Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
With an action-packed adventure featuring cavernous dungeons and, of course, dragons, BYU Animation has won gold for its latest film "Love & Gold." The College Television Awards (known as the "Student Emmys") recognized BYU's most ambitious animation project yet with a Gold Award for Best Animated Series, the fifth consecutive year that BYU animation has taken the top prize. The animation capstone project was created by 2025 senior students from animation, illustration, computer science, and music. Love & Gold can now be viewed on the BYU animation channel Love & Gold is now on YouTube youtu.be/PQFqPMNtfAk See also animation.byu.edu
Read more about BYU's three student Emmy wins from BYU News (writer Abigail Degn):
BYU students continue making their mark at the Television Academy Foundationâs 45th College Television Awards, also known as the Student Emmys. Seventeen BYU students earned five nominations across three categories, standing out among more than 185 entries submitted by colleges nationwide. The winners were announced at the ceremony on March 28 in Los Angeles.
BEST ANIMATION
BYU took home the gold for Best Animated Series with its film Love & Gold, produced by Jaysen Duckworth and written and directed by Connor VanDyke. This filmâthe largest BYU Animation has producedâtells the story of two rogues in a dungeon who fall in love while searching for a valuable treasure.
The BYU Center for Animation has been running for over 20 years and has earned 22 Student Emmys, including last yearâs win for the short film Student Accomplice.
While this yearâs nominated film captivates viewers with its captivating on-screen animation, the story behind the scenes is equally remarkable. The student director of Love & Gold, Connor VanDyke, is the son of BYU animation professor Craig VanDyke, who directed the first BYU animation project to receive an Emmy, Lemmings, when he was a student.
âMy wife and I were at BYU when Connor was born, and I was the director of the first animation we did as part of the program. We were in the labs, doing renderings while holding him and rocking him to sleep. So, Connorâs technically been in those labs for 25 years. I think thatâs the kind of story you only get at BYU,â Craig VanDyke said.
Over the course of two and a half years, Connor VanDyke led a team of about 50 people, including students in animation, music, and design. A major collaboration with BYUâs School of Music allowed the score to match the filmâs intended tone and energy. Love & Gold challenged the students in many ways, from character development to creating multiple environments, down to designing the dragon, each element taking months to perfect.
Much of the filmâs inspiration comes from the game Dungeons & Dragons. From the light-up step designs to the basic puzzles in the story, Connor wanted to capture some of the creative and collaborative energy of his favorite game.
âI think it really shows how hard our team worked to create an environment, a world out of almost nothing,â Connor VanDyke said. âMy amazing team really put something together that people could get lost in. I think thatâs the beauty of Love and Gold: itâs a self-contained world, but you can think about it for much longer and expound on it in your own way.â
BYUâs education emphasizes undergraduate learning and the collaborative effort needed to create a film. Each student involved sacrificed personal goals to contribute to the team, bringing their talent and dedication to a groundbreaking project.
Brynne Hardy, the production designer, trusted the team completely. Since beginning the project, Hardy has started working for Legendary. As the film has gained attention in the industry, several other students have gone on to animate for major companies such as Sony.
âBYUâs animation program is unique because it gives you a trial run at working on an actual job in the industry. The experience you gain from the films here directly translates to work experience. Thatâs one of the most valuable aspects of the program,â Hardy said.
BEST COMMERCIAL
BYUâs AdLab students once again swept the commercial category, with three nominated videos in the running for the PSA or promo category. The winner of this category was Ink Up. Wash Out, written by Mia Shumway, directed by Kyle Gilmour, and produced by Eli Roth
This win secures BYU AdLabâs seventh consecutive Student Emmy for commercials.
BEST COMEDY SERIES
BYU students also brought home the trophy for the Comedy Series/Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship. Their winning video, Thanksgiving, was produced by Ryan Jones, directed by Austin Lawrence, and written by Abigail Tolley.
