Michael's Capstone Film
Charlie the Duck and The Search of Happiness
A Live Action/2D Hand Drawn Animated/3D CGI Film
Michael created his multimedia hybrid film as a part of the Advanced New Media Projects class at Emerson College. The film combines live action footage, 2D hand drawn animation, and 3D computer animation into a short film that combines humor and heart.
Michael wrote, edited, and animated the entire film, and even learned character rigging and animation in Maya. He composited the visuals in After Effects to integrate the different forms of media.
Nominated for Outstanding Animated Program for 2026 EVVY Awards
Winner for Best Film, Outstanding Character Design, Special Cabinet Multimedia Award, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Achievement in 2D Animation at 2026 Emerson Animation Society Festival
One special element is the inclusion of legendary composer Richard M. Sherman's piano music. Michael worked on securing the rights to include the music in a way that honors Sherman's legacy of joy and optimism to a "small world."
Since being displayed at the VM 470 showcase, The Search of Happiness and Michael have been featured across Emerson College social media, and the film is currently in its festival run. The full film will be posted to the internet at the conclusion of its festival run.
