“Max The Mutt has always been a top recruitment destination and continues to solidify its place among the premier animation colleges in the world.”
A quote from Tahir Rana, Director of “Welcome To The Wayne”. This was the first TV Series based on a digital series produced for Nickelodeon by Toronto’s Yowza Animation.
Director Tahir Rana Speaks to Animation and Concept Art students at max the Mutt!
Tahir recently visited Max the Mutt to speak to Animation and Concept Art students, and generously followed his presentation with one-on-one portfolio reviews! He stayed much longer than intended and was very happy with the work he saw:
“I am honoured to offer my endorsement to your wonderful school. This week I plan on getting in touch with some of the students I met and discussing possible employment as they close in on graduation day. Max The Mutt: finally, an animation school that gets it! With a faculty comprised of leading industry professionals, Max delivers with a top tier curriculum that provides students with all of the tools they need to equip themselves for long term success in the fields of animation and design. Max The Mutt has always been a top recruitment destination and continues to solidify its place among the premier animation colleges in the world.”
Waiting for portfolio reviews with Tahir Rana who was generous with his time
Thanks so much, Tahir! We were honoured by your visit as well as your passion for animation. You are an inspiration.
Max the Mutt stresses small class size, in depth curriculum and instructors who are working professionals.
For more information about Max the Mutt Book a Tour !
Email us at admissions@maxthemutt.com….
or call us at 416-703-6877, 1-877-486-MUTT toll free in North America.
A New Certificate Program for Traditional Fine Art Skills & Portfolio Development !
This program will be presented during July and the first 2 weeks of August, 6 weeks of classes with top professionals, including figurative drawing, perspective, still life drawing, basic design & composition, colour theory and intro painting !
With successful completion of this program, you will have fulfilled the general portfolio requirements for Max the Mutt diploma programs, and you will have portfolio pieces for application to university and college degree and diploma programs that display your comprehension of representational fine art basics.
Classes meet 5 days a week, 3 hours AM and 3 hours PM.
July : 20 Figurative life drawing classes x 3 hours= 60 hours of instruction
10 Perspective classes x 3 hours = 30 hours of instruction
10 Principles of Drawing classes x 3 hours= 30 hours of instruction
August: 1 week : Colour Theory, Design and Composition: 30 hours of instruction (one week, full days)
1 week: Introduction to Representational Painting: 30 hours of instruction (one week, full days)
Total instructed hours: 180 + private reviews Limited class size (15 maximum) guarantees that you will get personal attention.
Tuition: $2700 + HST
Tuition is slightly higher than workshop tuition ($50 additional for each module). The extra tuition covers personal review meetings with each instructor, grading, a final full review of all the student’s best work, assistance in making portfolio choices, and the certificate award ceremony.
To repeat: Successful completion of this Certificate Program fulfills the general portion of the portfolio requirements for application to Max the Mutt Diploma Programs.
This program is offered in conjunction with the July Learn To Draw workshop courses. Learn To Draw workshop classes remain available in modular form….
What’s the difference between “Learn To Draw” and the Certificate Program?
Learn to Draw students can take one module or all modules. They are not graded, are not subject to attendance and late policies, and personal reviews and final portfolio review are not included.
Certificate Program students may have assignments (such as sketchbook drawing), will need to be present and on time for classes , and will have an evaluation meeting with each instructor at the end of each module, as well as a final meeting and review of all the work to create a portfolio .
Students must be at a Pass level for all modules to receive the certificate.
Max the Mutt certificate program classes as well as the workshops, are designed for people who want to develop basic skills either in the hope of applying to colleges or universities for art based programs, or for personal interest. They are the very beginning of developing the traditional skills that will help with application to art based programs, and, once you’re in a program, will help you to succeed!
The slightly higher tuition charged for the Certificate Program reflects extra cost to the school for administration, and one-on-one reviews with instructors.
This program is available to both Canadian and International Students.
Sign up here ! 10% tuition reduction if you are enrolled before before June 1, 2016.
Every year we speak with people who attended other schools and didn’t come out with the skills they needed for employment.
There is a difference between attending a school that has small class size and provides access to individual assistance, and a large school where classes sometimes have 25 to 30 people in a class.
