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Is one year of study enough?

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Is one year of study enough?

Hello,

I'm thinking of going back to school this fall and the one school I was looking into is New Media Campus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan which is 10 months long. I'm just wondering if a year long animation course is enough or should I look at a multiple year program? Five years ago I took a year long Multimedia course in Winnipeg but it felt like we were rushed and we only spent about a month on 3D Studio Max.

Thanks in advance

"So in terms of statistics, how many grads are working in animation, not in other fields either! " - Krankler

Krakler,
I just graduated in the summer, and everyone of my fellow classmates is working
in the animation industry in the varying jobs of storyboard artists, layout artists, key animators, inbetweeners, and even stop-motion animators.

I highly recommend Redhouse!!!!!!

Not only are James Clow and Gord Groat amazing teachers they also have Tetyana Gershuni, who is an unbelievable life drawing instructor.

I was in the same boat man, and I have to say if you're gonna pick one go to Heinze, they have all your base skills covered before you even touch a computer, which you need. If you're going to learn the fundamentals of game animation, 3D modelling, whatever, you need to know anatomy, shapes etc. It's the same price per year, and it's a two year course. I'm personally going to Capilano college in BC because I prefer traditional, but I checked out Heinze, New Media, and Redhouse, and Heinze definitely is what you'll need for all that 3D jazz, if you need to be in the city. That's of course if you're looking at it as a serious career choice. This is just my opinion after all though ^_^

Thanks for the advice. I've sent Heinze an email asking for more information.

Thanks for the advice, definitely thinking about it seriously now with the other thread started too, and as a sidenote, it's krakler, not krankler :D you cracked me up with that one though!

i'm being taught by two professors from ringling (one former student, one former professor) and they tell us it takes a minimum of three years for even a genius to become a professional level animator/3d designer. i've had friends that took classes at gnomon and the like who said they wished they hadn't paid as much for so little. just throwing it out there. one of the things i like about my school (CSUN) is there are only a few students in each class, so we get really good feedback from the teachers. and it really helps.

good luck to you.

--Ray, the next time someone asks you if you're a god, you say 'yes!'

Inferno,

I think what you need to do is set up appointments at the schools your are interested in attending. You have to ask some key questions and then base your decision on the answers to these questions. Questions might include,

1. How long have the instructors been in the industry. What projects and companies have they worked at before becoming an instructor at the school. What are their qualifications.

2. Ask to see last year's student's portfolio's. Say what you will about the different length of the courses the work speaks for itself.

3. If there is a website for the school get it. Check out the gallery of past students work and compare it. These are the urls for three schools in Saskatoon.

http://www.redhousecollege.com/
http://www.heinze.ca/ (no longer in operation)
http://www.newmediacampus.com/gallery.htm

4. Ask to be given the contact information for past students. Talk to them if you can and ask them about there experiences.

5. Sign up for any monthly newsletter's that are coming out of the schools you are interested in. This is a great way to keep up with what is going on at each school.

With answer's to the questions above you can probably get a good handle on where is most appropriate for you.

P.S. As of May 2005 the Heinze Institute was purchased by New Media Campus so I wanted to edit my post to take them out as a possible option in Saskatoon, Sask. That way nobody is going to click on the link above and wonder why it is broken.

Himbo

It's the same price per year, and it's a two year course. I'm personally going to Capilano college in BC because I prefer traditional, but I checked out Heinze, New Media, and Redhouse

Hi Krakler, there are a few inaccuracies in your post, regarding Redhouse. In all fairness, I thought I should address them.

Tuition at Redhouse is $2,000.00 per year less than the other schools mentioned, and we're the only school in the province that offers traditional animation, taught by industry professionals.

In addition, we're the only school where students have consistently found work in the animation industry... In BC (Studio B, Bardel, etc.), Halifax, and Saskatchewan (I received news over the holidays from one of our past students that he'll be working on a Disney project in the new year). Be sure to ask schools, when enquiring about employment statistics, how many of their working graduates, are working in the animation industry... and not some other profession. There are schools that consider any employment, employment.

In terms of our computer animation course we'll be introducing next year. We believe a person should first learn the principles of animation, and the art of animated film making, prior to learning software. And we're the only school in the province presently offering those skills.

