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Neil Okamoto
Neil Okamoto
01:19

Neil Okamoto

Dreamworks

Glendale, CA USA

"If your passion is science and mathematics, realize that there's science and mathematics in a lot of different areas-even ones that maybe you didn't expect. So it's OK to have multiple passions."

Career Roadmap

Neil's work combines: Film, Science, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Director of Research and Development

I create software that artists use to create animated characters with emotion, mood, and a story.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Electrical and Electronics Engineering

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Graduate Degree

    Electrical and Electronics Engineering

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    As a kid, he spent a couple of hours each week in the principal's office...because that's where the only computer was.

  • 2.

    Looking back, he feels incredibly fortunate that his teachers recognized his talent for computer engineering and fostered that.

  • 3.

    Says one of the best experiences of his life was participating in MIT's intern program, which allowed him to get real-world engineering experience.

  • 4.

    After school, one of his fraternity brothers got a job with Disney, told Neil, "I think this is something you'd really like."

  • 5.

    He got a job with Disney Animation in 1994; he thought it was a weird detour on his road, but his mom reminded him he'd always loved movies.

  • 6.

    Now, at DreamWorks, he builds the software that the animators use to bring their movie's characters to life.

  • 7.

    He points out that although he's always had a talent for science, he's also been interested in the arts-one of his hobbies is drumming.

  • 8.

    Says there are thousands of ways that arts and sciences overlap, so if you have multiple interests, you can easily combine them into one perfect career.