Edward R. Gutierrez comes to WPI from a long career in the animated feature film industry; having worked on films such as The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) and many others. Professionally he is now a prolific independent filmmaker who concentrates on conservation of the environment and social issues. As a teacher, Ed is putting his degrees in both 2D Traditional Animation and 3D Animation and Visual Effects to use by dedicating his life to sharing his knowledge, love, and passion for drawing with new generations of students interested in drawing and storytelling.

His most recent film Every Day, Something New (2024) has started making its way through the film festival circuit winning an Excellence in Animation Award within the first month of release. Every Day, Something New is a film that focuses on a unique crisis that continues to occur in the United States. His next film projects include a short focusing on human rights and social change and another short film centered on humanity’s environmental impact and climate change.

Ed has always maintained a passion for traditional drawing whether the drawing is for an animated feature film, television show, children’s book, for a live-action feature film, animated short film or just in his own daily sketchbook. Traditional drawing has always been Ed’s medium of choice. He believes that creating drawings that resonate with life, the human spirit, and personalities of people, animals and objects is based on the requirement of dedicating ourselves to observing the world around us. Through the process of observation sketching, we are reminded of our connection to people, animals, and the environment.

Ed teaches traditional drawing, 2D and 3D animation, digital painting, traditional maquette sculpture, concept art & design, character design and cinematic production.