Saturday, June 6, 2026
James Bridges Theater, Melnitz Hall, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Step into a world of imagination at the Animation Extravaganza!
This vibrant annual celebration brings together graduate and undergraduate animation students for a one-of-a-kind showcase of their completed films, Saturday, June 6th.
It’s a night where hard work meets creative brilliance—an opportunity for the students to share their hilarious, heartfelt, and awe-inspiring stories on the big screen. From mesmerizing 3D and hand-drawn works to inventive stop-motion and interactive pieces, these students have pushed the boundaries of the medium in every direction.
Join us as we honor the incredible talent emerging from the UCLA Animation Program at the School of Theater, Film & Television. Plus, don’t miss the presentation of the Crystal Anvil Award, given each year by the students to a trailblazing figure whose work has made a lasting impact on the field of animation.
Come for the films—stay for the magic!
Hosts: Grace Capooth & Divsang Sangani
Program 1 |THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER | 4:00pm
An eclectic mix of non-MFA films completed in the Animation Program course 181C and the stop-motion class
Program 2 | YOU’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT | 5:00pm
Crystal Anvil Award Honoree, Student Awards and films from the individual voices of the MFA Animation Program: stop motion, 2D and 3D CG animation
Crystal Anvil Award: Valerie Lettera-Spletzer
Valerie Lettera-Spletzer is an artist, educator, and animation professional whose career spans over 35 years across feature animation, interactive media, television, and higher education. She earned her BFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University and her MFA in Animation from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
In 1995, Valerie became the first artist hired at DreamWorks Interactive during the studio’s early formation, and later joined DreamWorks Animation in 1998, where she spent over 25 years contributing as a Background Department Technical Director, Final Layout Artist, and Final Layout Supervisor. She contributed to films including Trolls, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek Forever After, The Croods, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 & 3.
Before joining DreamWorks, Valerie developed animation and artwork for projects including the 1993 live-action feature film Super Mario Bros., where she designed and animated a hand-drawn digitally painted character sequence. She also designed and directed the Main Title Motion Graphics used for many seasons of the television series Baywatch.
Alongside her industry career, Valerie taught the MFA course Advanced Computer Animation at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television for over 25 years, and currently teaches Animation History and Culture for Syracuse University’s Dick Clark Los Angeles Program. She is passionate about encouraging emerging artists to explore storytelling, technology, and creative innovation with curiosity and a spirit of exploration.