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AnimationMentor vs Academy of Art

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AnimationMentor vs Academy of Art

Hi,
I'm trying to decide between two online programs for animation. I've narrowed it down (based on previous advice) to Animation Mentor (www.animationmentor.com) and the Academy of Art University (http://www.academyart.edu/). They both seem to have pretty cool programs. My whole goal is to come away feeling as though I got my money's worth and a great reel to go with it. Suggestions?
Thanks,
Grant

I graduated from the Academy of Art University, and I'm in my last semester at AnimationMentor.com. From a purely animation stand point, AnimationMentor wins hands down. They have some of the best 3D animators around as your mentors, and they're lectures are amazing. I don't know about AAU's online program, but they have a good all around art program that AM does not have.

Go with AnimationMentor.com, I think you'll be happy.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Great! Thanks for the advice. I'm honestly amazed at how much attention Animation Mentor has received considering how long they've been open, impressive! :)

Great! Thanks for the advice. I'm honestly amazed at how much attention Animation Mentor has received considering how long they've been open, impressive! :)

Well, it's just a great program, plain and simple. Also when you have real working animators from all the main studios mentoring students, those studios are going to sit up and take notice.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

I have a question about Animation Mentor?

I am not sure if anyone could answer this but here it goes.

I am wondering about job placement after the animation mentor program. Is it possible that I could find a job after graduating? I know it will depend on how much effort and dedication I put into the program but on average do most students find jobs or do they continue their education elsewhere. Does the industry feel strongly on average for the students that graduate to be top quality.

:D

Tony

Hi Tony,
I'm in the first graduating class, so AnimationMentor doesn't have any numbers yet on how many students get hired and so forth. Just like any other art/animation school AM can not say for certain that you will get hired. It all depends on your animation abilities. They have a job placement system that they are putting in place for alumni, but just like any school the students have to send their work to those studios. AM won't do it for you.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Hey Ape, I saw the pricing for the course, wow, that is a TON of money. do you feel you got your money's worth from it? Are you planning on switching out of Flash and into 3d permenantly?

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

Hey Ape, I saw the pricing for the course, wow, that is a TON of money. do you feel you got your money's worth from it? Are you planning on switching out of Flash and into 3d permenantly?

Oh HELL YEAH!!!! Best 12 grand I ever spent. Pluss we get an AnimationMentor T-shirt too! :p No, really though, I've learned so much in the past year. Now if I'm appling it to my work...that's a different story. It isn't cheap, but personally I feel it's worth it. I am by no means a master at Maya now, but they don't really teach you the program, they teach you how to animate and to think while you're animating.

If all goes as planned, I'll move over to 3D, hopefully features, and leave my Flash days behind. Maybe if I have free time, I might do some freelance Flash work on the side. ;)

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Oh, and since I'm a professional animator, part of the tuition is a tax write off. Bonus!

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Well, I glad you feel it was worth it. It's impressive that they are having so much success with the tuition being so high. I'll bet you that if they lowered it substantially they would have a ton more people enrolling!

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

Well, I glad you feel it was worth it. It's impressive that they are having so much success with the tuition being so high. I'll bet you that if they lowered it substantially they would have a ton more people enrolling!

Well I just checked my old school's, Academy of Art University, tution. It's 600 bucks per unit, and three units per class. So, that $1800 a class, and thats not including class, registration and other fees. Pluss seeing as how I learned more about animation in the first 12 weeks at AnimationMentor than all four years at AAU, I think I got a bargan. Of course It could be that I already learned the info at AAU and everything just clicked better at AM. Whos to say. But I think their pricing is close to other high end art schools'.

Also I'm not sure if they want to have tons more students. They already have around 40 to 50 mentors working at AM now. I don't really know if they'd be able to find 40 more if the school were to double the students.

Are you thinking about AM Blue?

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Are you thinking about AM Blue?

No I don't have any interest in taking the course myself, I'm just interested in what they are charging, because I am on a sort of fact finding mission right now for future developments for our website!
;)

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com