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Animation Mentor Launches New AMP Studio Production Pipeline and VFX Curriculum

Animation Mentor rolls out a fully distributed studio production pipeline that integrates new VFX coursework and restructured animation program.

Emeryville, CA – Animation Mentor, the state-of-the-art online school of animation and VFX, announces the AMP™ studio production pipeline — the first-of-its-kind, fully distributed production pipeline — and the addition of a VFX curriculum and restructured Animation Program. These offerings teach the exact skill set that studios seek: The ability to professionally collaborate and apply studio best practice workflows within a studio production pipeline and across multiple disciplines.

The AMP Studio Production Pipeline and the Studio Learning Platform

Animation Mentor was the first to bring animation education online. Today, the school brings the first fully distributed production pipeline within a studio school setting online. Starting with the Spring 2013 term, Animation Mentor students will train on a professional production pipeline similar to those used by studios worldwide. At the heart of this new instructional design is the state-of-the-art, patent-pending AMP studio production pipeline.

The AMP pipeline is a professional-grade distributed asset and shot management tool that allows students to collaborate with other Animation Mentor students around the globe to produce finished films and sequences under the direction of their mentor. The education takes place on the school’s Studio Learning Platform — a series of proprietary tools that work together to provide students with the real experience of working on a studio production.

Animation Fundamentals and Production Tracks

Students enroll in Animation Fundamentals, a series of four classes that introduces them to the basics of production animation. Once completed, students can then continue their education and enroll in two new advanced disciplines — the Character Animation Production Track and the Animal and Creature Animation Production Track — to develop the professional-level production experience that prepares them to excel in the industry workforce.

VFX Fundamentals and Production Tracks

VFX Fundamentals — comprised of three classes and developed with major studio partners to meet industry production needs — are designed to teach production CG, look development, lighting, and compositing basics. The new offerings begin with the Summer 2013 term, with CG- and VFX-specific production tracks available in 2014.

Industry Partners

Industry professional lighters and compositors from major studios and production houses — including Pixar Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Weta Digital, and Industrial Light & Magic — have worked closely with Animation Mentor on the VFX curriculum. Animation Mentor has also partnered with leading software developers (Autodesk, Inc., The Foundry, and Solid Angle), character riggers (CG Monks), and VFX media partners (fxphd).

Lower Tuition, Shorter Program Length, and Additional Learning Tools 

Animation Mentor offers reduced pricing and shorter program lengths (formerly six classes, now four) to provide students with better access and options. The school further offers new intermediate characters starting in the Spring 2013 term, a new advanced character in the Fall 2013 term, a simplified grading system, new loan options, and monthly payment plans.

About Animation Mentor

Animation Mentor is an online school focused on animation and VFX classes taught by industry professionals within the first fully distributed production pipeline of a studio school. The programs and curriculum teach the exact skill set that film, animation, and visual effects studios seek — the ability to professionally collaborate and apply studio best practice workflows within a studio production pipeline and across multiple disciplines — and do so in a customized, affordable, and quick fashion. Students work collaboratively on an online production and leverage the full capability of the state-of-the-art, patent-pending AMP studio production pipeline. For more information, please contact Micha Hershman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at 510‑450‑7220 or pr@animationmentor.com, or visit www.animationmentor.com.

Source: Animation Mentor

Dan Sarto's picture

Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.