i have a question about ANIMATION MENTOR

[GAVINO]

I too was skeptical when I first heard of Animation Mentor. However, upon enrolling and taking my first class, all my skepticism went out the door. I am an AM student and I'm in my second semester ( just started this January). My instructor is Pete Paquette, (www.petepaquette.com (http://www.petepaquette.com)) and he animated most of the Skrat scenes in Ice Age 2 amongst other things he's done...

In my class I have students from Canada, Turkey, Australia, and Italy. I believe it's a major contribution to our creative pool. If your really serious about animation, and want to learn from the best of the best, AM is definelitly the way to gooooo!

-Hope this helps :)

[NirJonas84]

if you study through the internet how do you know
the rest of the student ?

and if you can tell me how the lessons goes?
do you see the mentor?
is he seeing you?
how he tell you what to do?

Thank you in advance!

[GAVINO]

This is the way it works...
Once a week you meet (on the website) for whats called Q&A (Questions & Answers).
On the website, the teacher is talking live through a webcam (everyone has to purchase one before they start) Everyone can see the teacher. At the same time their is an area where everyone is chatting and a section for you to ask questions. Whenever you have a question the teacher presses a button and you appear on the screen. So now you and the teacher are talking "face to face" and everyone else in the class can see and hear you conversation...
This is one way that we get know each other. Another way is that each one of us has a profile and explains where we're from, hobbies, interest, background, etc etc... So you have access to see everyone's work (animation) that they're working on or have done in the past...Also everyone is alotted their own "myspace" and everyone comes around and leaves comments that help with your animation and their hello's too....

Basically their 6 differnt classes, each class takes 3 months, you don't pass to the next class unless you have a C or above. Each week your issued an assigment that's stated on the website..they give you the specs..(eg. Animate a bouncing ball that must feel like a soccer or basketball in weight) they give you a certain amount of frames 100 frames @ 24fps then you also have a video you have to watch weekly that pertains to the assigment your working on that week...They'll talk about weight, paths, timming spacing etc etc.... then you begin your assigment and you'll have a set schedule for your q&A every week...and that's where you ask any particular questions that you might have..later on your assigment is due @ 12pm Eastern Standard Time..Then you teacher will critique your work through video and leave it on "your space" that shows him talking and your work that he's critqing....This way everyone can see your critique and you can see evryone else's and learn from them too....

I'm telling you AM is definelitly the way to go...Check out their page and see the work STUDENTS have done.... you could be the next one in there! :)

[NirJonas84]

if i dont have a background
you think it's a good place to start at AM?

are they teaching you how to use their softwares?

are they teaching you everything or you should know something before
starting at AM?


thank you again in advance!

[GAVINO]

I know several people @ AM that come from a different background besides graphics.
Some are police officers, landscape designers, Writers for newspaper etc etc..
So to answer your question: Yes, if you have no knowledge of animation whatsoever it's ok...However, their are students who have been in animation previously. Yet most of them say they have learned more @ AM in the first semester than they have @ a 4 year art/animation college.

Their goal is to teach you animation. They teach you the skills that apply in 2D or 3D. They state that Maya is the industry standard and have some tutorials on how to get up and running in Maya..but some people use Softimage or 3DS Max..it's really the output not the program..you know what I mean...They teach you animation fundamentals that transcend from paper to program..no matter what medium you choose, the fundemental will be there....Just be forwarned, there is no rigging, texturing, lighting, modeling etc..only animation...they provide you with characters that are rigged..your job is to learn animation! They teach you everything you need..First class is Fundementals, then Body Mechanics (I'm in this one currently), then Intro to Film, then I think it's Intro to acting, etc etc....

The only I think you need to know before signing on is..Make sure your determined to do this! At least be able to sketch stick figures, Have access to a computer that can run Maya (whatever program you choose). And be prepared to learn from the best in the business! Pixar, ILM, Sony, Dreamworks, Blue Sky..the list goes on and on my friend...

I'm no spokesman for AM, but when something works...it works! I'm sure you'll have a great time..and maybe I'll see you in there!

-Good Luck and hoped this helped to answer your questions, we're all here to learn...

[d_jnaneswar]

yo dude!

u wanna learn animation? jump into AM n enjoy! is what I say.

