Cal Arts Producers Show 09
I was lucky enough to attend the Cal Arts producers show this year. For those of you who don’t know the school it is one of the premier animation schools in the country. Pixar has many of its directors, animators and story artsits come from the school. Every year all the studios come out to see the show and recruit new talent. I am impressed by the films coming out of the school but not so much by the animation. In talking to many of the students, I felt they wanted to do story or art. Not many were interested in Character Animation. Maybe because its done mostly on computer and they want to draw, which I can understand. I hope some of the students can focus more on animating though. The industry is hungry for talented animators and alot of the animation talent is coming from other schools that focus a bit more on character work. I still think Calarts is one of the best animation schools. Here are some links to some of the students films from this year. Great work… Next year, more character animation!
Nelson Boles
Noel Belknap 4th year
Sabrina Cotugno 1st year
Elle Michalka 1st year
Jeff Liu 2nd year
David Ochs 1st year
Shion Takeuchi 3rd year
Dylan Forman 2nd year
Tahnee Ghem 1st year
Marcos Cohen 1st year
Andres Salaff 4th year
Sharing by Kris Anka
The Terror from Mars by Daron Nefracy
Leonardo’s Chase by Carlos Romero
If anyone has more links to calarts films please post them in the comments section or email me.
-Gordon
Nick Vona
“The industry is hungry for talented animators”…
I love hearing that…
Thanks for the post…
Broce
Indeed some students are really good and promising but,
…best animation school in the world ?
What about Gobelins ?
The level is ten times better animation wise, design wise, maybe not story wise but they raise a bar CalArts and many schools never reached in character animation, even though CalArts exists for a way more longer time with 4 years or education instead of 3 for Gobelins… I’m not even talking about the cost of the education.
I know it’s an opinion, but the works speak for themselves.
Pete
“‘The industry is hungry for talented animators’…
I love hearing that…
Thanks for the post…”
Me too!
Broce, don’t start a rant about best schools… sheesh..
Gordon, its interesting that you mention that the students are more interested in story and art. Do you think its because of the structure of the BFA or just the content of what they are teaching?
Pete
Dr Gordon
I should have said Cal Arts is One of the best Animation Schools in the world. Gobelins is awesome too. I am happy they are finally letting students make their own films and not just having them do trailers for Annecy. Some of our best guys are from Gobelins. I have nothing but respect for the school and hope to visit there one day.
Nick Vona
I think arguing the best animation school is mute. Every school has strength and weakness. Really good animators have come out of schools with less than ideal programs, some of the greats had no schooling at all. I think it is the passion of the student and of course the realization that to be an animator is to be a student for ever…
Of course, in hindsight I wish i had started drawing earlier and perhaps been able to go to Cal Arts but at the same time, I can’t complain…
Meredith
These shorts are really great. I was impressed by the quality of the first-year shorts as well.
Question: If the industry is hungry for Character Animators, where would one go to find these jobs? Maybe that is a dumb question but I don’t live in California or New York and I really have no idea. I thought most TV animation was being done in Korea nowadays. I know there are some gaming studios in North Carolina where I live but that’s about it.
Robert
I was wondering which films from calarts this year you felt had quality character animation. I do have my opinions, but I would appreciate it if you could point out your pick of the films.
Mk
http://www.vimeo.com/4416416 from the open show… Didnt make producers but this one made me laugh and I liked the design a lot
The Cal Arts Animation Program | Artists Blog
[...] website, with QuickTime movies Producer’s Show, 2009 Art of Jen, a student [...]
Scott
“What about Gobelins”
They don’t focus on CHARACTER animation.