Kerry Shea, head of digital production at Henson Studios notes, “I think the online mentorship is a very progressive idea and I am impressed with the wealth of excellent talent contributing to the success of the program.” She hesitates though, “But for anyone truly interested in really succeeding in character animation, not just landing a job, I don’t think that online mentorship should completely replace traditional academic study.” Shea continues, “But what Animation Mentor will provide is real world career guidance from working industry professionals.”

Statements like this don’t shake them though. AnimationMentor.com makes no false pretenses about who they are. “We don’t claim to be a full fledged art school. We specialize in character animation,” says Kelly. The school is accredited for certification in post-secondary and vocation education and they understand that sometimes traditional study is not a realistic option for many students. They have found a way to include everyone that has the passion and desire to learn, no matter their background or location. “We focus on the art rather than the technology and do incorporate drawing elements and require thumbnails and sketching as a necessary part of the curriculum,” says Beck. “Students are encouraged to pursue life drawing classes and utilize other resources on their own outside of the classroom.”

After just a year, the future still seems bright for AnimationMentor.com. Partnerships are a big part of the next phase of their business plan. They are pursuing relationships with organizations like AnimationRigs.com, in order to try to incorporate those with an interest in alternate specialties. Clearly, keeping up with the demand of the ever-growing student body is a major focus as well as finding ways to include those already in the industry trying to make the transition from 2D to 3D. Upgrades will need to be made as technology improves and the students’ demands fluctuate. “I’m excited to see Version 3.0,” says Roy.

Certainly, the anticipation of what the first graduating class will produce is growing. “I can’t wait to see what these students will accomplish,” says Beck. The triumvirate of Beck, Kelly and Baena still fervently believe in the mantra posted on their site: “the three p’s: practice, perseverance and personality.”

Passion seems to be what it is all about and these guys simply love to animate. “We just wanted to create an opportunity to help other people like ourselves with that same passion,” says Beck. So, for those who always dreamed of a career as a character animator but never thought it even a remote possibility, come prepared with the p’s plus a whole lot of passion to AnimationMentor.com and perhaps this dream can become a reality.

Marisa Materna has worked in the entertainment and non-profit industries as a special events coordinator and recruiter and is a freelance writer for online publications and a variety of educational materials. Marisa is based in Los Angeles.