Life After RISD: Checking in with Alum Lucas Ansel

As a senior in RISD’s Film/Animation/Video department, Lucas Ansel 23 FAV created a stop-motion masterpiece called The 12-Inch Pianist that went on to win silver in the 2025 Student Academy Awards competition. He began making a name for himself as a professional animator even before graduating from RISD, creating ads and other short pieces as a freelancer in New York City during a gap year at the height of COVID. Since graduating, he has crafted music videos and work for global companies, including contributing to Adidas’ online series Playing Games, and he is currently working on a live action film set on the island of Alicudi in southern Italy. 

Tell us a little bit about your practice and what you’re currently working on.
Since graduating from RISD, my professional practice has consisted of freelance directing and animating. I’ve been doing commercials and music videos and have made some TV show intros. I have been doing a lot of animated work, and I’m trying to do a bit more live action work. Right now, I’m in Italy, on the tiny island of Alicudi, off the coast of Sicily. I’m writing a kind of fairytale about the island, which is said to be full of witches and magic.

Have you witnessed any magical moments yet?
Every second that passes on this island, something magical happens. It’s crazy! The first night I was here, I dreamt that there was a witch in my room silhouetted by the moonlight. I woke up in a pool of sweat! I am planning to incorporate some old-school, mixed-media visual effects and compositing into the film to show that magic. I think everyone has had enough of the over-cleanliness of perfect CGI and would prefer things that look more handmade. 

Is that the kind of work that went into your Academy Award-winning senior film at RISD?
That one used everything in my toolkit: stop motion, characters against a green screen, an environment created in Blender, and compositing using After Effects. The pacing and storytelling are also representative of my work. I owe a lot to [faculty members] Brian Parcival and Ursula Kurdali, who altered the course of my life and really boosted my confidence as a filmmaker.

What do you love the most about your medium?
I love the problem solving and the sleight of hand that allows you to bring what’s in your head into reality. There are a million ways to get from point A to point B, and no one does it exactly the same. It’s all in service of telling stories, and I think storytelling is vital to our species.

When did you start making films?
I was making Lego stop-motion when I was eight using our old camcorder. There was no plot, really. It was just the magic of my toys moving around the room. I was inspired by those old stop-motion Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. That started the journey.

Why did you initially choose to study at RISD?
Both of my parents went to RISD. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts, and RISD is known as one of the best art schools in the world. I also went to RISD’s Pre-College Program when I was in high school and majored in film.

What lessons did you learn at RISD that you still carry with you today?
One of the most important lessons from Foundation year and Pre-College was about work ethic. If you want it, you’ve got to work hard every day. It’s rewarding, but it’s work. RISD really instilled that in me: that you have to push yourself. I also learned the importance of putting down your phone and learning to be bored. You need to give yourself time to think without constantly being stimulated.

Are you still in touch with any of your RISD friends? Have you collaborated with fellow RISD alums?
Yes! I live in New York City and hang out with RISD friends all the time. They’re the best. I work with Aiden Burk 22 FAV, who is a really talented filmmaker, sound designer, and musician; and Eli Turner 23 FAV, who is awesome in the field of stop-motion animation. That’s another great thing about going to RISD: the lifelong friends and contacts you make.

Life After RISD is an ongoing series featuring alumni making outsized impact in culture and industry. Stay tuned for more from our graduates on how RISD has helped to shape their practices and the way they engage with the world. 

Simone Solondz
March 2, 2026