DJ

[thelostcucumber]

I was in DJ's class, and I agree that if you want to be a character animator, Animation Mentor is probably the best place to learn. You're taught by only top industry professionals and the community is very good at helping you out and keeping you motivated.

-Espen

[colt45joe]

does anybody here know of someone who got work as an animator right after finishing animation mentor, and they never had expierience in animation before they started?

also... what if during the Q&A Sessions, you have no questions. is that a problem? do they force you to ask a question?

[thelostcucumber]

does anybody here know of someone who got work as an animator right after finishing animation mentor, and they never had expierience in animation before they started?



Absolutely. I don't think there's any statistics up on it (yet, I know they're collecting data on this), but I know for a fact that most of the people that put in the effort all the way ended up getting work either during or after the course. Me included.



also... what if during the Q&A Sessions, you have no questions. is that a problem? do they force you to ask a question?

There's no one forcing you to do anything there, but when you have the oppertunity to talk to some of the best character animators in the world, you'll have questions.


-Espen

[ilnara]

am... guys you forgot main thing: how much one course costs????

[Versiden]

I'm currently enrolled in AM Class3 and it's been the best decision ever. I'm not sure what the current costs are for the course, but you can goto the site for an update.

As with any course or college, you get out what you put in. I must say the education thus far has really improved my animations, and the friends and networks you build are invaluable. If you want to purely focus on character animation, then AM is the best place to be!

If you want to get an idea of what the mentor critique are like, check out the 11second club and you see how work is critique'd on the winning entries.

[TheGoozer]

I've been looking to get to AM after my schoolcareer. And that's about a year so I'll have to look now, to see what suits me best.

But... I have some questions to:

1.: If you don't pass a class, do they sign you in again for the next 3 months in the same class where you failed? Are do you have to agree with it, or...? How does it work simply?

2.: If you haven't any question during the lessons, but you run into a problem later on. Can you ask them questions afterworths or do you have to wait until the next lesson?

3.: Do you get a recognized diploma if you finished all the classes?

Thx in advance...

[GAVINO]

You need a C or higher to pass the class, if you don't pass you have to take the course over (next 3 months in the same class different instructor).

I think it's very rare that you might not have a question, especially when your learning. If you don't I'm sure their will be other people who will have one..I have yet to be in a class where no one has a question...Sometimes the Mentor will give us a personal lesson in Maya specifically tailored to what were doing..then there's not enough time for all the questions.....If you run into a problem and it's not during your Q&A you can always ask a campus mentor..their always around and willing to help...

Yes you get a certificate stating your advance education in Character animation... I'm currently a motion graphics artist :) and I have a degree and no one has ever asked me for it, they always ask me for my demo reel..I guess it will be the same with character animation..

[JamesLane]

this has been a great thread! I also have had a ton of questions about AM. I have heard nothing bad, and have heard millions of great things about it. Needless to say, I begin at the end of june and after the admissions paperwork, Im soooo anxious to get started. Hope to see some of you guys there.

James

[ilnara]

James (http://forums.cgsociety.org/member.php?u=258189) tell us about learning proces and success ufter finishing first course.

[TheGoozer]

Yep, AM looks great. Thanks for the info James!
But I have another question;

I've heard several times that 1 day a week you get lessons. But in class 6 for example, you get 264 hours off lessons in 3 months. So isn't 1 day to little?
And are those lessons in the weekend?

[covert]

I was told the program is around sixteen thousand dollars.
I cannot see how any online course can justify asking for this much money.

I went to this college where I took a two years intensive program.
It only cost me six thousand dollars and not only did I get advice and critique one day per week, but what I also got was advice, critique and actual real life support all of the other four days of the week.

What I am saying here is that you should probably reconsider your extra ten thousand dollars if you're thinking of spending it on a couple of webcam sessions.

If you REALLY want to be an animator, then just animate!
Download the rigs if that's what you need.
Read animation books, get references, take life drawing, take acting classes, or even do some sports!

There is nothing out there that these mentors can sell you that isn't already free.
The answer to your animation career isn't $230 a week, it's perseverance.

[GAVINO]

Covert speaks some truth.. If you REALLY want to be an animator, then just animate!
However, some people lack the discipline to create projects for themselves and follow through with them when they encounter a problem...That's what forums are for..you might say, and yes I agree, but you have to be very naive and think that everytime you post a question people in the forums are going to immidiately reply to you.

