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AMHERST, N.Y. – Michael Jones, assistant professor and program director of animation at ˿����Ƶ College, was a member of the animation team for “Mary Poppins Returns,” which has been recognized with two prestigious Annie Awards presented by the International Animated Film Society.

The Walt Disney Studios film received two Annie Awards, animations highest honor in film and television, for Best Animated Special Production and Character Animation in a Live Action Production. Winners were celebrated at the 46^th annual awards ceremony held Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.

“I am thrilled to have been a part of the amazing team that worked on the hand drawn animation sequence for ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ ” said Jones. “The sequence was definitely a highlight of the film and well deserving of the two Annie Awards. It is an amazing example of a true American art form that I’m excited to share at ˿����Ƶ with the next generation of animators.”

Jones was previously honored with an Annie Award as associate producer for the documentary “Dream on Silly Dreamer,” which chronicles the rise and fall of the second golden age of hand-drawn animation at Walt Disney Feature Animation.

Jones is an experienced animator in both CG and hand drawn animation as well as a storyboard artist. Prior to joining ˿����Ƶ, he lived for 29 years in Los Angeles, creating animation art for Walt Disney Feature Animation, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, and other major Hollywood studios. Among his many animated films are “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” “The Simpson’s Movie,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Kung Fu Panda 2.”

Before ˿����Ƶ, Jones taught animation at the California Institute of the Arts and Glendale Community College. He earned a master of fine arts in interdisciplinary arts with a focus in animation from Goddard College, a bachelor of fine arts in character animation from the California Institute of the Arts, and a BFA in communication arts and design from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He resides in Amherst.