It isn’t easy- YOU have to be fully present and willing to do the hard work ! You need to buy in to our emphasis on professionalism and train yourself to organize your work, meet deadlines, deal professionally with problems, including asking for help when you need it. You need the desire and the grit to stick with it and keep faith in your ability to grow and develop.
People will hire you and keep you on if you have both the skills and the professionalism required by these industries! Max the Mutt is respected by employers, but simply attending Max the Mutt, or any other school- no matter how “famous”- will not make a career for you! That’s your job- with our help.
Our goal is to help you set your imagination free by giving you the artistic and computer savvy that will build your confidence and your portfolio, and marrying that to professionalism: polite behaviour, meeting deadlines, getting to places on time, taking criticism well, following directions. This is a winning recipe for success!
This is why we believe Max the Mutt is your best choice!
Your education:Why Max the Mutt?
We care about every student and give personal attention to every student.
MTM is a school that is entirely devoted to professional training: all courses are relevant to your professional goals.
We emphasize traditional representational fine art skills that are generally not taught in today’s art schools, because we want you to have a foundation that will give you flexibility during your working life,
MTM is staffed by working professionals with a commitment to passing on the skills they value and use daily.
We stress professional commitment and attitude, and treat the school environment as the workplace. We want you to have an easy transition from being a student to entering the work world.
We ensure small class size, enabling the development of professional relationships between faculty and students,
and enabling mentoring and support for all our students.
First year drapery Study by Aurino Neto, the result of basic education in traditional art skills!
First year students learn the processes artists use to create representational art. This drawing is the culmination of a unit on drapery, utilizing all the skills learned from September on, to create the illusion of reality.
That’s what education is supposed to give you!
Tina Seemann, above with students at the Royal Winter Fair, an annual field trip that enables students to draw animals and people interacting, and use what they’ve learned both in figure and animal drawing classes. This reinforces applying the education you’ve received to get real results drawing on site.
We offer the the only in depth education for comics & graphic novels in Canada!
Kent Burles with potential applicant for the ISA program
Who should consider applying?
Ifyou want to make your living either inanimation, conceptart (character, location and prop design) for animation and/or video games, or illustration with a focus on comic books and graphic novels, and you understand and accept the commitment it takes to become an artist, if you truly want an education, this college is for you!
If you have passion about developing your skills, curiosity, the ability and desire to get out of your “comfort zone,” and the grit to stay the course when the going gets rough, this school will be a good fit for you. This is what real education demands.
Because we provide an in depth and well thought out series of courses in year one designed to give you an understanding of traditional, representational visual language, we are able to accept students who have passion and drive, and have made efforts to draw, but are in need of instruction and practice in traditional drawing and painting, skills training which can currently be difficult to find.
Whenever possible we do application interviews in person that generally last 50 minutes to an hour. We try to assess whether or not if we work hard and you work hard, you’ll succeed. We don’t expect you to already have fully developed skills in subjects we teach in year one. That wouldn’t make any sense, but your efforts to work on your own and your resourcefulness in finding ways to learn (books, YouTube videos) are cetainly an indication that you have the interest, passion and self-motivation required.
Showing the 2014 Industry Event Video
We encourage you to visit Max the Mutt and attend an Open House and Information Session, or contact us to arrange a private tour and info session! This is a welcoming, inclusive environment for focused, serious students.
Contact admissions now to get more information, admissions@maxthemutt.com, or call us at 416=703-6877.
Check out websites of some of our graduates:
Brian Zuleta www.artofzuleta.com
Damjan Lazic newtiful.blogspot.ca
Vanessa Noller vanessanoller.weebly.com
Florence Young floyoung.ca
Denis Bejtic: denisbejtic.weebly.com
Matthew Chan: Www.matthew-chan.weebly.com
Laura Massingham: http://lauramassingham.weebly.com/
Finally, we are live! We hope you’ll find that this new website does a good job of showing you just what our students learn and produce, and what our graduates are achieving, and that you’ll find the whole site user friendly.
Our thanks to George Arabian and nvision for all their creativity, hard work, and dedication to creating a website that is user friendly and clearly shows what happens at Max the Mutt.