We encourage people to come to the school and speak with us, and our students. We feel that's the best way for people to get a clear understanding of who we are, and what we have to offer (unfortunately as an anonymous poster, I don't know whether you've visited, or not).

-Gord

Oh no offence Gord, I agree completely with you, but like I said, it's just my opinion, not based on any hard fact, and I'm not even a student, so it's not like my opinion even deserves any merit for anything haha. But I was speaking in terms of 3D animation. If traditional were the way to go in saskatoon, Redhouse is champion far and wide, but as far as I had known, Redhouse also offered no 3D modelling, but that's actually really good news, I know of the success of your graduates, I hear you're churning out demo reels that rival Ringling and Sheridan, and I have gone on a tour myself, I am very impressed. In fact, if you can prove that I'm not going to be losing any skill development in staying here and going to Redhouse I might even take you up on that offer myself. It sure is the best route expensewise, that's for sure!

So in terms of statistics, how many grads are working in animation, not in other fields either! :)

If an one year animation course made you feel rushed what makes you think a ten month course is going to be any better?

I really don't know anything about the courses you are thinking of taking or your current skill level but if you are starting fresh or close to it; I don't think a ten month program is going to be enough. If you are taking it as a refresher course then it could be just right.

Remember that in the long run you are competing for jobs along with people that have gone through multi year programs not to mention the many people out there with job experience. So when an employer sees your skill/experience level next the the others who do you think he would be more likely to hire.

In animation like any other art like painting or playing music (just to name a few)you need to have the time to learn and grow and most of all make mistakes and then learn from them.

If this is something you want to make a career out of I wouldn't be looking for the quick fix.

ed

Department of Computer Animation
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota Florida

It really isn't a quick-fix kind of field, from what I can tell. Generally the person that wants to do something like this isn't the same person that rushes.

I'm writing because a thought popped into my head reading Lord and Master Gavin's post. My sister used to be a huge American Idol fan , and she always insisted I should try out, despite the fact that I have ZERO singing talents. Because of that, I thought it was a joke. Then one day she handed me audition dates, and since I was going along with it, I gave her my philosophy.

Like it or not, the people that won those contests generally were both very fortunate (to be chosen along the way and have chances taken on them by producers, etc.) and also among the most talented from the groups that competed in those years. So when the next seasons roll around, why are miserably lousy singers the first in line? If I could not compare myself to the talents that have won in years past, what's the sense in competing?

On the best day of my singing life I might get past whatever first level they have on those shows. The way I'm tying this in is don't do whatever feels rushed, or inadequate, because you're likely feeling that for a reason. Even if it is a good course and you yourself don't feel done, yours is the only opinion that should matter to you and you should learn and practice until you feel like a human missle of an animator, because the reality is that jobs require competing, and for every half-arsed no-show there are 3 guys who are more skilled than you and have been around the block enough to be better prepared for getting said work. Aim to beat them, and if this 10mo/1yr course is all you're doing and you think it's not enough, time to move onto the next phase of your development!

I'm writing because a thought popped into my head reading Mr. Gavin's post.

Mr Gavin? What is that about? No one calls me Mr. Gavin.

If you are going to give me a title how about Lord and Master Gavin?

simply,

ed

Department of Computer Animation
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota Florida

Thanks for the replies. As far as my skills go this is how I would break it down:

- I'd have to say my Photoshop skills are pretty high. I've been using Photoshop since completing my last course on a regular basis seeing as right now I do Web Design. I've also used to to edit skins for the EASPORTS NHL series.

- I've played with 3D Studio Max on and off but have never got as far as making a full model. I always end up screwing something up with the model I do and then trashing it.

- I used to draw alot when I was a kid but unfortunately as I got older(and finally got a computer) I did less drawing on paper and more graphic design on the computer.

The art industry I want to get into is the gaming industry whether it be 3D Animation or just a texture modeler. New Media Campus has 3D Animation and Game Design course which is why I was insterested in it. This is the course outline:

http://www.newmediacampus.com/3d_curric.htm

I would be getting funded to go to school this time but I dont want to do the same thing I did five years ago and pick a school that didnt teach me enough(though the school I did go to taught me alot of things like Photoshop but not enough about 3D Animation). That's why I'm now starting to question it with it being only one year.

