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I’m MJ, a Computer Animation student in the class of 2026 at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently developing my senior thesis, Feathered Guilt. My time at Ringling has given me a strong foundation across the CG pipeline, from modeling and rigging to rendering and editing. I’m especially passionate about storytelling through animation and lighting, using these tools to bring characters and emotions to life. I specialize in animating and lighting/compositing, with hands-on experience creating polished projects that balance both technical precision and artistic expression. Animation lets me express thought, personality, and emotion through movement, while lighting and compositing give me the tools to set tone, atmosphere, and visual clarity. My goal is to contribute to projects that inspire, educate, and connect with audiences on a meaningful level. I enjoy collaborating with others to bring a vision to life, refining workflows, and ensuring the final visual communicates the heart of a story. Beyond my creative work, I dedicate time to volunteering in my local community and at Ringling College. I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my commitment to service and meaningful impact. Volunteering has taught me the importance of leadership, empathy, and collaboration— values I carry into every project and professional setting.…I’m MJ, a Computer Animation student in the class of 2026 at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently developing my senior thesis, Feathered Guilt. My time at Ringling has given me a strong foundation across the CG pipeline, from modeling and rigging to rendering and editing. I’m especially passionate about storytelling through animation and lighting, using these tools to bring characters and emotions to life. I specialize in animating and lighting/compositing, with hands-on experience creating polished projects that balance both technical precision and artistic expression. Animation lets me express thought, personality, and emotion through movement, while lighting and compositing give me the tools to set tone, atmosphere, and visual clarity. My goal is to contribute to projects that inspire, educate, and connect with audiences on a meaningful level. I enjoy collaborating with others to bring a vision to life, refining workflows, and ensuring the final visual communicates the heart of a story. Beyond my creative work, I dedicate time to volunteering in my local community and at Ringling College. I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my commitment to service and meaningful impact. Volunteering has taught me the importance of leadership, empathy, and collaboration— values I carry into every project and professional setting.

Madison "MJ" Helmick

Animator, Lighting, Visual Effects Artist, +3

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I’m MJ, a Computer Animation student in the class of 2026 at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently developing my senior thesis, Feathered Guilt. My time at Ringling has given me a strong foundation across the CG pipeline, from modeling and rigging to rendering and editing. I’m especially passionate about storytelling through animation and lighting, using these tools to bring characters and emotions to life. I specialize in animating and lighting/compositing, with hands-on experience creating polished projects that balance both technical precision and artistic expression. Animation lets me express thought, personality, and emotion through movement, while lighting and compositing give me the tools to set tone, atmosphere, and visual clarity. My goal is to contribute to projects that inspire, educate, and connect with audiences on a meaningful level. I enjoy collaborating with others to bring a vision to life, refining workflows, and ensuring the final visual communicates the heart of a story. Beyond my creative work, I dedicate time to volunteering in my local community and at Ringling College. I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my commitment to service and meaningful impact. Volunteering has taught me the importance of leadership, empathy, and collaboration— values I carry into every project and professional setting.…I’m MJ, a Computer Animation student in the class of 2026 at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently developing my senior thesis, Feathered Guilt. My time at Ringling has given me a strong foundation across the CG pipeline, from modeling and rigging to rendering and editing. I’m especially passionate about storytelling through animation and lighting, using these tools to bring characters and emotions to life. I specialize in animating and lighting/compositing, with hands-on experience creating polished projects that balance both technical precision and artistic expression. Animation lets me express thought, personality, and emotion through movement, while lighting and compositing give me the tools to set tone, atmosphere, and visual clarity. My goal is to contribute to projects that inspire, educate, and connect with audiences on a meaningful level. I enjoy collaborating with others to bring a vision to life, refining workflows, and ensuring the final visual communicates the heart of a story. Beyond my creative work, I dedicate time to volunteering in my local community and at Ringling College. I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my commitment to service and meaningful impact. Volunteering has taught me the importance of leadership, empathy, and collaboration— values I carry into every project and professional setting.

Available to hire

I’m MJ, a Computer Animation student in the class of 2026 at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently developing my senior thesis, Feathered Guilt. My time at Ringling has given me a strong foundation across the CG pipeline, from modeling and rigging to rendering and editing. I’m especially passionate about storytelling through animation and lighting, using these tools to bring characters and emotions to life.

I specialize in animating and lighting/compositing, with hands-on experience creating polished projects that balance both technical precision and artistic expression. Animation lets me express thought, personality, and emotion through movement, while lighting and compositing give me the tools to set tone, atmosphere, and visual clarity. My goal is to contribute to projects that inspire, educate, and connect with audiences on a meaningful level. I enjoy collaborating with others to bring a vision to life, refining workflows, and ensuring the final visual communicates the heart of a story.

Beyond my creative work, I dedicate time to volunteering in my local community and at Ringling College. I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my commitment to service and meaningful impact. Volunteering has taught me the importance of leadership, empathy, and collaboration— values I carry into every project and professional setting.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Advanced

Work Experience

Computer Animation Film Festival Assistant at Ringling College of Art and Design

September 1, 2025 - November 27, 2025

Created a time card to improve communication and coordination among team members. Developed a simplified to-do list to prioritize festivals by submission date and importance. Strengthened organizational, collaboration, delegation, and project management skills.

Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship at Ringling College of Art and Design

September 1, 2022 - November 27, 2025

Spearheaded two distinct welcome book designs, strategically enhancing the nonprofit's introductory materials to foster a stronger, immediate connection with new families. Volunteered for 3 years, earned national recognition by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Planned, promoted, and hosted a Zoom Panel Discussion on the topics of animation and grief, how it impacts audiences, and how to create stories around death. Facilitated meetings to meet creative visions for every project. Conceptualized butterfly mascot, Blue, and created various designs exploring emotions.

CG Generalist Freelance Internship at Empath Health, Tidewell Hospice - Blue Butterfly Program

August 31, 2025 - August 31, 2025

Creatively directed a 48-second animated short for Tidewell Hospice's Blue Butterfly Program, designed to help grieving children identify and articulate their emotions through an interactive animation activity. Modeled, textured, and rigged 'Blue,' the Butterfly, to facilitate emotional learning for children. The completed project involved strategic time management and prioritization of animation to effectively support the program's mission and aid children in their grief journey.