Online animation school AnimationMentor.com celebrated its third commencement Saturday, Jan. 12, in San Francisco. Pixar Animation Studios filmmaker Pete Docter (MONSTERS, INC.), joined onstage by animators from ILM, Pixar Animation Studios and DreamWorks/PDI, all of whom teach at the school, delivered the inspirational commencement address. The graduating class included students from 20 countries and an equal number of states.
Speaking from the heart, Docter urged the graduates, "to be open to whatever life throws at you," and that "whatever you do, make it your own." Docter expressed his belief that an animator's job was to "find a truth in the world that no one else has found and bring it to the screen." He also emphasized the importance of story, because "without a good story, you've got nothing."
Animation Mentor's nontraditional graduation ceremony included an award ceremony that honored the Best Forum Ninja, Biggest Personality in a Live Q&A (real-time, online class), Best Dialogue Acting and more. Graduates earned a Certified Diploma in Advanced Studies in Character Animation from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. More than 80% of the school's first four classes have landed studio positions.
