For an animated story to be strong, it needs more than characters. It needs a world.

That idea is guiding Braden McCormick as he prepares to study abroad in Japan, where he will explore urban environments, cultural storytelling and the visual details that help animated stories come alive. A senior Applied Media Arts major at PennWest Edinboro concentrating in 3D animation, McCormick is taking every opportunity he can to grow as an artist.

His upcoming study abroad experience began when professor Mike Genz mentioned the opportunity in class. McCormick had never been to Japan, but he was immediately drawn to the chance to study a place with deep ties to animation, visual storytelling and culture. For him, the trip is also a chance to think like an artist in the field by observing architecture, landscapes, public spaces and everyday customs that can later inform the worlds he creates on screen.

“It's an urban environments study in Japan,” McCormick said. “As an animation student, this trip means taking time to engage with the culture, architecture and landscapes of Japan. I’ll be looking at those things as background studies because backgrounds are really important in animation. If you don’t have a world for somebody to live in, they can’t really have a good story.”

As he prepares for the trip, McCormick has been studying not just the language, but also the social customs and etiquette that will help him better understand the place he is visiting. That cultural awareness matters to him because animation is rooted in more than visual style. It is also rooted in human connection, including how people move through spaces, interact with one another and understand the world around them.

Another PennWest experience that is impacting his education is his connection with Edinboro alumnus Jalil Sadool of Steamroller Animation Studios. McCormick first became interested in Sadool’s work after hearing about his participation in major animated projects, and he has connected with Sadool through mentorship.

McCormick’s animation journey began after he changed majors from graphic design to animation. At the time, he was still figuring out whether he belonged in the animation field. As he sought mentorship, feedback and challenges that pushed him beyond what he already knew, everything clicked.

“It’s really fun, but it tests my capabilities and limits,” McCormick said. “If my standards weren’t constantly changing and improving, I wouldn’t really be going anywhere.”

At PennWest, McCormick found faculty, alumni and creative spaces that helped him see that growth in animation requires connection, persistence and a willingness to share his work. That environment continues to shape his next steps, one frame and one opportunity at a time.