It all depends on what your goals are. Animation Mentor has an 85% hiring rate, I know about 25 students that were picked up by Blue Sky Studios (Ice Age) upon graduation.

Your being taught by actual animators in the industry, (Pixar, Tippet Studios, Rythm and Hues, Dreamworks etc etc..)who don't "freely" give up their time to instruct or educate people, and who haven't given up their jobs to become teachers, they're still in the industry, and they're teaching you the techniques that they or the industry wan't to see. Which is no wonder that they usually pick you up for their studios because your already molded to industry standards.....

The point here is that there is more than one way to skin a cat..but no one has ever accomplished something great without help from someone else..you can't do it alone.:)

[covert]

Well said, MOZIONE.

My main concern, however, is that this becomes a way to buy yourself into the industry.

With this level of prestige, and in a world where companies would rather check credentials than portfolios, I wonder how fair becomes this evaluation of skills.

[PieterVH]

But soon, there's THIS coming:

The Animators Survival Kit ANIMATED logo intro line test!! Richard Williams to attend Annecy festival this year. Probably hear more about this there!! This was also screened at Asifa San Francisco during a tribute to his birthday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeJiteHiNKk

From the ASIFA website:

The public knows Willams as the animation director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Animators also know him as the author of the great “how to” animation book, The Animator’s Survival Kit. In honor of his birthday and in anticipation of the release of Williams’Animation Masterclass lecture series on DVD (shot before a live audience at Blue Sky Studios).

:drool:

[ilnara]

covert (http://forums.cgsociety.org/member.php?u=321839) you are right, but here is one moment: im animating already2years. trying lots of things, on job im mixing mocaps using max and motion builder. but im still standing on 'intermediate animation'level(maby little more higher). case is when you try to learn on your own you don't sit everyday with your comp and don't work if it's not required from your job or something else. and you stay on a same ground going ahead slowly. this animation mentor really is gone mad if thay want you to pay 16000$ but learning inside somekinde school of animation drives you to sit everyday and work on it. this is only difference, you can get books and videotutorials for free but you will never get enough motivation.

[JamesLane]

These are all good points. However, I too went to another Comp Animation school and it was way way over $16,000. I also went to college, which was over this price too. If you put it in perspective of what you are getting (hands on critique and mentored by the best in the business) I dont think 16 grand is bad at all. It is a form of higher education, and the last I checked, it doesnt come cheap. In my opinion, just networking with these people is worth the price.

James

[thelostcucumber]

I was told the program is around sixteen thousand dollars.
I cannot see how any online course can justify asking for this much money.

I went to this college where I took a two years intensive program.
It only cost me six thousand dollars and not only did I get advice and critique one day per week, but what I also got was advice, critique and actual real life support all of the other four days of the week.

What I am saying here is that you should probably reconsider your extra ten thousand dollars if you're thinking of spending it on a couple of webcam sessions.

If you REALLY want to be an animator, then just animate!
Download the rigs if that's what you need.
Read animation books, get references, take life drawing, take acting classes, or even do some sports!

There is nothing out there that these mentors can sell you that isn't already free.
The answer to your animation career isn't $230 a week, it's perseverance.


I see your point, and it's a good argument for most things in this industry. Practice makes perfect.

However. There is a HUGE difference between Animation Mentor and your average college. The mentors at AM are without exeption working industry professionals. My mentors did character animation on films such as Star Wars 1,2,3, Lord of the Rings (Gollum), Shrek and the Hulk. In my humble opinion, getting advice from these people twice per week will increase your learning curve by a lot more than a college teacher will. They spend as much as a full hour on your 4 second blocking, going through it like they where a Lead Character Animator on a Pixar/ILM feature. These people don't teach you to push buttons and make things move. They teach you how to observe, how to tell a story and how to think like an animator.

Sure, the price is steep, but that's what it costs to hire these mentors after their regular work hours.

Making things move is easy. Animation is extremely hard. There is no one forcing anyone to go to an expensive school like this, but if you can afford it, there's no need to reinvent the wheel on your own when there's people who can teach you the principles and how to apply them. In my opinion, it is well worth the money you spend.



My main concern, however, is that this becomes a way to buy yourself into the industry.

With this level of prestige, and in a world where companies would rather check credentials than portfolios, I wonder how fair becomes this evaluation of skills.



