What most surprised you once you started working on the project?

Dhulipala: Just how enthusiastic our peers and instructors were about this film. At some point, one of our friends made a 40-page Google doc filled with pictures of different fish that we could use as a reference for our backgrounds! I think that’s when I learned just how incredibly supportive our community was, and that love really energized us so we could keep pushing through.

Warach: A long-term concerted effort on any project always takes a ton of energy. I was so happy to see how eager our friends and other students were to lend a hand!

What were some highlights of living and studying in New York City?

Dhulipala: The people. There are so many interesting and kind people you will meet just by living in the city, and my life has become much fuller because of it.

Warach: Everyone’s [located] so close together. You’re never more than a train ride away from anyone; you don’t have to rely on a car to get anywhere. It makes everyone really accessible.

What is something you learned at SVA that you'll always take with you?

Dhulipala: You have to be assertive in your education. You won’t get the answer you want if you don’t ask your professor that question after class or spend that extra three hours at figure drawing club every week just practicing.

Warach: Stepping outside your comfort zone is the quickest way to grow as an artist and a person. It can feel intimidating to take on a project larger than you’ve done before or to go into a room with people you’ve never met, but once you’ve done it, the mystery’s all gone, and it just gets better and better from there.

The thesis project of the BFA Animation graduates is a short animated film called ‘FISHEYE.’