UVA Animation Series Features Updated Cavalier Mascot
The 2Tall Animation series The Ride highlights University of Virginia traditions on the Scott Stadium videoboard.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Animation
Live Poll
Should university sports teams prioritize tradition or modern artistic reinvention for their game-day mascots and media?
Debuting in 2024, The Ride is an animated series produced for University of Virginia home football games. Each 53-second episode showcases a faceless Cavalier character in various iconic settings.
Why it matters
The series aims to strengthen connections with University students by celebrating institutional culture and values. It serves as a modern successor to previous athletic mascots seen in university hype media.
Each episode of The Ride maintains a 53-second runtime, with a 15-second fight sequence requiring approximately two and a half weeks of production time. These segments are displayed on the 6,700-square-foot Ramon W. Breeden Jr. Videoboard.
The players
2Tall Animation
This is the production studio responsible for creating the animated series featured during home football games.
Eric Ward
He is the author of the poem featured throughout the animated series episodes.
Julie Caruccio
She serves as the person who portrays the real-life Cavalier on horseback at University events.
Mike Lee-Graham
He is the lead animator who specializes in choreographing the fight sequences for the series.
The details
The animation style utilizes 3D techniques layered with 2D textures to depict the Cavalier battling various opposing mascots. Episodes feature a poem written by Eric Ward and showcase local landmarks, including the Lawn and the King Neptune Statue in Virginia Beach.
Timeline
The Adventures of CavMan ran during football seasons from 2001 to 2015.
The Ride debuted at Scott Stadium in 2024.
An episode is scheduled for the University home football game on October 23, 2026.
An episode is scheduled for the University home football game on November 14, 2026.
An episode is scheduled for the University home football game on November 21, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The production of The Ride follows the long-standing tradition of university mascot-themed hype videos established by The Adventures of CavMan. This move signals a broader transition toward high-fidelity animation techniques in collegiate athletic marketing.
Fans attending games at Scott Stadium can view the 53-second segments on the Ramon W. Breeden Jr. Videoboard before kickoff. These episodes are specifically designed to be experienced as part of the live stadium atmosphere.
The takeaway
The series demonstrates how universities are utilizing advanced 3D animation to modernize traditional sports mascots for stadium crowds. Viewers should look for the technical details in the layering and texturing that define the modern Cavalier character.
What happens next
Three additional episodes of The Ride are scheduled for release during the 2026 University home football season.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the field within the Animation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crossword -- January 29 - The Cavalier Daily - University of Virginia's Student Newspaper.
Live Poll
Should university sports teams prioritize tradition or modern artistic reinvention for their game-day mascots and media?
