A duo of Computer Animation alumni from the class of 2024 received one of the top three prizes at SIGGRAPH 2025, a premier international conference for computer graphics, for their senior thesis animation. The Mooning, an animated short film by Mason Klesch and Vivian Osness, was named Best Student Project by the awards committee, which comprises members of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM).
This year’s multi-day festival, the 52nd annual SIGGRAPH conference, will take place from August 10-14 in Vancouver, B.C.
The Mooning is a “hard-hitting” animated mockumentary revealing the truth behind the 1969 moon landing. The short film was previously awarded Highly Commended Film of the Year for 3D Animation by The Rookies.
“These projects don’t just meet professional standards, they redefine them,” said Dawn Fidrick, the director of this year’s festival. “It’s inspiring to see student filmmakers leading the charge in both storytelling and innovation. This year’s winners reflect a global future of animation that is fearless, inventive, and deeply human.”
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