Pigmental Studios opens new animation headquarters at Gallaudet University

On September 23, 2016, Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marking the opening of Pigmental Studios’ new DC Headquarters and Student Training Center on the campus of Gallaudet University.

Joining him were:

• Angie Gates, director of the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment
• President Roberta J. Cordano
• Dean Genie Gertz, ’92 from the College of the Arts and Sciences
• Marina Martins, Co-founder and CEO of Pigmental Studios

Guided tours of the studio followed the program.

Pigmental Studios produces animated creative and educational content for feature films, television, gaming, commercials, virtual reality, and online distribution. Pigmental animators have worked with animation industry heavyweights Disney, DreamWorks and Pixar on some of the most successful animated feature films in recent history.

The animation company announced its plans to establish its new headquarters on the Gallaudet Campus in May of 2015, relocating from Los Angeles, and supervised the renovation of Gallaudet’s Appleby Building to serve as their District home base.

Pigmental will partner with Gallaudet to create and deliver an academic program in animation design and programming for Gallaudet students, and has signed on to work with the District Government on the Creative Economy Career Access Program (CECAP), an agreement that will provide District resident L.E.A.P. Academy participants private sector trainee placements with local creative economy employers.

The event was part of the Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative led by the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH). The goal of 202Creates is to engage District residents, creative innovators and businesses during the month of September, highlighting the contributions of the diverse and dynamic creative community in the District of Columbia.