Abstract
The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, located in the heart of downtown Austin, hosts the largest urban bat colony in the world, estimated at 1.5 million bats. It is a maternity colony and female Mexican free-tailed bats that raise an estimated 750,000 pups each year at the bridge. Every sunset during summer, the bats emerge from under the bridge toward the east to find daily food, creating a fascinating sight for the people of Austin.
Inspired by this popular Congress Avenue Bridge bat-watching activity, I produced a 2D animated short film to tell a whimsical and personified story of this mammal colony in the melting-pot Meso-American culture of Austin. In making this piece, I conducted research into the physical and habitual characteristics of Mexican free-tailed bats and Mexican folk art. Additionally, I learnt to use Procreate Dreams — an all-in-one 2D animation software for iPad based on the famous Procreate drawing software – to composite the final animation. Through blending together creative arts and digital technology, I hope Once Upon an ATX will be a delightful love letter to the unique qualities of urban bats that helps the audience see more of the hidden beauty within our urban ecology.
Advisor
Milligan, Bridget
Department
Art and Art History
Recommended Citation
Phan, Minh, "Cultural Exploration Through Animation: A 2D Narrative of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats in Austin" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11384.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11384
Disciplines
Interdisciplinary Arts and Media
Keywords
2d animation, cultural research, studio arts, animation, procreate dreams
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2025 Minh Phan