Pixar animator Matthew Luhn to speak at 12th annual Imago Film Festival

Pixar animator Matthew Luhn will speak during the 12th annual Imago Film Festival. He has helped to create some of the most memorable animated characters this side of infinity (and beyond), including for the "Toy Story" movie franchises, "Monsters Inc.," "Cars" and "Finding Nemo," but what Matthew Luhn will share most with the Judson community Wednesday, March 30, as part of the Imago Film Festival, is much bigger than that.

As part of his presentation entitled, "Creating Stories with Heart," he will share the experience of his Christian faith and his incredible journey that led him to discover his talents as a master storyteller.

The 12th annual Imago Film Festival will be held Tuesday through Saturday, March 29 to April 2, in Thulin Performance Hall in the Thompson Center, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.

The Imago Film Festival showcases independent film that deals with faith issues, emphasizing image and story. There will also be music for entertainment nightly.

When Luhn, who creates stories and characters for Pixar Animation Studios, speaks on Wednesday, expect to hear about his 20 years of experience in the animation business that has afforded him the opportunity to work on more than 10 No. 1-rated films.

Albeit an animation story supervisor, Luhn also devotes much of his time as a teacher and consultant for companies, school programs and fine arts professionals who want to become better storytellers.

It doesn't hurt that Luhn comes from a family of fun. His dad, his dad's dad and even his great-grandfather were all toy store owners. And, it was no secret that his father really wanted to be an animator and pushed the young Luhn to pursue that dream, too.

Luhn attended the prestigious California Institute of the Arts and at 19 was tapped to work on "The Simpsons" show. He would later become one of the first 12 animators to work on the movie, "Toy Story."

In all, his credits include: "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2," "Toy Story 3," "Monsters Inc.," "Monsters University," "Finding Nemo," "Up," "Cars," "Ratatouille" and other films currently in development.