I hope you have a better time getting around that beautiful building than I did at their site.

Anyway, to the point, there's a community college down the street from me that's 59.50 (226 I think for out of state) per credit that offers a lot of similar courses to this 12000 dollar school. I'm not saying they're the same quality, but just make sure you're not getting shafted.

More to the point, a lack of concentrated fine art skills would be a handicap of sorts the closer you tried to get to an animation job, even if it's 3D and even if it's video games. Since you seem to appreciate a good look for something, and its intuitive design and color theory characteristics, I'd bank on my specialty and doing modeling/texturing.

Mr Gavin? What is that about? No one calls me Mr. Gavin.

If you are going to give me a title how about Lord and Master Gavin?

simply,

ed

I'd like to call you Professor Gavin *wink nudge* but even there the two colleges I've been to so far had different rules on titles, to the point where students would get thrown out of class temporarily if they chose the wrong one trying to be polite.

As of last year's catalog you weren't listed as having a doctorate, so Lord and Master it is.

Right before I left the amazing and talented Mr. Ed "animation" Gavin came out to say hi to me and my wife...

If this doesn't stop, you may soon have more titles than names. =)

So in terms of statistics, how many grads are working in animation, not in other fields either! :)

Good question. :)

In 2004 we had 100% of our past students get jobs in the animation field. Of course that doesn't happen every year. This year a local company secured a large animation contract, and hired the majority of them. The rest were hired to work on a stop motion project.

Like any institution, we can't guarantee employment. What we can do, is provide students with the knowledge and resources that are relevant to industry demands. The rest is really a matter of self determination (and a bit of networking).

-Gord

In fact, if you can prove that I'm not going to be losing any skill development in staying here and going to Redhouse I might even take you up on that offer myself. It sure is the best route expensewise, that's for sure!

To answer your question ....

I know of the success of your graduates, I hear you're churning out demo reels that rival Ringling and Sheridan, and I have gone on a tour myself, I am very impressed.

We can provide the resources, can you prove you have the determination and focus to take advantage of them. ;)

-Gord

How about...

"Sir Ed"
"Sire Gavin"
"The big Ed"
"The Chosen Gavin"
"The Supreme Being also known as Ed Gavin"
"The artist fomerly known as Ed Gavin"
"Ed the Conquerer"
"The Gavinator"
"Ed the magnificent all of our hopes and dreams rest in your hands Gavin"
"Kermit the Ed"
"Darth Gavin"
"Emperorer Ed"
"He who's name we are not worthy to speak"
"Professor Ed Gavin of the Ringling School of Art and Design Computer Animtion Program."

(Hey I'm just following Scatters lead.. wink wink nudge nudge;) )
"

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

As of last year's catalog you weren't listed as having a doctorate...

That wasn't me. Actually I'm just started a Masters program but I won't see that degree for years. In CA we are pretty casual and everyone calls everyone by their first name. When I hear "Mr. Gavin" I know it's going to be followed by an excuse and a line of bullsh*t.

ed

Department of Computer Animation
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota Florida

(and for what it's worth I was born just north of San Fran).

That's pretty bad. You meant Computer Animation. I was gonna say, I never saw the slightest indication you were from California.

I'd bank on my specialty and doing modeling/texturing.

Are there schools that just specialize in only modeling?

Incidentally, excuses and bullsh**? For all the reputation and the screening process to get into RSAD, plus non-traditional folk and the cost, it surprises me there are still people who would go through all that trouble and wind up continuing to play games. Unless it's recent high school grads. Doesn't make it appropriate, but it makes sense.

By the way, in case I've not yet formally introduced myself on here, my first name's Vincent (and for what it's worth I was born just north of San Fran).

Pleased to meet you Vincent.

And yes I'm always amazed on how some students are willing to p*ss away a very good and expensive education and the opportunity to really kick start their career. But they are greatly out numbered by the ones who are giving a 110% and still want more.

ed

Department of Computer Animation
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota Florida