August 23, 2013
When Mike Rauch '04C and Tim Rauch '06C hear the spoken word, they immediately begin to think visually. For these talented St. John's University alumni, a story becomes more memorable and has a significantly greater impact if it is brought to life with state-of-the-art animation.
"People have told stories as a means of communication throughout recorded history," Mike noted. "What we do is take these stories to the next level by adding a visual component to the message. And because we use the storyteller's actual words, the finished product is even more powerful."
These talented brothers provide animation for a variety of organizations and projects. They have worked with Warner Brothers Animation on MAD, a show on The Cartoon Network, and on DC Nation, a popular Saturday morning cartoon block. They have also done extensive animation for StoryCorps, a collection of short features that highlight the stories of regular Americans told in their own words.
"We're currently working on a new StoryCorps short," Mike said. "That's an ongoing national oral history project with offices based in Brooklyn, and we're in the middle of a series of stories from people who have either served in the military or lost a loved one who served in the military. We're really excited about it."
Financial Assistance Helped Them Get Started
Mike and Tim both earned their B.F.A. degrees from St. John's and credit the University with providing them with the opportunity to maximize their talents and get started on their incredibly successful careers. They came from a family of six children, and it was the generous financial assistance offered by St. John's that led them to become students.
"Mike got an academic scholarship, and I got a scholarship from the Fine Arts Department," Tim remarked. "Those were very helpful, and I have to say that they were the deciding factors in our choice of going to St. John's. The University had really talented students when we were there, and they still do, but I'm pretty certain that many wouldn't have been there without that financial support. I know we wouldn't."
Even though they collaborate on joint projects, they work in studios in different locations across the country, and have never had the luxury of being together professionally under the same roof. Mike is currently in Brooklyn, and Tim will soon be leaving his home in Philadelphia to move to Los Angeles.
And although they will soon be working on opposite coasts, distance has not weakened their connection to the University that gave them their start.
"Mike and I will always be connected to St. John's because of the people we met there," Tim remarked. "The people we relate to are determined to pursue what they want to do in a hard-working kind of way, and that's always been very true of the students who come to St. John's. The students and professors form strong connections with each other, and we still keep in touch with a number of them. That's just one of the many things that make St. John's special for us."
Learn How You Can Make an Impact
If you are interested in learning how you can impact future students with a gift in your estate plan, contact Susan Damiani at 718-990-7562 or [email protected] today for more information.