After the Oscar and the Bafta comes North-East glory for filmmaker (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

After the Oscar and the Bafta comes Middlesbrough glory for filmmaker

6:49pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News

FIRST he won a Bafta, then an Oscar and now a computer wizard says he has “the big three” after winning an award from a North-East university.

Hans Rijpkema was part of a team that won the Oscar and Bafta for the film 'Life of Pi' and has now been given an Animex award at Teesside University for his support to students.

A regular visitor to the Middlesbrough university’s annual festival of animation and computer games, Mr Rijpkema was one of the creative forces behind the computer generated Bengal tiger in Ang Lee’s magical movie.

Since 2007 Mr Rijpkema has attended Teesside University’s Animex festival to pass on his knowledge to the next generation and picked up his award this year in honour of his support.

He said: “Animex is great because it places students at the centre and allows lots of access to the speakers. I have been coming here since 2007 and will be making every effort to come again in the future.

“I am extremely happy to have received the Animex award and to be officially recognised in the history of this great festival. And this is one I get to keep myself, unlike the Oscar and the Bafta which will stand on top of someone else's fireplace.”

At this year’s Animex festival, held in February, Mr Rijpkema gave two presentations about the visual effects of Life of Pi.