Search form

Accepted into VFS 2D Animation... advice please?

11 posts / 0 new
Last post
Accepted into VFS 2D Animation... advice please?

Hi all. :) I was recently accepted into Vancouver Film School's 2D Animation program, and was hoping you all might have some comments about the school/program? I've read whatever I could find about the school here, but haven't found too much about their 2D program. And unless I'm using the Search wrong, "VFS" is 1 too few characters to search on.

As for my background, I just finished a BFA in graphic design this past May. I'd been looking into doing an MFA program in animation/illustration, but I really want to get right to the point and learn as much as I can. I've heard overall good things about VFS and thought their 2D program was probably the best way for me to get a basic understanding of traditional animation in a short (but not too short) amount of time and then possibly move on to 3D (not necessarily at VFS), or stick with 2D if that's where I feel at home. I also reasoned that a year dedicated to drawing, character design, storyboarding, etc. couldn't be a waste (with the required hard work of course). Am I wrong? :confused:

I was also accepted into Pratt's graduate computer art program, but haven't really seen too much out of there that gives me the impression it's a good program for animation. Also, at $900 a credit and the cost of living in NY, I'm a bit apprehensive... :eek: I'm not too concerned about earning a master's degree at this point and feel that thesis research and whatnot may not be best for me right now.

Anyways, I'd really appreciate any comments/advice you all may have. I already know self study is not what I want to do and I'd like to know as much as I can before I start this heartbreaking process of going into debt.

Here's the admissions portfolio I submitted to VFS, to give you a better idea of myself. Would love to hear what y'all think of that too. :o

Well, VFS's program is pretty good--expensive, but pretty good.

I know...........I used to teach there. LOL

The program's strengths are the instructors--always keep that in mind.

Joe Gilland is top drawer talent in anyone's book--his resume' speaks for itself.
Other instructors: Moose, ( yes, that's what he prefers to be called), Gideon or Adam in Life drawing, I believe Nurnanee is doing character design Birdgitta might still be doing background design.......all these folks are serious talent and committed, passionate instructors. Get to know them well.
The course is short but by reasonable standards so, as a matter of course, its harder because processing time for the info you recieve is shorter.

The tendency of students is to compartmentalize all their instruction, so life drawing doesn't mean anything to character design. This is the wrong approach, but its part and parcel of a abbreviated course.
Now, that all said, if you give 110% you will get back value for that effort.
Think about how you want to use your talent after you graduate--this is a question that stumps most people.........because they have no parameters to gauge it. Look at what your strengths are, and where your interests lie--and put aside the ego for the time being. Discipline and focus go farther than hot-sh*t talent--and I and all the other instructors have seen very talented students drum out because they lacked discipline and focus.
We've also seen mediocre talent blossom remarkably and become worthy peers in the industry-so there's only what you bring to this.
Ask the instructors questions, think on your feet--read and snoop out as much as humanly possible about the animation biz--there are good book stores in Vancouver for sources.
The earliest months are the hardest, because much of the info is often familliar. This is the time to really throw yourself into it.
Things like challenging your sense of design and style with established styles like, say, Warner Bros or Disney is often a smart thing to do--because its a common ground with what the instructors have experience in and they can help you better with.
The program is geared more towards a commerical animation medium than a fine arts animation one, but films from both mindsets have emerged from the prgram successfully.

Even know, start the thinking process for your final film--keeping in mind it'll need to be UNDER about 90 seconds. There's good reasons for this, as you will see.
The campus in in a good spot, it used to be in a horrible location, but its now moved to a very nice spot only about 4 minutes walk to the beach.
The admin staff are pretty good, .........last time I remember...........Anne Denman-Wilde and Deiter Muller are too of the program heads alongside Joe Gilland, and they are salt of the Earth-they'll treat ya fairly.

I MIGHT.........MIGHT be haunting the full-time program myself again in the coming future months.........I'm gearing up to do some night-time part-time classes again, so my path will seldom cross with the daytime full-time program--for now.

Good luck--

-Ken

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm feeling a lot less afraid, and much more excited now. :) Hope you don't mind if I inquire a bit further...

I'm just now finding out about Capilano College's commercial animation program. It's much more affordable, and the student work I've seen looks great, especially the life drawing. I also like that it's strongly based on life drawing and it spans 2 years instead of one. I wonder if it's worth waiting until Sept. 2005 to try and get in, or if I'm better off sticking with VFS for now (which I'd be starting Jan. 2005).

I guess I'm wondering what the education at Capilano is like compared to VFS. I was thinking maybe I would go to VFS and afterwards apply for advanced standing at Capilano to hopefully get into the second year, but I wonder if it's really worth it... :confused:

Anyways, thanks again for responding, it was truely helpful. :)

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm feeling a lot less afraid, and much more excited now. :) Hope you don't mind if I inquire a bit further...

I'm just now finding out about Capilano College's commercial animation program. It's much more affordable, and the student work I've seen looks great, especially the life drawing. I also like that it's strongly based on life drawing and it spans 2 years instead of one. I wonder if it's worth waiting until Sept. 2005 to try and get in, or if I'm better off sticking with VFS for now (which I'd be starting Jan. 2005).

I guess I'm wondering what the education at Capilano is like compared to VFS. I was thinking maybe I would go to VFS and afterwards apply for advanced standing at Capilano to hopefully get into the second year, but I wonder if it's really worth it... :confused:

Anyways, thanks again for responding, it was truely helpful. :)

Both are comparable. I just recently taught at Cap College and have been exposed to their program. They too have excellent staff and facilities, and are worth doing either or both wouldn't hurt.

