From left are Kirk Lohmann, Chris Northcutt, Peter Chanthanakone, Michael Freezeland and Osby Tomlin.

Look out Pixar and Disney. Southeast Missouri State University and its students in the School of Polytechnic Studies produced its first 3D animated short film “Death to the Different.”

The film’s production was led by assistant professor of graphics and multimedia Peter Chanthanakone and a team of students, including senior Michael Freezeland, junior Kirk Lohmann, junior Chris Northcutt and Tyler Paneitz, who graduated from Southeast in December with an associate’s degree and now attends University of Advancing Technology.

Chanthanakone says the experience students gained from working on the film is invaluable.

“The film could not have been completed without some very dedicated and talented students,” says Chanthanakone. “They would often put in 10- or 20-hour weeks, so it was a long but beneficial process.”

The film received financial support from Southeast’s Grants and Research Funding. The film’s story is based on “The Last Dragon” by David Hayes and tells the story of Gabriel who is tasked with slaying a neighborhood dragon as a rite of passage given to each son in his family when he turns 14.

The University hosted a premiere of the film in May at Rose Theatre as well as a discussion of the work that went into its production.