Exceptional Minds

We’re excited to share that two Exceptional Minds Animation Studio films have been recognized at the 47th Annual Telly Awards.

In the Animated TV, Film & Shorts – Accessibility & Inclusion category, Watch Your Tone by Dylan Carbonell received a Gold Telly Award, and Too Many Options by Jacob Lenard received a Silver Telly Award.

Chosen from more than 13,000 entries submitted from around the world, this recognition is an incredible honor and a testament to the talent, creativity, and dedication of our artists.

As Telly Awards leadership shared, this year’s winners are “standard bearers of excellence,” and we couldn’t be prouder to see our creators recognized on a global stage.

Please join us in celebrating Dylan Carbonell, Jacob Lenard, and the entire Exceptional Minds Animation Studio team for this outstanding achievement. Thank you to our community for continuing to champion and support our artists every step of the way.

We’re excited to share that Corridor Digital Crew, the filmmakers and VFX artists behind the popular “VFX Artists React” series, are hosting an art auction this week with 10% of proceeds benefiting Exceptional Minds.

Their team creates content that celebrates creativity, filmmaking, animation, and visual effects, and we’re incredibly grateful they chose to support our artists and programs through this campaign.

The auction is already live and runs through this weekend:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/corridorcrew

Huge thank you to the Corridor Crew community for helping spotlight and support neurodiverse talent.

Congratulations to the winners of our Winter 2026 'Best Of' Awards! 'Best Of' celebrates students who show exceptional dedication and creativity in their classes each semester. Great work from everyone! 🙌

🎮 Introducing the Exceptional Minds Game Jam

Spend 48 hours building a game with other creative people who love storytelling, design, animation, coding, and chaos in the best way possible.

Whether you’ve never made a game before or already have a few projects under your belt, this is a space to experiment, collaborate, and make something fun from scratch.

Join us in person at Exceptional Minds Academy in Los Angeles or remotely. Open to creators ages 14+ and teams up to 5.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to our Academy faculty and staff!

Thank you for the consistency, creativity, and care you bring to your work each day. You help make EM a place where students can do their best work and feel at home ✨

A fun, creative summer starts here ☀️

Our summer workshops are a space for autistic artists to try something new, build confidence, connect with others, and actually enjoy the process along the way.

This year’s lineup includes animation, green screen, game design, voice acting, video editing (yes, you can make your own movie trailer), and more.

No experience needed. Join us in person or online. Open to ages 14+. Two-week sessions, Monday through Friday.

Save your spot: https://exceptional-minds.org/academy/summer/

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jorge R. Gutierrez back to Exceptional Minds for a special conversation with our students and alumni about building a career in animation as an autistic artist.

Known for beloved projects including El Tigre, Maya and the Three, and The Book of Life, Jorge spoke openly about the hard work, integrity, and persistence that shaped his journey as an animator, writer, producer, director, and voice actor. He also took time to answer thoughtful questions from students and alumni, offering honest advice and encouragement with genuine care.

Opportunities like these mean so much to our community. Seeing our students engage directly with accomplished industry professionals who are invested in their growth is always inspiring.

We’re incredibly grateful to Jorge for spending time with our students and for continuing to support the Exceptional Minds community over the years.

In just 48 hours, something powerful happens at Exceptional Minds.

Anijam, our annual animation competition, brings students and alumni together to create films, collaborate under pressure, and discover what they’re capable of with the right support around them.

For alum Kyle (Class of 2025), returning this year became a moment he’ll never forget:

“Going back was a big joy for me… I’d never felt so proud of myself.”

For Becca (Class of 2022), the impact goes far beyond the competition itself:

“As a creative, neurodivergent individual, I’ve always found it difficult to connect… EM is still a huge part of my life.”

That sense of confidence, connection, and belonging is what makes experiences like Anijam matter so deeply.

As Autism Acceptance Month comes to a close, we’re reminded how important it is for autistic students and artists to have spaces where they feel supported, challenged, and understood.
If you’d like to help create more moments like this for Exceptional Minds students and alumni, we’d be grateful for your support. Every contribution supports students and alumni to continue growing, creating, and staying connected.

https://exceptional-minds.monkeypod.io/give/support-exceptional-minds