--Ken

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

Capilano College Commercial Animation in North Vancouver

Hi Shai (and Ken),
I'm glad you heard about Capilano College as we have a small advertising budget and instead, depend on animation studio referrals the reputation of our graduates and word-of-mouth for our intake. It seems to produce good results as we have always had strong graduating classes (see for yourself at www.gradshow.com).

The main difference between Capilano and VFS, VanArts, and the AI schools is that we are publicly funded and not for profit. If you are a Canadian resident, your tuition is about $3,000 per year compared with anywhere from 9K to 20K elsewhere. The tuition is low because first, we don't generate a profit from tuition and second, the costs to Canadian residents taking the Commercial Animation program are subsidized by taxpayers.

I agree with Ken that the quality of instructors is one of the most important factors in animation training although the main factor in student success is the student. We look for students who know what they want, are ready to work for it and understand that drawing ability is an important skill for success. We have part time courses to help and future-applicants can attend the student-managed Life Drawing Club sessions which occur three times per week at our campus.

Another difference is that Capilano College has a co-op component in the Commercial Animation program where we regularly place students in local studios including, Bardel, Studio B, Atomic and a.k.a.

Some would say that 10 months is too short to get a student to the level where she can compete in the industry and in fact other schools are actually increasing their program lengths: Algonquin College in Ottawa just went to three years and Sheridan dropped their highly regarded three year diploma program for a four year "applied" degree program.

I think as long as the incoming students have very strong drawing skills and are willing to work hard, two years is adequate. Even our first year students realize the need for further training and return to complete their second year even when they find jobs in the industry after first year.

Commercial Animation graduates also gain automatic acceptance into the post-diploma program, Digital Animation (their gallery of student work is also on the www.gradshow.com site) which is usually tough to get into as it only accepts about 20 students per year. The costs of that program are also subsidized, making it much more affordable than other schools. Graduates from Digital Animation have found work at Electronic Arts, Maineframe, Black Box, Relic and Radical Entertainment.

The bottom line is that it's best to research the schools and talk with people who have attended and who are working in the industry. Also try to get the advice from the studios you eventually want to work for and see where they get their people from.

When you apply, you should apply to as many schools as you can. This used to be easier, but now many schools have high, non-refundable application fees and even "portfolio review" fees. I can't see charging people to look at their work and give feedback. Could you imagine an animation studio doing that? Capilano's domestic application fee is $25 ($100 for international students).

Capilano also only charges semester by semester so if you drop out after the first term you don't owe the school any more money. Some schools make you "buy" the whole program up front.

Capilano accepts students for transfer directly into second year, although in the past it has been from schools with similar curriculum and it's hard to do. We have accepted people from Sheridan, Emily Carr and Algonquin but in most cases these were people who completed 2 or more years at their first school. One Sheridan student accepted into 2nd year at Capilano Commercial Animation program actually asked to be moved down to first year after seeing the level the students were at.

Hope my information helps. You can email me directly if you have any other questions about the school or if you want some (free) advice on the portfolio you uploaded a couple postings back. :D

Don Perro
Program Coordinator/Instructor
Commercial Animation

Listen to the man.

Don Perro is a helluva teacher. He taught me many moons ago as well, when i was a snot-nosed little punk (he was my first year teacher at Algonquin College). From what I know, the Capilano program is very strong, and if you have a look at the link that Don posted a couple times ;), it shows just how strong the grads actually are. I know if I were considering studying animation again (God help me), and trying to find a school in Vancouver, Capilano would be at the TOP of my list.

Cheers

Wade

"Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard" - Paul Simon

thanks :)

Thanks for your replies you all. :) Decisions, decisions! Now I'd really like to wait until fall 2005 to start school again, because maybe I'll have a shot at getting into Capilano's program, but I also see how competitive it is, especially with me being an international student (I'm from the US). I've never really had a serious critique of my work, so I'm not sure what "level" I'm at, but it seems to me I have a ways to go.

Aside from the expense, would it be insane for me to think of VFS's program as a step towards the Capilano program? Or would doing both just be redundant and a waste of money?

... this would have been so much easier if I'd just been satisfied with being a graphic designer for the rest of my life, lol. :p

I would think that one or the other would suffice. They are not going to teach you more in either school than the other, and it will not make you any more mployable by doing both. Animation is portfolio based, and it will just take the right deceision on your part as to where you might get a better portfolio together. Really though, neither school will enable you to take over the world any better than the other.

You can eitehr pay a whole lot of coin for VFS and get an education in animation, or you can pay a lesser amount at Capilano... and get an eduction in animation.

Cheers

Wade

"Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard" - Paul Simon

*comes back to earth* Thanks for the reality check, Wade. :)

Does anyone know if any of the animation programs at Capilano College also teach how to make animation for something more design-based? I'm not talking about character or set design. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it's like more to do with 'abstract' motion graphics (rather than with a story, character expressions + movement, etc. which I know for sure is what is taught at Capilano). There is a site here with Quicktime samples of what I'm talking about.
Yeah, the site's part of VFS but well I'm not able to afford that right now, so that's why I'm wondering...

And, if I want to do more things with compositing, like putting different things together seamlessly (like 2D animation and 3D animation or with liveaction or still images/text), that would be more in the 'Special Effects' category, wouldn't it?

I'd just like to take a program which makes me more well-rounded I suppose, where I won't graduate with skills just to work in an animated film but also the 'design-based' thing I was talking about. I'd really like to do both.

Design at Capilano College

Hi, what you're looking for probably isn't in the animation programs which are focused on drawing and personality animation. The Commercial Animation program is one of the best places to learn to draw (better than any fine art program I know of...just look at their online student gallery at www.gradshow.com) but for motion graphics, you might want to look up Capilano's IDEA program or the new Interactive Design program. Look under Programs at http://www.capcollege.bc.ca