We’re happy to announce that Matt Mozgiel, a former Max the Mutt student, now an animation designer for Portfolio Entertainment in Toronto, and Concept Art graduate Chris Brown, a designer for Nelvana, will both be instructing Concept Art students in September! Other former students and graduates teaching at Max the Mutt include UbiSoft animator Rob Rodas, comic book artist Meaghan Carter, Guru animator Keith Fukomoto, and concept artist/illustrator Rachel Kahn what year did bob marley die.
Matt was featured by Canadian Animation:
You can also check his portfolio here:
is his website!
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Open House: Saturday and Sunday, September 26th & 27th
A shared passion draws first rate Canadian and international artists, students and instructors to Max the Mutt, and many graduates have gone on to careers at top companies including Corus/Nelvana, Guru Studio, Arc Entertainment, Toon Box, National Film Board of Canada, Sony, Nelvana, UbiSoft, Warner Bros. Games and Pixar.
10:30 am – Information Session; presentation about the school’s philosophy, the curriculum for the three diploma programs, workshops and skills development programs.
11:30 am – Tour of the school.
12:00 noon to 1:00 PM:
Dave Ross (http://www.daverossart.com/), one of Canada’s best known comic book artists (dynamic projects for Marvel and DC Comics include: • Spiderman • Daredevil • Avengers Westcoast • Batgirl • Catwoman • Punisher • Captain America • Excalibur • Birds of Prey • Aliens • Alpha Flight • Star Trek • Star Wars: Dark Times) will present a one hour introduction to his figure drawing methods . Dave teaches thus course as well as workshops at Max the Mutt, and his book on this subject was recently published by top art book publisher Watson Guptill ( a branch of Random House). Dave will be signing copies of the book, which can be purchased at this event, or bring your copy along !
2:30 PM: Complimentary Cartooning workshop with director of animation Tina Seemann.
If you know which program you’re interested in and would like a private tour and information session with a program coordinator, please call admissions to book for either Saturday or Sunday.
Sunday, September 27th, from 10 AM until 3 PM
If you know which program you’re interested in and would like a private tour and information session with a program coordinator, please call ahead to book for either Saturday or Sunday. Admissions and workshops staff will also be available for individual and group tours of the school.
1 PM to 2 Pm:
Complimentary Comic Book Layout workshop with Sequential Arts co-ordinator Kent Burles.
Dave ‘s new book is fresh off the press! Published by Random House, it teaches how to draw the figure without reference.
Dave writes: “I recently completed work on an instructional book titled FREEHAND FIGURE DRAWING FOR ILLUSTRATORS, due for general release on July 28, 2015. Watson-Guptill Publications, an imprint of Random House, is publishing the how-to book on drawing the human figure from memory. Visit www.randomhouse.com for more details.FREEHAND FIGURE DRAWING FOR ILLUSTRATORS is for anyone who ever dreamed of picking up a pencil and drawing spontaneously from the imagination.
My own experiences in learning the craft of freehand drawing as a student, and then much later in teaching it, convinced me to be proactive. FREEHAND FIGURE DRAWING FOR ILLUSTRATORS introduces you to a methodology that is designed to solve many drawing problems before they arise.”
From Dave’s website:
“I can’t resist the challenge of rendering strange new worlds and fantastic situations on a daily basis — filling stark white panels with scenes rich in depth and intensity!”
Dave’s projects for Marvel and DC Comics include:
• Spiderman • Daredevil • Avengers Westcoast • Batgirl • Catwoman • Punisher • Captain America • Excalibur • Birds of Prey • Aliens • Alpha Flight • Star Trek • Star Wars: Dark Times.
As a Guest Artist, he has participated at numerous national and international comic conventions and book signings including the following:
• New York • San Diego • Chicago • Pittsburgh • Detroit • Ottawa • Toronto • Montreal • Hong Kong • Singapore • Malaysia • Indonesia • Thailand • PR China
He is currently illustrating a special Ironman Series for Marvel, a Star Wars project for Dark Horse Comics/George Lucas; teaching figure drawing and sequential arts at Max the Mutt, and producing commissions for international collectors/clients.