Having "Animation Mentor Graduate" on your resume will not get you a job in the industry. I don't know where you get that from. Studios hire animators by looking at reels, not by reading CVs.


Just my thoughts.

-Espen

[TheGoozer]

Having "Animation Mentor Graduate" on your resume will not get you a job in the industry. I don't know where you get that from. Studios hire animators by looking at reels, not by reading CVs.

True, but doesn't help it a little? If Pixar for example sees that you have been teached by one of there own animators and your reel is good AND they compare it with another workseeking animator that has a good reel to, I think they will choose for the AM graduated person. Well, that's what I'm thinking off that.

Offcourse, being a AM gratuate doesn't mean that you are great animator or a better one than a non-AM gratuate. It's the reel that matters the most. That's true!

[J0K3R 3D]

Only thing I can really say about AM is that the quality ive seen from student work from there is top notch. I wish I wouldve gone there instead of the school I ended up going to. Much cheaper too.

[orbitalpunk]

i graduate AM in 2 weeks and it was the best choice. i wished it never ends.

i know an am graduate who worked on "kung fu panda" by dreamworks. he was hired even before he graduated. so yes, there are success stories out there. quiet a few actually.

the only other school i would have considered is CalArts but thats twice the price, twice the length and covers other areas other than animation. but for pure animation, AM is one of the best choices out there. learning thru the Internet seems weird at first but once you have your first Q&A live on webcam with you mentor and see your other classmates face to face, you'll get it.

[tonyGriggs]

..........

[modernPrimitive]

Does anyone know if it's posible to do just a single semester - say semester 1 now and then semester 2 only the following year?

[orbitalpunk]

you can only take just class 1 but if you want to complete the whole curriculum, you can only take off 2 semesters in total off as a leave of absence. so you can take 6 months off once or break them up. but thats it.

[fusedgore]

Hey since were talking about AM on this thread i do have a few questions if anyone is still reading this thread,and i was wondering about a few things cause i have been wondering about .I am a 3d modeler ( not the best one by the way ) and can model if i apply myself .But i have heard that with animation mentor i need to be able to draw well.Though i cant draw worth crap .I proabably couldnt even draw a box .LOL. So would i be able to still pass the classes given i cant draw at all.I am really serious about wanting to animate things cause i love modeling .And knowing that i will be able to animate the stuff i model would be awsome .

Any and all help is wonderfull thank.

O by the way ,does anyone know where i can learn how to create textures from scratch .

And here is some of my models .

[orbitalpunk]

you dont have to draw well. stick figure is fine. but it helps to improve it.

[modernPrimitive]

Hey since were talking about AM on this thread i do have a few questions if anyone is still reading this thread,and i was wondering about a few things cause i have been wondering about .I am a 3d modeler ( not the best one by the way ) and can model if i apply myself .But i have heard that with animation mentor i need to be able to draw well.Though i cant draw worth crap .I proabably couldnt even draw a box .LOL. So would i be able to still pass the classes given i cant draw at all.I am really serious about wanting to animate things cause i love modeling .And knowing that i will be able to animate the stuff i model would be awsome .

Any and all help is wonderfull thank.

O by the way ,does anyone know where i can learn how to create textures from scratch .

And here is some of my models .

Learning to draw really helps to plan your animation and even your modelling / layout of shots if you do any motion graphics work. Bought myself a tablet the other day and started practicing sketching again - it really helps to do your layouts for character design and having rough sketches of your animation with timings also helps alot - even if they're just stick figures as orbitalpunk said. I wouldn't even start modelling or animating something now without first sketching some ideas. This has also opened up the creative process for me as now I can model things more easily that are in my head by producing layout sketches. Before I was limited to using existing photos or blueprints or simply doodled in 3D and never quite getting the correct result.

It doesn't take that long really to get your "hand" into sketching. You can even start by tracing images and then start trying to draw them without tracing. A few simple exercises every day for a few weeks and you will be proficient for your 3D needs.

[acamporota]

i'm in the 3rd class of animation mentro..
what can i say?.. this school is amazing...fot me...
there is a lot of things to learn..
the mentors are professional ant the communyty superb..
i love it

wonderfull school for me
5 stars

[Bigalpimp]

would it be possible for the guys that are in AM to send me the rigs and objects you use in the course? I'm basicly teaching animation to myself. I applied for AM but was denied for whatveer reason. Anyways I basicly want to emulate and practice what ive seen on the reels. I have a Buncha digital tutor DVDs and books so any help would be great guys. If It comes to it I'm willing to pay for the rigs. Thanks

[fusedgore]

I have also heard that they are very particular in who they accpet so my question is have anyone on here heard of anyone being denide.

