Jim Benton’s First Screen Credit with Illumination: A Milestone Achievement

The world of animation and movie production often goes unseen by the public eye, but for those working behind the scenes, every credit is a significant milestone. Recently, Jim Benton shared a photograph of his first screen credit with Illumination, and the excitement surrounding this achievement is palpable.

The image showcases a section of movie credits, where Benton's name appears among other talented individuals. The credits are displayed in a light blue hue against a dark background, formatted in organized columns. Noteworthy names in the primary column include Chris Allison, Scott Cooper, Bryan C**, Jimmy Craig, and Eric Favela. The secondary column lists Serguei Kouodiev, Chris Martin, Glenn McGovern, Luis Zamora, and James “Woodrow.”

Jim Benton is featured under the section titled "Additional Story Artists" alongside Brad Ableson, Josh Lieberman, Guy Bar’ely, Kartika Mednika, Jeff Mednikow, Brian Kesinger, Jeffrey Ranjo, and Peter Rida Michail. The image also highlights the roles of Production Supervisors Elizabeth Mears and Lia Abbate, and Recording Supervisor Melissa Eely.

The community's reactions to Benton’s post have been overwhelmingly positive. One user, clearly impressed, commented, "That's really cool, but... Guy Bar'ely?" Another user questioned the significance of "illumination." Meanwhile, a proud parent shared, "Very cool. My son works for ILM, seeing him in movie credits still gives me a buzz."

Others shared their own experiences and congratulations. A user named JKBenton humorously noted, "How are we supposed to know which name is yours?" Another user, who had a voice acting role, mentioned, "I still have my first and only successful voice acting role as my banner on all my socials lol."

The support continued with comments like, "Congratulations, Jim! We are psyched for you as well," and "I love this. Humanizing credits should be a huge thing. Please share more of your work, big or small." Some even shared the trials of having their names misspelled in credits, adding to the sense of camaraderie.

Notably, a user expressed their excitement about Benton's achievement, stating, "I am gonna watch this movie just 'coz you worked on it, I am serious." Another user reminisced about their friend's journey into animation, which began with stop-motion films and led to working with Vincent Productions on movies like Coraline and earning an Emmy.

Jim Benton's achievement serves as an inspiring reminder of the dedication and hard work that goes into every frame of animation. The community's enthusiastic response underscores the importance of celebrating such milestones, no matter how big or small. Congratulations, Jim Benton, on this well-deserved recognition!