Animation Studio Giant, Mills Media visits DeCoDe

i

image

The Department of Communication Design at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) played host to Jesse Sunkwa Mills, CEO of Mills Media, a renowned animation studio, in a historic visit aimed at bridging the gap between industry professionals and students.

The visit, facilitated by lecturer, Mr. Benjamin Prempeh, marked a significant milestone in the department's efforts to foster collaboration between the industry and the student body. Animation is a crucial course in the department, but students often face challenges in staying motivated due to the lack of established animation studios in the country.

The event, held on March 7, 2025, at 11:00 am, was a great advantage to the attendees, who received amazing insights from the CEO and Creative Director, Jesse Sunkwa Mills. The program was attended by the Head of Department (HOD), Dr. Adam Rahman, some esteemed lecturers in the Multimedia section, represented by Mr. Kwabena Kusi-Appouh and Dr. Ralista D. Debrah, Teaching Assistants for this academic year as well as Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students from all year groups.

As the mastermind behind the award-winning animated movies "Asantewaa" and the newly released "The Guardians: Chosen Ones," Mr. Mills shared his expertise with the students, emphasizing the need for them to start pursuing their passions now, with diligence and dedication. He also stressed the importance of daily practice and continuous learning in any field the students wish to venture into.

Mr. Mills continuously emphasized the need for collaboration, networking, and partnership among students, highlighting these as great advantages in the industry. "It's essential to work together, share ideas, and learn from each other," he noted.

The session was concluded by Dr. Ralista D. Debrah, who expressed her great appreciation for the session and highlighted the importance of collaboration between industries and the student body. "This visit marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between our department and the industry," she said.

Students asked fascinating questions about the industry, leading to an hour of one-on-one interactions with Mr. Mills and a member of his production team Mr. Fauzan Yussif, a Multimedia Designer and 3D Generalist after the session. The visit has opened up new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing between the industry and the student body.

The student administration is very positive about the impact of this visit, which has set the tone for a productive year. The student administration is grateful to Mills Media for this visit and look forward to more collaborations in the future. His visit was also in anticipation of his Campus Tour on 8th March to premiere his latest animation production, The Guardians: Chosen Ones in addition to Asantewaa: Battle for the Golden Stool.

With this landmark visit, the Department of Communication Design at KNUST has taken a significant step towards bridging the gap between the industry and the student body, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the students and the industry as a whole.