Exceptional Minds

**Exceptional Minds** (established in 2011) is the first American computer animation studio and non-profit digital arts school for young autistic adults. It is located in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California.

## Background[edit source]

The first major project for Exceptional Minds (EM) was the end title sequence for *Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.* In addition, EM students have also worked on post-production visual effects for films such as *American Hustle* (rotoscoping), *Lawless* (end credits)*,* and *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes* (VFX roto work in stereo).

In September 2013, University of Southern California doctoral student Laura Cechanowicz released her documentary about EM titled *Exceptional Minds in Transition* for the USC School of Cinematic Arts video-based website, "Interacting with Autism". Later, in 2014, EM partnered with *Sesame Street* in an initiative that will spread "autism acceptance".

The first class of eight students graduated in June 2014, with Ed Asner serving as commencement speaker.

## Filmography

* *The CN Movie* (2022) - Visual effects
* *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021) - End credits
* *Black Widow* (2021) - Additional visual effects
* *Loki* (2021) - End credits
* *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019) - End credits
* *Avengers: Endgame* (2019) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Black Panther* (2018) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* (2017) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *War for the Planet of the Apes* (2017) - Additional visual effects
* *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *The Mummy* (2017) - Additional visual effects
* *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017) - End text credits
* *The Fate of the Furious* (2017) - Additional visual effects
* *CHiPs* (2017) - End credits
* *Black Sails* (season 4) (2017) - Additional visual effects
* *The Shack* (2017) - Main titles and end titles, Additional visual effects
* *Almost Christmas* (2016) - Additional visual effects
* *Doctor Strange* (2016) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children* (2016) - Additional visual effects
* *Pete's Dragon* (2016) - Additional visual effects
* *X-Men: Apocalypse* (2016) - Additional visual effects
* *Captain America: Civil War* (2016) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *Game of Thrones* (season 6) (2016) - Additional visual effects, and roto work
* *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip* (2015) - Additional visual effects
* *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2* (2015) - Additional visual effects
* *Ant-Man* (2015) - Additional visual effects, and end credits
* *Avengers: Age of Ultron* (2015) - Additional visual effects and end credits
* *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water* (2015) - Additional visual effects
* *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run* (2020) - Additional visual effects and end credits (with Scarlett Letters)
* *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes* (2014) - VFX roto work in stereo
* *American Hustle* (2013) - Rotoscoping
* *Crazy Kind of Love* (2013) - Titles
* *Lawless* (2012) - End Credits
* *Aftermath/Remnants* (2012/II) - Titles And Opticals
* *Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer* (2011) - Titles

## Awards and honors

* 2014: $7500 grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

## Video clips and interviews

* Cechanowicz, Laura. *Exceptional Minds in Transition.* Documentary film for the *Interacting With Autism* Website, USC School of Cinematic Arts, September 2013.
* Dador, Denise. "Media Production Training for Adults with Autism." KABC-TV, June 6, 2014.
* Sigell, Lisa. "Group Helps Kids With Autism Connect With Their Artistic Side." KCAL-TV, July 12, 2012.

https://people.com/human-interest/exceptional-minds-nonprofit-for-people-with-autism-teams-up-with-hbo-max-on-the-spectrum-series/

## Notes

1. **^** "Exceptional Minds Digital Arts Academy Prepares Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum for Careers". EdTech Times. April 30, 2013.
2. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** ***c*** Ross, L.A. (April 22, 2014). "'Sesame Street' Partnering With Exceptional Minds School for Autism Initiative". The Wrap.
3. **^** Lytal, Cristy (June 15, 2011). "'Judy Moody' has the benefit of Exceptional Minds". *Los Angeles Times*.
4. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** Khatchatourian, Maane (December 20, 2013). "Exceptional Minds School Helps Kids with Autism Find Their Niche". Variety.
5. **^** Villacorte, Christina (December 1, 2013). "Exceptional Minds trains autistic students for Hollywood gigs". Los Angeles Daily News.
6. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards $7,500 Grant to Exceptional Minds for Summer Workshops". Digital Journal. May 29, 2014.
7. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** "More than 100 from Visual Effects and Related Industries Talk Shop with Exceptional Minds Young Adults with Autism". Digital Journal. June 8, 2014.
8. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** "Exceptional Minds Students with Autism Among the Crew for "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"". Digital Journal. July 10, 2014.
9. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** Evashenk, Lauren (September 26, 2013). "New autism website to launch Sept. 28". USC News.
10. **^** "*Exceptional Minds in Transition.*". Interacting With Autism, USC School of Cinematic Arts.
11. **^** "Ed Asner Tells Exceptional Minds Graduating Class of 2014 of "Pony in the Tent"". Digital Journal. June 10, 2014.

## External links

* Official website
* Exceptional Minds' channel on YouTube