Rango, written by NAU alumnus, wins Oscar

Congratulations to the team behind Rango, which includes NAU alumnus James Ward Byrkit, '91 BFA. Rango won Best Animated Feature Film last night at the Oscars.

Rango's story was written by John Logan, Gore Verbinski and Byrkit. Byrkit also created the original sketch of the star chameleon voiced by Johnny Depp and collaborated on the designs of several other main characters.

Fans can listen for Byrkit's voice talent in the picture as well - he plays five characters including the dentally-challenged Waffles. You can also see the Flagstaff influence firsthand: a building in the town of Dirt is loosely based on the Hotel Weatherford.

"Ever since I saw Star Wars as a kid," Byrkit told us for last Spring's Pine magazine. "I dreamed of working with super special effects house Industrial Light and Magic. Rango is their first fully animated feature."

Rango swept the Animation awards -otherwise known as "the Annies" - earlier this month as well.

For more of Byrkit's artwork, check out The Ballad of Rango.

Read more about Byrkit.