When you’ve finished the program what kind of work can you expect to get as a first job?

Traditional stream students could expect to find work as a junior animator, scene planner or layout artist where digital students could find their first jobs in a 3D studio doing modeling, lighting or animation.

Is the faculty working with you involved in the animation industry?

We are very proud of the faculty teaching animation at Algonquin. Most have been at least departmental supervisors and some have been directors and producers. Our staff’s collective resumes include television shows and features from studios such as Disney, Warner Bros. Don Bluth, Film Roman, Nelvana, Amberwood, Mercury Filmworks, Cookie Jar to name a few.

What kinds of things do you study in the program?

Our philosophy is that we are, first and foremost, an animation school. Our exercises are based on getting our students to a point where they can do good character animation. Timing, acting, posing and solid drawing are emphasized throughout the program. We have classes in thinking three dimensionally, drama, storyboarding, character animation, life drawing, design, storyboarding, Harmony, digital animation, digital design, lighting, rendering, and computer FX to name a few.

What software do you use?

We use Toonboom’s Harmony, Autodesk’s Alias, Digicel’s Flip Book for linetest software, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Photoshop and Painter.

If a student wants to go into 3D animation why do they have to take traditional hand-drawing first?

When we set up the three year program we asked people at Pixar, ILM and other 3D studios what they wanted to see from a graduate. They said they saw lots of students who knew their way around a software package but few who knew how to apply animation principles and fewer still who could communicate their ideas through drawing. So we developed the first year to be based on traditional animation principles and practices.

What is the portfolio requirement and what are you looking for?

Check out the portfolio requirements section on our website since we do change it from time to time. What we look for in a portfolio is a basic ability to draw but more importantly that the applicant has demonstrated an understanding of what it is they are drawing. This is not the program for someone who likes to doodle little cartoons in their math book. This is for people who are dedicated to learning an art form. This is a hand-cramping, eyes-hurting, brain-numbing draw, draw, drawing course. It has to be to prepare people to be successful in the animation industry

How would a high school student prepare to get into the Algonquin College Animation program?

Draw, draw, and draw. Keep a sketchbook and draw everyday. Draw from life. Study people, objects around the house, trees, plants, animals. How do they stand, move or work? Become an active observer of the things you see. Try to understand them. Be curious. Draw from things you like. Try to figure out what it is about them that makes you like them. Why is the Mona Lisa a revered painting hanging in the Louvre? What’s the difference between that and a velvet Elvis painting? Is there a difference? Can you see the difference?

Have your graduates been successful in the animation industry?

We have many graduates in various positions in studios all over the world. Many graduates came from Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Africa to name a few. Some wanted to stay in North America and found jobs here upon graduation. Others went back to their native countries and are working in animation studios there.