“ICU EQUT BW….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: S = C
ANSWER: “THE IDEA OF A CARICATURE ISN’T TO GET PHOTOREALISTIC LIKENESS BUT TO CAPTURE THE CHARACTER OF A PERSON.” — ANIMATOR ADRIAN MOLINA
ADRIAN MOLINA
AMERICAN ANIMATOR • SCREENWRITER • DIRECTOR • PIXAR STORYTELLER
🎨 BIG DREAMS FROM A SMALL TOWN!
Adrian Molina was born in Yuba City, California, and grew up in nearby Grass Valley. His interest in art and storytelling eventually led him to the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied character animation and graduated in 2007.
🐀 A LITTLE RAT, A BIG OPPORTUNITY!
Molina began as a Pixar story intern in 2006 and joined the studio full-time later that year. His early credits included Ratatouille, the animated adventure about a determined rat who dreams of becoming a chef in Paris.
✏️ BEFORE THE MOVIE, THERE’S A DRAWING!
As a storyboard artist, Molina helped shape scenes for Pixar films including Toy Story 3 and Monsters University. Storyboards use sequences of drawings to explore how characters move, express emotions, and bring a screenplay to the screen.
🎸 MUSIC, MEMORIES, AND FAMILY!
Molina co-wrote and co-directed Pixar’s Coco (2017), the colorful story of a young musician named Miguel and his journey through the Land of the Dead. Inspired by Mexican traditions surrounding Día de los Muertos, the film celebrates family, remembrance, and the power of music.
🏆 AND THE OSCAR GOES TO… COCO!
Coco earned two Academy Awards in 2018, winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Remember Me.” Molina also contributed lyrics to the film’s music, combining his talents for storytelling and songwriting.
🚀 FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD TO OUTER SPACE!
Molina received a directing credit on Pixar’s Elio (2025), a science-fiction adventure about an imaginative boy who is mistaken for Earth’s leader by an intergalactic organization. The film explores friendship, belonging, and finding your place in a universe full of possibilities.
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