The A.A.I.
One of the most popular services the M.P.S.C. provides is the American Animation Institute. It was formed in 1980 to further the retraining of our members and to provide a low cost way new talent could get animation training. All of the A.A.I.'s teachers are current working professionals who drive to the classroom directly from their studios. Past lecturers include Milt Kahl, Art Babbitt and Cliff Nordberg. The renowned drawing teachers Glenn Vilppu and Karl Gnass conduct workshops at A.A.I. as well. The classes cost in the range of $80-$100.

The A.A.I. offers classes in character animation, inbetweening and cleanup, life drawing, background and figure painting, storyboarding and character design. Most classes are at night but some weekend workshops exist as well. You don't have to pay for a full semester of classes like a degree program; you pay on a class by class basis. The A.A.I. is considered adult education and is a non-accredited school. Classes begin with a three week required seminar called "Introduction to the Industry."

There are two enrollment periods, one in the spring and one in the fall. Sometimes there is a waiting list to enroll and a class could close out before you have a chance to apply. When the A.A.I. was started the total student enrollment was around 40. With the current boom in animation 750 students enrolling with dozens more being turned away or put on a waiting list is not uncommon. The union office staff is small and they must cover union issues as well as A.A.I., so please be patient.

To reach the union office with questions or if you wish an A.A.I. catalog mailed to you call (818)-766-7151. The A.A.I. reservations only number is (818)766-7746. The M.P.S.C. 839 is located at 4729 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91602-1864. The fax number is 818-506-4805.

Our Satyagraha
Finally what does this have to do with the love of cartoons? Nothing and everything. In a perfect world there would be no need for unions because everyone would get their fair share. The last time I looked, this wasn't yet a perfect world. Isn't talent enough? History has proven it isn't. Most businessmen who invest in animation love the medium as much as the artists do. However, the M.P.S.C. was created to guard against those who are just seeking a quick buck or stepping up on the necks of others; those who consider animators just `wrists' and naive children. That is our Satyagraha.

The Irish patriot John Curran said in 1815, "It is the common fate of the Indolent to see their rights become prey to the Active. The condition upon which God hath given us Liberty is eternal Vigilance." That quote was not given to me by my college professor but by the late Bill Scott, animation writer, director and voice of Bullwinkle the Moose, who was also a passionate union activist.

At the National Cartoonists Society annual meeting, we were addressed by Joanne Schuster, the widow of Superman co-creator Joe Schuster and the model for Lois Lane. Siegel and Schuster were the two 19 year-olds who sold away their creation, Superman, for $130 and never saw any of the tens of millions of dollars profit their creation made. In 1978, blind and indolent, they received pensions only after public protests by united cartoonists. Mrs. Schuster told us, "All artists should stick together because only then only then do you have real power!"

Let the love of animation guide our hearts but not cloud our minds to the realities of modern business.

Tom Sito is a 20-year animation veteran and teacher who's credits include He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Prince of Egypt and Paulie. He was elected president of the animator's union M.P.S.C. 839 in 1992 and has served in that capacity ever since.