Www.animationmentor.com

#9282

Redspective,

thank you.

#9283

I just want to say thank you to Animation Mentor and the host , the webminar this weekend was great, really helpful for all those who are starting AM and have those commons questions.

#9284

After you get accepted, how long before you’re given the necessary info to buy Maya at the student discount? I’d like to be able to get the software early and maybe buy some tutorial DVD’s and learn the basics so as to bypass the Maya workshop. The Winter term won’t start until January 2010 and if someone gets accepted by say mid-September, do you have to wait nearly 3 to 4 months to buy the software at the discounted rate? Thanks!

#9285

Yeah it was cool. Gave me a good insight into how the graduates progressed through the program.

#9286

The price for Maya 2010 from studica is $348.00 www.Studica.com

#9287

You won’t get the info for the student rate until the class list is finalized which I believe is December 9th ish. If you take the maya workshop you can get it in late September. The only other way you can get your hands on the software early without paying full price or doing the spring baord workshop, is to take advantage of the 30 trial that Autodesk offers. It is a full version of the software and 30 days should give a determined person enough time to get a solid grasp on the program.

#9288

I forgot about the 30 day trial. That’s awesome advice. Thanks!

#9289

It used to say that the starting day of the Maya Springboard Workshop was September 28th, but now it’s January 4th, which I assume is the same day that the Winter Term starts. If I’m a winter student, should I even bother with the workshop anymore? I’m also wondering what I should do with my time until the term, like getting my discount on Maya etc. Do we really have to wait until only a month before the winter term to get the hang of Maya?

#9290

While I’ve heard nothing but good about the Maya Workshop(especially for those who are completely 3D illiterate) it is a good route to go. However I think anyone can get a good hang to Maya(animation wise) within 2 weeks or so of serious dedication. Recently I completed the Digital Tutors Intro to Maya 2009, and I got a nice hang of Maya within 2 weeks of casual studying. It provided me with a long term project to built and model a pod racer, while modeling, rigging and in the end animating it. It got me using the graph editor which is rather important so I’ve heard!

All really depends on the person and how quickly you pick things up. But both routes are certainly excellent choices.

hope this helps mate!

#9291

My guess as to the reason the start date of the springboard workshop changed is the fall class is likely full. If you really feel that you need the workshop then you can take it in January but that means you won’t get to start the AM program until the spring session. They won’t let you take the workshop and the real course at the same time. If you don’t want to spend the big bucks to buy maya now, I think your best bet is to download the 30 day trial in mid november and start cramming in as much maya study as you can. Like others have said you can pick up maya in a few weeks if you work hard. If you already have pervious experience in 3d it should only take a week or so of hard work. Other people who have taken the springboard course have said that it is really basic and recommended some other training resource as a better way to spend your money. Check through the last 10 page of this thread or so and you’ll likely find some solid places to learn maya.

#9292

Yessss the graph editor!!! Expect this to be a second home for you when the time comes :slight_smile:

Roman, if I were you, I’d contact the school and ask them about how they’d recommend getting the discounted version of Maya. The only other option you have is to install the 30 day learning version of Maya 2009. And then when the 30 days are up… do a reformat and reinstall it again. Unfortunately you can’t just uninstall and reinstall the app. They hide some files somewhere to prevent people from easily reinstalling the software.

I’m sure you’ll figure it out dude!

#9293

Well, I sent Victoria an e-mail yesterday, but I have no reply yet. They usually get back to me pretty quick… I guess I’ll just have to wait.

#9294

Did you get a response from Victoria yet? I know she was at her desk yesterday for sure because I was on the phone with her.

I guess I’m jumping on the animationmentor wagon! I applied on Thursday, got an e-mail/call from Victoria on Friday and we sort of just talked about the industry and stuff and I guess she has sent my application off to the ‘deciding team.’ I was told I should hear back by early next week… Unfortunately I have to impatiently wait all weekend AND Monday since it’s a holiday. UGH! :stuck_out_tongue:

I really put some thought into my essay questions… hopefully I get in. I want this so bad right now! :slight_smile:

#9295

Yeah, I got a reply from her a couple days ago. She said that once the student IDs are set, currently December 9th, we’ll get orientation materials and a proof of enrollment, and that proof will make us elligible for a Maya discount.

Just curious, does anybody have anything bad to say about this school? Any downsides? Because sometimes the showcase reels look like the acting and animation style between students is the same, as well as the timing. Don’t get me wrong, I love this school and think that all the pros outweigh any possible cons by far, but my only qualm is the level of Individuality they teach you. Maybe that’s the student’s problem and not the mentor’s, I don’t know.

#9296

How can a school teach individuality? That’s what you have to bring to the table. If all you do is mimic the style that is shown, your work will look like everyone elses. If you take the time to be creative and put that extra effort in, that’s when your work will be original.

I do understand what you mean though. I think one of the problems is that all the characters look basically the same. The subtler things like timing and acting… I dunno.

#9297

They are currently addressing this from what I read on Bobby Becks blog. Read his last 2 posts regarding some of the concerns mentioned recently http://bobbyboom.blogspot.com/

It will take some time before you get comfortable animating, but when you do, you’ll start to notice your animation style taking shape. :bounce:

#9298

One thing I’m curious about is their placement rate. 74%… That’s high, yes, but what about all those other 16%? What happened to them? Did they not get a job because they just didn’t try hard enough? Were they not cut out for the job? Makes me wonder what their work looks like…

#9299

I wouldn’t focus so much on these numbers. Concentrate on making your work as best as possible and the jobs will follow. When I went to VFS, the majority of us got jobs right away… the ones that didn’t, didn’t work hard enough on their reel, lacked dedication or interest, or had real life issues that prevented them from giving the 110% it takes to get somewhere in the industry.

If you are passionate about animating, and can handle living and breathing everything related to animation for the next 18 months without losing that drive to get you that job you want, then you’ll definitely be working come graduation time. Or maybe sooner ya never know :thumbsup:

#9300

Alright, that sounds good.

Just today I’ve downloaded and installed a 30-day trial of Maya, and I’m learning how to get around right now. It’s freaking me out. :argh: I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it though. I’d say I have a pretty comfortable intermediate knowledge of 3DS Max, so learning this shouldn’t be too hard. Too bad my Maya springboard option is ruled out.

BTW, what I meant by “teaching individuality” was the absence of saying, “you have to do everything this certain way to be successful”. You know, openness that encourages individuality.

#9301

A good way to get a basic handle on maya for free is to check out the “Getting Started” stuff available through autodesk. It might even be included in the maya files somewhere. It’s about a 1000ish page document and scene files with loads of tutorials that takes you through most of maya. It won’t make you an expert but if your already experienced in 3d it will show you where all the tools you want and some extras are hiding. It helped me out alot making the switch from lightwave.