WALL-E and Buzz Lightyear, step aside.

The next generation of Pixar animators might be sitting at the Casper Planetarium this week, hunched faithfully over their laptop computers.

For the first time, the planetarium is offering a week-long animation camp for teenagers. Students learn to use a software called Blender to create and animate 3-D objects.

Rod Kennedy, the camp instructor, is one of the few planetarium employees trained in using animation software. The planetarium's recently upgraded equipment offers employees an opportunity to create their own 3-D clips and programs for audiences.

Animation is a challenging skill to learn, yet the campers rarely leave their chairs during the three-hour sessions.

"The kids love it," said planetarium supervisor Michele Wistisen. "We tried to get them to take a snack break."

"They got up, turned around three circles, and sat back down," Kennedy said.

Students can eventually create more and more complex projects as they learn to use Blender. Someday, they could turn out products similar to films such as "Finding Nemo."

But creating a full-length movie is a far off goal for the students, who are still learning to manipulate simple cones, cubes and spheres into 3-D objects.

Tuesday's challenge seemed easy enough-create a 3-D coffee cup, and learn how to animate it. Students worked doggedly to build their cups, the silence broken only when someone had a question or gave a heavy sigh.

"I don't know how you'd get a handle on it," one boy said, staring at the half-sphere on his computer screen.

The campers might one day work for the planetarium. After the equipment upgrade, Wistisen hired students to learn animation software and help create 3-D programs.

"We knew we had to build a work force," she said.

Camper Roy Uptain said his interest in animation stemmed from creating flip books, where pages with drawings are flipped through to animate the pictures.

"I thought it'd be interesting to do that on a computer," Roy said.

Roy's brother-in-law sparked a love for computers in the 15-year-old, and Roy thought animation might be a potential career.

"I wanted to check it out and see if it was something I could do," he said. "It's been interesting. I really enjoy being able to make my own objects, and make them move, you know?"

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.