"While studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and then the California Institute of the Arts, Lanning had gained experience working on an aerospace computer program, which was noticed by TRW Aerospace, who offered him the position of Technical Director at the TRW Engineering Visualization Lab in California.He then used his BFA in Character animation to enter Hollywood and work on feature films and advertisements for award-winning visual effects studio Rhythm and Hues, where he met Sherry McKenna.