With an action-packed adventure featuring cavernous dungeons and, of course, dragons, BYU Animation has won gold for its latest film "Love & Gold." The College Television Awards (known as the "Student Emmys") recognized BYU's most ambitious animation project yet with a Gold Award for Best Animated Series, the fifth consecutive year that BYU animation has taken the top prize. The animation capstone project was created by 2025 senior students from animation, illustration, computer science, and music. Love & Gold can now be viewed on the BYU animation channel Love & Gold is now on YouTube youtu.be/PQFqPMNtfAk See also animation.byu.edu
Read more about BYU's three student Emmy wins from BYU News (writer Abigail Degn):
BYU students continue making their mark at the Television Academy Foundationâs 45th College Television Awards, also known as the Student Emmys. Seventeen BYU students earned five nominations across three categories, standing out among more than 185 entries submitted by colleges nationwide. The winners were announced at the ceremony on March 28 in Los Angeles.
BEST ANIMATION
BYU took home the gold for Best Animated Series with its film Love & Gold, produced by Jaysen Duckworth and written and directed by Connor VanDyke. This filmâthe largest BYU Animation has producedâtells the story of two rogues in a dungeon who fall in love while searching for a valuable treasure.
The BYU Center for Animation has been running for over 20 years and has earned 22 Student Emmys, including last yearâs win for the short film Student Accomplice.
While this yearâs nominated film captivates viewers with its captivating on-screen animation, the story behind the scenes is equally remarkable. The student director of Love & Gold, Connor VanDyke, is the son of BYU animation professor Craig VanDyke, who directed the first BYU animation project to receive an Emmy, Lemmings, when he was a student.
âMy wife and I were at BYU when Connor was born, and I was the director of the first animation we did as part of the program. We were in the labs, doing renderings while holding him and rocking him to sleep. So, Connorâs technically been in those labs for 25 years. I think thatâs the kind of story you only get at BYU,â Craig VanDyke said.
Over the course of two and a half years, Connor VanDyke led a team of about 50 people, including students in animation, music, and design. A major collaboration with BYUâs School of Music allowed the score to match the filmâs intended tone and energy. Love & Gold challenged the students in many ways, from character development to creating multiple environments, down to designing the dragon, each element taking months to perfect.
Much of the filmâs inspiration comes from the game Dungeons & Dragons. From the light-up step designs to the basic puzzles in the story, Connor wanted to capture some of the creative and collaborative energy of his favorite game.
âI think it really shows how hard our team worked to create an environment, a world out of almost nothing,â Connor VanDyke said. âMy amazing team really put something together that people could get lost in. I think thatâs the beauty of Love and Gold: itâs a self-contained world, but you can think about it for much longer and expound on it in your own way.â
BYUâs education emphasizes undergraduate learning and the collaborative effort needed to create a film. Each student involved sacrificed personal goals to contribute to the team, bringing their talent and dedication to a groundbreaking project.
Brynne Hardy, the production designer, trusted the team completely. Since beginning the project, Hardy has started working for Legendary. As the film has gained attention in the industry, several other students have gone on to animate for major companies such as Sony.
âBYUâs animation program is unique because it gives you a trial run at working on an actual job in the industry. The experience you gain from the films here directly translates to work experience. Thatâs one of the most valuable aspects of the program,â Hardy said.
BEST COMMERCIAL
BYUâs AdLab students once again swept the commercial category, with three nominated videos in the running for the PSA or promo category. The winner of this category was Ink Up. Wash Out, written by Mia Shumway, directed by Kyle Gilmour, and produced by Eli Roth
This win secures BYU AdLabâs seventh consecutive Student Emmy for commercials.
BEST COMEDY SERIES
BYU students also brought home the trophy for the Comedy Series/Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship. Their winning video, Thanksgiving, was produced by Ryan Jones, directed by Austin Lawrence, and written by Abigail Tolley.
