GUILD OF NATURAL SCIENCE ILLUSTRATORS ANNUAL

Visual SciComm Conference

2026 GNSI VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Keynote

Dr. Stuart Sumida

SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED

The Power of Science + Art

and the Importance of Anatomy and Paleontology to Animation and Its History

Paleontology (and dinosaurs particularly) has played a fundamental role in both the history of animal locomotion studies, as well as the history of film and animation.

Many are familiar with the roles that Eadweard Muybridge played in these histories, but the depth is far greater than just that. Further, the anatomical rules known to scientists and scientific illustrators are critically important to those working in the entertainment industry, particularly to those in animation and its many new subdisciplines as computer animation has complemented traditional hand-drawn animation. This extends logically to visual effects artists as well. A recognition of the mutually beneficial tools of anatomy and creative entertainment provide powerful strategies for science, art, and educational outreach for both disciplines, and the discipline of their integration.

ABOUT STUART SUMIDA

Stuart Sumida is the current president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and an expert on the animals that completed the transition from water to land, approximately 300 million years ago.

Additionally, he has been an anatomical and scientific consultant for nearly 100 animated and visual effect-heavy films, ranging from “The Lion King” (the 1994 version) to the most recent Zootopia 2, the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, Life of Pi, Ratatouille, and many others. He has also worked with video game companies such as Blizzard, Guerilla, and Valve, and on theme park rides in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.