Meet the Faculty

Our faculty has varied and extensive experience working in the animation industry, including holding positions as departmental supervisors, directors or producers. Many continue to do freelance work, keeping their own skills sharp and staying current with any changes to the animation industry.

Tom Crook, Program Co-Coordinator/Professor

Tom earned a BA from the University of Western Ontario and he graduated with honours from the Algonquin College Animation Program. Tom has worked over 15 years in the animation industry for a variety of animation studios including Mercury Filmworks, Funbag, Amberwood, Atomic and Dynomight Cartoons among others here in Ottawa. He is an experienced layout supervisor and location designer with credits such as Timothy Tweedle and Franklin’s Magic Christmas and as a layout artist on TV series’ such as Undergrads, Redwall, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Recue Heroes, Anne of Green Gables, Franklin, Robo Roach and many others including the feature film Heavy Metal 2000. Tom has also designed locations for several TV series, commercials, Christmas specials and has been a layout and posing supervisor for Dynomight Cartoons.

Tom has been a full-time professor in the Animation program for over 12 years and a coordinator for approx. 9 years.

Neil Hunter, Program Co-Coordinator/Professor

After graduating in 1984, Neil worked on several commercials and as a senior animator on the Gemini Award-winning series The Raccoons where he also started working as a Storyboard Artist. He contributed to various television series such as Beetlejuice, The Undergrads, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men Evolution, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas to name a few. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation for his contribution to Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? in both 1995 and 1996.

Neil co-wrote and directed Little Bear and the Legend of the Stars. As Story Editor,
Creative Producer and Director on Hoze Hounds and oversaw the development and
production as Head Creative Director on Zeroman and several animated projects.
Today, Neil remains involved in the industry by doing freelance work on Emmy Award
winning shows such as Hilda, The Loud House and the Wonderful World of Mickey
Mouse.

In his role as full-time professor and Co-coordinator, Neil was instrumental in having the
Animation program become the first Canadian Toon Boom Centre of Excellence and
trained instructors and developed courses for affiliate organizations in India and Africa.

Paul West, Program Co-Coordinator/Professor

Paul West has been involved in the animation industry for over 30 years. He has worked on many feature film productions for major studios including Disney, Warner Brothers and Don Bluth. These films have included The Goofy Movie, Space Jam, Thumbelina and most recently Space Jam 2 . Paul has also worked on other feature films such as Ferngully: The LastRain Forest and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2. Some of Paul’s television credits include the award winning and locally produced Raccoons as well as Pink Panther, Fish Police, Monster Force, Flash Gordon, Ned’s Newt and Jacob Two Two. Paul has recently completed work at Mercury Filmworks Studio in Ottawa on the ever popular Disney show Jimmy Two Shoes and Emmy Award winning show Hilda. Paul has worked in the industry as a inbetweener, a key cleanup artist, an animator, a character designer, storyboard revision artist and as a posing and animation supervisor. Paul has been a full time professor at the college for 26 years. He was responsible for writing the curriculum for the 3 year advanced diploma program as well as writing curriculum for the college’s international partners in India, South Africa and China. In 1998 Paul won the Students’ Association with Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2005 Paul was nominated and was a finalist for the Capital Educators Award. Having been trained in classical animation and self-taught in digital 2D animation Paul brings a wide range of experience to the program.

Jeff Amey, Professor

Jeff’s experience in the animation industry dates back to 1998 after graduating with honours and receiving an advanced diploma in animation from Sheridan College. After years of freelancing he decided to root himself in Ottawa and has worked for many various animation studios in North America. Jeff’s experience as a freelance artist had him working on various animated shows in many different capacities such as a traditional animator, posing supervisor, story supervisor, assistant director, writer, overseas animation supervisor and story artist. Some of his credits include shows such as Anthony Ant, Watership Down, The Oblongs, Jimmy Two Shoes, The Undergrads, Bubble Guppies, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Kingdom Force, Ripping Friends, My Little Pony, King, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood, Bob the Builder, For Better or For Worse, Ren and Stimpy and many more. Jeff brings over 16 years of part time teaching experience to the Animation program and recently came on board as a full-time professor in 2019. Since then he has also had the privilege of being a project lead in the development of the Drawing Foundations for Animation and Illustration program. Jeff continues to balance his teaching and animation career in order to remain involved and current in the animation field.

Keith Archibald, Professor

Keith has over 23 years of experience in the animation industry. Taking on the roles of senior animator, animation director, supervisor and designer on shows from Warner Brothers, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Nelvana, Cartoon Network, Teletoon, etc. He has been credited with working on top animated productions such as Final Space, DC Super Hero Girls, The Loud House, Tom and Jerry, Pirate’s Passage, Gerald McBoing Boing and many more. Keith has taught various courses within the Algonquin Animation program over the past 20 years such as Animation Drawing, Character Animation, 2D Digital Animation, Life Drawing and Character Design. He also helps out at the local animation studios by teaching professional animators and enabling them to advance or refresh their skills. During the summer, Keith is always doing his best to stay current with the latest animation software as well as keeping his skills sharp by animating on various productions.

Stephen Young, Professor

Stephen has over 24 years of experience as a digital artist in the video game and animation industry. He has been involved in almost every aspect of the CGI production pipeline, from creating concept art to 3D modeling, 3D animation, VFX, and compositing. He has worked with companies such as Atari, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Sony Pictures Interactive, Disney Interactive Studios, and Lucas Arts.

Stephen is an alumnus of the Algonquin college animation program and recently obtained a Master’s degree in 3D Animation from Buckinghamshire New University. He has shared his knowledge and passion for digital art and Animation with learners in a post-secondary environment for over 20 years.