Juniata Park Academy Students Experience an Inspiring Afternoon with DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Dog Man’
Juniata Park Academy was recently abuzz with a heightened level of imagination and inspiration. A visit from the creative minds behind DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s bestselling graphic novel series, elicited cheers from students. In partnership with Principal Marisol Rivera Rodriguez and her leadership team and staff, Comcast organized the day’s after-school programming, as part of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Extended Day/Extended Year (EDEY) initiative.
Aimed to inspire career opportunities in the media and film industry, DreamWorks Animation Director and Screenwriter Peter Hastings, Producer Karen Foster, Head of Story Anthony Zierhut, and Story Artist Jeremy Bernstein — the creative forces behind Dog Man — offered students personal insights into the world of animation and storytelling.
Philadelphia-area native Hastings lit up the room with playful energy during a fireside chat and audience question-and-answer session. The director and screenwriter — who also voiced the Dog Man character in the film — marched onto the stage and barked into the microphone in full character. He encouraged the learners to embrace their creativity and reminded them that every idea is valuable. “Sometimes, even bad ideas are helpful,” he said, “because they can lead you to great ones. It’s like getting lost and then finding your way.”
Foster shared insights into her role as a producer and compared her responsibilities to tasks students could relate to — ensuring a film is completed on schedule is a high priority, similar to turning in a homework assignment on time.
“Today’s event is both inspiring and impactful for our students. They have been motivated to think about new possibilities of what their future could look like. They now see that they, too, can become filmmakers or artists — and that they can begin practicing for that journey today.”
Principal Marisol Rivera Rodriguez
Juniata Park Academy
Juniata Park Academy students who participate in the WHYY Youth Media Labs program asked questions about Foster’s and Hastings’ career journey and took the opportunity to show the DreamWorks team a short film their club recently produced.
After the student question-and-answer session, Zierhut and Bernstein led a drawing workshop, demonstrating a step-by-step process on how to sketch Dog Man characters.
For the day’s grand finale, students documented their experience by posing for photos with a costumed character Dog Man and collecting signatures from the DreamWorks team.
“I am walking away so inspired by the students at Juniata Park Academy,” said Nicole Pender, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Freedom Region. “The work I love most is when we can get out into the community and connect with students and their dedicated educators and staff. It was our privilege to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Education on this event.”
DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man premiered in theaters in January 2025 and will be available for streaming on Peacock later this year.