[JamesLane]

Yea, the guy that posted right before you.


Anyways....I just began AM on about 3 days ago. I have to say, it is one of the best things I've ever done. I met my first mentor last night, and he is awesome! I can only imagine how much cooler things are going to get when the program picks up.

-James

[jtp]

Does Anybody Know Anything About Calarts Good Bad?

[powerwave3d]

would it be possible for the guys that are in AM to send me the rigs and objects you use in the course? I'm basicly teaching animation to myself. I applied for AM but was denied for whatveer reason. Anyways I basicly want to emulate and practice what ive seen on the reels. I have a Buncha digital tutor DVDs and books so any help would be great guys. If It comes to it I'm willing to pay for the rigs. Thanks

The rigs are for AM students only and sharing isn't allowed. I highly doubt anyone would be willing to share them outside of fellow students.

[Beansproutinmyhead]

would it be possible for the guys that are in AM to send me the rigs and objects you use in the course? I'm basicly teaching animation to myself. I applied for AM but was denied for whatveer reason. Anyways I basicly want to emulate and practice what ive seen on the reels. I have a Buncha digital tutor DVDs and books so any help would be great guys. If It comes to it I'm willing to pay for the rigs. Thanks

lolz.

by the way what is this mentality of using AM rigs to acheive AM quality? its a misconception.

[mhayes]

You notice everyone from AM always comments on the mentors being industry pros and the movies they worked on?To me it's like their fans,I attended AM and did not care for it they basically teach out of the Illusion of life,don't get me wrong alot of good animators come out of there but a majority of them were already really good to begin with,also AM is 18k that's if you have the money yourself if you have to get a loan through Sallie Mae you'll end up paying like 30k for forums,recorded videos,and video critiques if that's your thing you should do it but just remember just because industry pros are mentors does not mean they are good teachers

[powerwave3d]

You notice everyone from AM always comments on the mentors being industry pros and the movies they worked on?To me it's like their fans,I attended AM and did not care for it they basically teach out of the Illusion of life,don't get me wrong alot of good animators come out of there but a majority of them were already really good to begin with,also AM is 18k that's if you have the money yourself if you have to get a loan through Sallie Mae you'll end up paying like 30k for forums,recorded videos,and video critiques if that's your thing you should do it but just remember just because industry pros are mentors does not mean they are good teachers

Did you go through the entire 6 classes?

[Beansproutinmyhead]

there are many many cases of people with zero animation experience coming out of AM with a fantastic showreel. And if industry pros arent the best candidates to teach this who is? inexperienced out of touch teachers? i think not.

[mhayes]

there are many many cases of people with zero animation experience coming out of AM with a fantastic showreel. And if industry pros arent the best candidates to teach this who is? inexperienced out of touch teachers? i think not.


Being in the industry does not automatically make you a great teacher,everyone that was in it when I attended already had experience in some way or another and the one they show on the show reel all had plenty of experience,do you attend AM?I will gracefully bow out because it seems people only want to hear how great it is,not real opinions.

[nethstar]

I think that AM must rely on processing people that have some sort of experience or that have already been decent at animation before they accept them.
this is quite a bad thing, but....
Lets be honest, EVERY University/College/Institute does this to ensure they keep their rep in-tact. After all, who's ever wanted to go to attend a course where people don't gain anything from completing it?

Put it this way, if you go an apply for a job, your gonna need some experience in that sector, if you plan to start playing a sport professionally, your going to have to gain some experience in that specific sport. It happens all the time

In my experience of your average animation course in places around the world, they will NOT give you a second glance if they know you haven't got any form of animation experience to your name. In my case, i was not given a place to several Universities simply because i had no showreel/animation/character design/relevant program experience, but the passion to learn it all was there! (i ended up teaching myself, and it probably took twice the time and effort, and now i'm doing a course where i'm re-learning all the stuff i taught myself!)
Its a really silly idea that anyone is less likely to take you because after all it is a LEARNING program, so you'd be expected not to know anything at all, and you take it a step at a time.

