks up a soda machine and shakes it at the student before letting him go.
“This (film) was made by a senior in high school,” DeToye said. “It was pure sophistication. … It was just amazing, and I knew this kid was on his way.”
California dreamin’
Froemling earned a bachelor’s degree in computer animation at the Academy of Art College (now University) in San Francisco in 2004.
His National Alliance for Excellence award came with a $1,000 scholarship and a chance to meet his idol, John Lasseter, who founded Pixar and directed “Toy Story,” the first full-length computer-animated movie.
“I remember touring the studio,” Froemling said. “I was just all starry-eyed, looking around. I thought, ‘You have to be pretty cool to work here.’”
He was right.
The Pixar campus is in Emeryville, Calif., across the bay from San Francisco. It’s a high-tech, creative mecca for some of the best animators in the country.
Employees work flexible schedules in a modern office building with wide, open spaces. They gather in a large glass atrium for meals, brainstorming sessions or Ping-Pong.
“I love it here,” Froemling said. “I’m doing stuff that I would be doing on my own for fun.”
Froemling’s next Pixar project is an animated movie called “Up.” Its elderly hero travels the globe, fighting beasts and villains with his sidekick, a clueless, young wilderness ranger. The scheduled release date is May 29, 2009.
Froemling also is working out bugs with his own computer game, which he tests on cousins and friends whenever he visits Glen Carbon.
His parents like to have him home, but they’re thrilled he’s making his mark in Hollywood.
“I always told both of my boys, ‘If you can find careers that you love, and you look forward to work every single day, you’re lives will be fantastic,’” his mother said.
Contact reporter Teri Maddox at tmaddox@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 26.
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