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Rachel van Rooyen

Rachel van Rooyen is an animator and educator in the Wits University Digital Arts department. Rachel's professional journey is characterized by a blend of academic instruction and practical animation work. Her own training has been influenced by sustainable and socially responsible studio practice in the South African context.

She was part of team to produce a 3D procedural animation environment for the Wits Digital Dome launch (2024) and is an active participant in connecting students and industry professionals in the South African animation community. Rachel's animation work straddles immersive experiences, and hybrid animation techniques in 3D-based software. Her current focus is the use of family artifacts as sites to explore memory and family storytelling in animated documentary format for her PhD. The research positions animation as a potent medium to preserve matrilineal heritage in digital archival

Position: Animation Lecturer, Wits Digital Arts Department

Schedule
2026-10-31 Panel Discussion
Gaming and Comics: the Overlooked Slice of the Funding Pie
Time 11:15 a.m