I'm not saying they're terrible or a waste of time, i just think they should make it clear some experience will gain you more notability when it comes to reviewing your profile.

I'm yet to see a post from someone who's come from absolutely no experience at all to working with any form of animation studio.
Its one thing to say "i know someone who..." but its another thing for that person to actually speak out.

[Beansproutinmyhead]

Theyre some of the best animators out there with years upon years of experience, so they might not be as good at teaching as a trained teacher would but I guarentee they have more knowledge and insight then an out of touch teacher would and that is more valuable imo. Its also your job to try and suck as much information out of them during the live Q+A's of which you have a total 12 during each term and 6 different mentors during the entire course.

I find it hard to believe out of the 6 mentors you had, you had 6 bad teachers I really do.

I like the fact that you try to discredit my 'opinion' as not being real, I am currently attending AM. It seems like you are discontent because you expected it to make you some sort of great animator automatically like a magic wand. No school is capable of this.

[mhayes]

My opinion is my opinion,It does'nt mater what you believe I did not try to discredit you on anything just stating my experience,and by the way who said I had 6 teachers there I only went thru one semester,I know when something does'nt work for me.

[Beansproutinmyhead]

I will gracefully bow out because it seems people only want to hear how great it is,not real opinions.

whats this then? opinions about the course being great are not real? I find it funny that you can bash the course when you only attended one semester. Fair enough you didnt like the course, but your criticisms lack any sort of credibility when you try to say that the mentors are not good teachers when you only had 1 [also they are mentors not teachers, the teaching is done through the lectures which are awesome] and that 'they only teach out of the illusion of life' when you only took part in basic foundations where they teach the very fundamentals for beginners for like yourself. As for your comment about the 18k fees, well show me the free animation school please I would love to attend.

[powerwave3d]

Online learning just isn't for everyone. There are all different kinds of learning styles and if your learning style doesn't correspond to the one that online learning is in, then of course it's not going be your cup of tea.

You come across harsh against the school when it seems the real issue is online learning just isn't for you. That doesn't make you dumb or anything, it's just not how you're brain is wired to effectively learn.

I'm currently in class1 and I personally think it's awesome. But, I've taken online classes before and it fits into my learning style.

[SheepFactory]

Mhayes you need to chill out and start acting like a adult.

[mhayes]

Hey man I was just stating my opinion and this guy attacked me,calling me a beginner when he does not know me,you want to side with him you can go fizuck yourself too

[Beansproutinmyhead]

you accused the school of just 'teaching out of the illusion of life' thats a pretty big accusation. No-one's attacking you I assumed you were a beginner since you moaned that all the showreel people were already experienced animators.

[mhayes]

Why are you getting so butt hurt?Let's drop it

[Beansproutinmyhead]

I think that AM must rely on processing people that have some sort of experience or that have already been decent at animation before they accept them.
this is quite a bad thing, but....
Lets be honest, EVERY University/College/Institute does this to ensure they keep their rep in-tact. After all, who's ever wanted to go to attend a course where people don't gain anything from completing it?

Put it this way, if you go an apply for a job, your gonna need some experience in that sector, if you plan to start playing a sport professionally, your going to have to gain some experience in that specific sport. It happens all the time

In my experience of your average animation course in places around the world, they will NOT give you a second glance if they know you haven't got any form of animation experience to your name. In my case, i was not given a place to several Universities simply because i had no showreel/animation/character design/relevant program experience, but the passion to learn it all was there! (i ended up teaching myself, and it probably took twice the time and effort, and now i'm doing a course where i'm re-learning all the stuff i taught myself!)
Its a really silly idea that anyone is less likely to take you because after all it is a LEARNING program, so you'd be expected not to know anything at all, and you take it a step at a time.

I'm not saying they're terrible or a waste of time, i just think they should make it clear some experience will gain you more notability when it comes to reviewing your profile.

I'm yet to see a post from someone who's come from absolutely no experience at all to working with any form of animation studio.
Its one thing to say "i know someone who..." but its another thing for that person to actually speak out.

http://bobbyboom.blogspot.com/

june 16th entry.

seriously they take anyone its a first come first serve basis all that they ask is you display your passion and pass an aptitude test.

