September 13, 2010
For as long as he can remember, Mike Rauch was interested in
interacting with people and listening to what they had to say. It
was one of the factors that motivated him to enroll at St. John’s
University, and is a major dynamic in the career that he and his
brother Tim share as animators of incredibly moving human interest
stories.
“One of the reasons I chose to go to St. John’s was
because of the diverse group of people there,” recalled Mike. “I
knew that I’d have an opportunity to meet people different from
myself, which was a big interest for me, and it’s definitely led to
what Tim and I are doing now.”
The Rauch Brothers are working together to produce animated short
stories in collaboration with StoryCorps, an oral history project
based in Brooklyn, New York. Their animated stories are shown on
PBS as part of a documentary series known as “P.O.V.” in which
ordinary people speak about the everyday events that have shaped
their lives. The project requires a great deal of empathy and
sensitivity, characteristics that were fostered in Mike and Tim
during their time at St. John’s.
“The big challenge for us is figuring out what is most important
emotionally in each of the stories that we’re dealing with, and
trying to get that across in our animation” said Tim. “It’s a real
balancing act. Even though we use animation to enhance it, we
always need to remain true to the story. We never want the
animation to overpower the story itself. I’ve always been most
interested in the emotional side of life and human relationships,
even back when I was at St. John’s, and there were a number of my
professors who encouraged me to think about those issues. Animation
is a great mechanism for doing that.”
Living a few blocks apart from each other in Brooklyn, the
brothers work from their homes in what they describe as “virtual
studios”. Tim does the animation, story boarding and co-directs the
projects. Mike, also a co-director, serves as the producer. They
agree that St. John’s played a defining role in their personal and
professional lives.
“St. John’s was extremely important for what Mike and I are doing
now,” said Tim. “Our education emphasized fundamental art, painting
and drawing and gave us an overall conceptual approach to our work.
In my case, my professors gave me a solid foundation for what I’m
doing today as an animator, and really taught me to have a
disciplined approach to my work as a student, which became the
basis for my current strong work ethic as an artist.”
Like many alumni, they believe that staying connected to the
University is a way to demonstrate their appreciation for the
nurturing that they received and the friendships that they made
during their student days.
“The biggest way that Tim and I stay connected to St. John’s is by
keeping in touch with our former professors,” noted Mike. “Years
after I graduated I still look to some of my professors as advisors
and people from whom I can learn so much. My professors were
absolutely great, and it’s a big thing for me to keep in touch with
the people that can continue to teach me, not just as an artist but
also as a person.”
“I’ve come back to give talks to classes [of current
students] and I really enjoy that,” added Tim. “Mike and I were
recently involved in an exhibition at the [Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Yeh]
Art Gallery on the Queens campus featuring the work of a number of
animators and illustrators. It always feels good to come back to
campus and be a part of life at St. John’s.”
As artists dealing with the intensity of the human condition, they
acknowledge that the importance of the Vincentian values to which
they were introduced as students continues to resonate within their
creative endeavors. “The mission of St. John’s that recognizes
service definitely came through to Mike and I during our time on
campus,” said Tim. “Those values are still part of the work we’re
doing now, because what we’re doing has a socially redeeming value.
St. John’s always taught us to work hard at something that will
have a positive role in the world, and I think that’s
happening.”
“We both enjoy what we’re doing,” added Mike, “and we know that
it’s making a difference for others, which is what St. John’s is
all about. Tim and I hope to be able to keep working together for
the rest of our careers.”