Yay! I went thorough Houdini support learned how to do server licensing instead of machine licensing and installed Houdini on my PC along with the HTOA plugin. Surely nothing bad will happen. Also trying to grab the new geo to figure out how to use Arnold in Houdini.
Started the filter and got through 1.5 of the 2 tutorials required to create the filter. Image below is what the incomplete filter looked like.
Downloaded the Arnold renderer into Houdini and got it working (at least for imported textures)
Got an email back from a Houdini master (he said he was looking into my questions and would email me back). (Will email him on Monday to check in if he hasn't emailed back since then)
Potentially just got the artist that will score Sunstroke during the alumni day.
Got some advice from an alumni that Renderman might be better than Arnold for stylized renders, and to check out an extension called Animbot.