[nethstar]

http://bobbyboom.blogspot.com/

june 16th entry.

seriously they take anyone its a first come first serve basis all that they ask is you display your passion and pass an aptitude test.

truly is quite an interesting story... thank you for posting that information.
though he did mention that he had not specifically done any CHARACTER animation, That does not mean he had not done any animation at all. There are more than just character animations.
Effects (hand drawn elemental effects, such as water, not SFX) and animal animation do not fall into the category of "Character", unless that animal or element effect is personified and given a human-like personality/feelings etc.

I genuinely did find the story interesting, but honestly, this was an email to Bobby BOOM Beck, who on his resume says he is the CEO/President of AM (From 2004). Of course, if he had been given a decent email and posted it up, would you think if he got an email which put the course in a bad position, that he would post that up?
Also the emphasis on having no animation experience was very very little, and the email was mainly about giving AM praise for gaining a great job, not for teaching him so much from so little.

Again, this is a blog from AM saying that the course is awesome, but thats not what i wanted to see, i wanted to read, on this forum from someone who has taken the course, has gained a job of any sort in the industry (be it a big studio or small one), and had not done any form of animation before
(e.g: someone who had studied and worked as an accountant/lawyer etc all their life, and just wanted to make the change to animation)

[Beansproutinmyhead]

why dont you email arne and ask? http://www.arne3d.com/index.html ;)

[powerwave3d]

truly is quite an interesting story... thank you for posting that information.
though he did mention that he had not specifically done any CHARACTER animation, That does not mean he had not done any animation at all. There are more than just character animations.
Effects (hand drawn elemental effects, such as water, not SFX) and animal animation do not fall into the category of "Character", unless that animal or element effect is personified and given a human-like personality/feelings etc.

I genuinely did find the story interesting, but honestly, this was an email to Bobby BOOM Beck, who on his resume says he is the CEO/President of AM (From 2004). Of course, if he had been given a decent email and posted it up, would you think if he got an email which put the course in a bad position, that he would post that up?
Also the emphasis on having no animation experience was very very little, and the email was mainly about giving AM praise for gaining a great job, not for teaching him so much from so little.

Again, this is a blog from AM saying that the course is awesome, but thats not what i wanted to see, i wanted to read, on this forum from someone who has taken the course, has gained a job of any sort in the industry (be it a big studio or small one), and had not done any form of animation before
(e.g: someone who had studied and worked as an accountant/lawyer etc all their life, and just wanted to make the change to animation)

With all respect, can you tell me of a school that can take a janitor and in 18months while in the comfort of their own home get them the abilities to land a job right afterwards?

Because that's what AM is, minus the getting the job, that's all on the person. Can people pack up everything move somewhere else, spend more and get the education? Sure they can.

How many people spend almost $75k from well respected schools like SCAD and are bus boys and dishwashers? It's all about applying yourself and focus, no matter where you get the information from.

[smuzzler]

Delete message

[Beansproutinmyhead]

Why are you getting so butt hurt?Let's drop it

? you need to drop your attitude.

[JoeRockhead]

Again, this is a blog from AM saying that the course is awesome, but thats not what i wanted to see, i wanted to read, on this forum from someone who has taken the course, has gained a job of any sort in the industry (be it a big studio or small one), and had not done any form of animation before
(e.g: someone who had studied and worked as an accountant/lawyer etc all their life, and just wanted to make the change to animation)

From http://www.alexissdawn.com/blog/

7/3/08:I am headed to New York to work at Blue Sky Studios!

6/18/08: To go from never having animated 18 months ago to finishing up my short film now is crazy.

[JayG]

With all respect, can you tell me of a school that can take a janitor and in 18months while in the comfort of their own home get them the abilities to land a job right afterwards?

Because that's what AM is, minus the getting the job, that's all on the person. Can people pack up everything move somewhere else, spend more and get the education? Sure they can.

How many people spend almost $75k from well respected schools like SCAD and are bus boys and dishwashers? It's all about applying yourself and focus, no matter where you get the information from.

Agreed. Having been through the school I'll give it my thumbs up as far as curriculum, etc., but in the end it's how you apply yourself just like any other school. I was a teacher previously and decided I wanted to pursue a career in art. The only thing I ever animated previously was a bouncing ball and within a year I was animating at a studio. Having a good venue to learn and a good curriculum is important but in the end it's more about how tight your head is screwed on imo.

Anyway, I enjoyed it and learned a lot.

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