People Behind the Pixels

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Diana Walczak

  • All
  • pioneer
  • Wavefront
  • visual effects
  • software
  • Diana Walczak first studied engineering and sculpture at Boston Univ. in 1985. While in college, she assisted a medical illustrator and worked as a graphic artist for Harvard Medical School. In 1986, Diana was commissioned by Omnibus Computer Graphics to sculpt a superhero figure for a Marvel Comics animation test. When the test was dropped by Omnibus, she continued to develop the computer-generated character. In 1987, she partnered with Jeff Kleiser to form Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co. Her artistic background and talent were instrumental to their milestone and award-winning contributions in pioneering the field of computer animation. Kleiser-Walczak (now Synthespian Studios) developed the first computer-generated humans, the first digital stunt doubles, and the first face-replacements in a feature film.

  • Her work may be seen in major feature films such as Stargate, X-men, Fantastic 4, Surrogates… and even the Columbia Pictures logo! Diana also directed an advertising campaign for Sun-Maid Raisins, in which the Sun-Maid girl icon of 90 years comes to life in numerous TV commercials and in colorful print ads. She and Jeff are also behind the digital magic of numerous special venue attractions, including Universal Studios’ “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man,” Epcot’s “Honey I Shrunk the Audience”, …

  • CG work

    Her work may be seen in major feature films such as Stargate, X-men, Fantastic 4, Surrogates… and even the Columbia Pictures logo! Diana also directed an advertising campaign for Sun-Maid Raisins, in which the Sun-Maid girl icon of 90 years comes to life in numerous TV commercials and in colorful print ads. She and Jeff are also behind the digital magic of numerous special venue attractions, including Universal Studios’ “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man,” Epcot’s “Honey I Shrunk the Audience”, as well as a 3D film opening for Radio City Music Hall’s “Christmas Spectacular.” Synthespian Studios is currently in production on its first Bollywood film, Ra.One, a sci-fi adventure with India’s superstar, Shah Rukh Khan.

  • Diana's artistic spark is not limited to her career; it is all-encompassing and touches all parts of her life. Beyond graphics and visual effects, she still enjoys sculpting. In 1995, she created a sculpture of Michael Jackson for his HIStory album cover. She has been practicing yoga for 7 years, and recently illustrated a book on yoga anatomy by Martin Kirk. In 2011, Diana Walczak was the 8th annual Women in Business keynote speaker for the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. …

  • Other interests

    Diana's artistic spark is not limited to her career; it is all-encompassing and touches all parts of her life. Beyond graphics and visual effects, she still enjoys sculpting. In 1995, she created a sculpture of Michael Jackson for his HIStory album cover. She has been practicing yoga for 7 years, and recently illustrated a book on yoga anatomy by Martin Kirk. In 2011, Diana Walczak was the 8th annual Women in Business keynote speaker for the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, Diana joined John Lasseter on a panel of digital animation pioneers at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Diana currently serves on the Greylock ABC and Images Cinema boards and has directed 11 movie shorts: 'Your Images', a series that plays before the feature presentations and supports the theater. She has also served on the board of directors of the Norman Rockwell Museum and is a founding trustee of BArT, the Berkshire Art and Technology Charter Public School. Diana authored a paper entitled 'Encompassing Education' for the Department of Commerce, as part of an initiative to transform education and training through advanced technologies. She similarly encourages this creative spark with her own children, fostering a heightened sense of curiosity through research and exploration. Between playing jazz piano, growing her own food, making her own 'Secret Weapon' hot sauce, creating Necco-heart studded dresses, hiking daily with her dogs, and doing handstands around the world, Diana tries to spend most of her time in the bucolic Berkshires.