If you live in or close to Toronto, the book launch for “Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators,” will be held at the Toronto Reference Library, on Yonge Street just north of Bloor, August 14th at 7 PM!
Esteemed Toronto college holds annual ‘Industry Event’ (animation, gaming and publishing) – with a special remembrance for Canadian animation instructor Jim Macaulay – on May 27,and celebrates its 2015 graduates and students with an exhibit and weekend open house,
May 29 to May 31
“I think there is some tremendous work in the show tonight! I came last year and was equally impressed, and I actually hired one of your graduates, who is working with me on a feature film project.” – Clive Smith, founder Nelvana.
Toronto, ON, May 18, 2015 – Toronto’s Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art and Design (at 2944 Danforth Avenue) holds well-attended annual ‘Industry Event’ on Wednesday, May 27 (2:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) and year-end open house exhibition (free weekend workshops with top industry pros) from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2015 (detailed schedule below).
Max the Mutt’s industry only event, much anticipated by the animation, gaming and publishing world in Canada (represented by top companies such as Corus Entertainment, Toon Box, Arc Entertainment, UbiSoft and Nelvana), gives the opportunity to students and graduates from each diploma program to display their work, and for industry pros to scout for new recruits. On view throughout the college; children’s books by illustration graduates, animation reels and slide shows from animation and concept art graduates, prop and character design, comic book pages, figurative and portrait painting and more. Note:Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments follow in the evening.
This year Jim Macaulay passed away at the age of 91. Macaulay was a revered animation instructor at Sheridan College (1974-1988) in Toronto and Max the Mutt’s mentor. During the industry event, a special remembrance – complete with champagne toast and a video of Jim in his workshop – of his life will be held at 6:30 p.m. to honour his contribution to the school and Canadian animation. All the models he built and animal skeletons he assembled and mounted for the school will be on display.
Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31; open to the public, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The main reception is on the second floor. Year one, two and three student and graduate exhibition, curriculum information, school tours and two free one-hour workshops (Saturday and Sunday).
Saturday, May 30:
10:00 a.m. – Information Session; school philosophy, the curriculum for the three diploma programs, workshops and development programs. Followed by a school tour.
11:00 a.m. – Free workshop; ‘Introduction to Cartooning’ with Toronto-based cartoonist and illustrator Megan Kearney. Learn the basics of cartooning including exaggeration, appeal and structure. Kearney manages Comic Book Embassy (co-work studio in Chinatown), and hosts High Tea at the Embassy (monthly mixer for women in creative fields). Her most recent works include Valor, and a graphic novel adaptation of Beauty and The Beast.
1:00 p.m. – Free workshop; ‘Introduction to Freehand Figure Drawing’ with comic book artist, author and instructor Dave Ross. An outline of the methodology (straight from the mind to the page) behind freehand figure drawing. Dave Ross has mainly published in the USA; working on the series Rai at Valiant and such Marvel titles as Avengers West Coast and Marvel Knights: Daredevil and Inhumans. At DC Comic, he worked on JLA and Birds of Prey. He has a book coming out soon titled ‘Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators’.
Sunday, May 31:
10:00 a.m. – School tours all day.
11:00 a.m. – Free workshop; ‘The Loomis head’ with head of Max the Mutt’s Illustration for Sequential Arts diploma program Kent Burles. Andrew Loomis, the famed American illustrator, developed this system of drawing the head from life, reference or imagination.
1:00 p.m. – Free workshop; ‘Introduction to Cinematic Layout for Comics’ with head of Illustration for Sequential Arts Diploma program Kent Burles.
/director Maxine Schacker states, “Our first year-end events at 2944 Danforth Avenue are almost here! We’re happy to hear from so many companies that they will attend our Industry Event and look forward to welcoming everyone to our weekend Open House, where this year, we’re providing two free workshops on both Saturday and Sunday! We invite everyone to see the amazing work all our students have created…a school filled with art!”
2015 graduate images enclosed: Concept art students, left, Marion Manzo (lava rock monster) and right, Alessandro Constantini (dragon cove).
ABOUT:
Founded in 1996 in Toronto, Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art and Design provides in-depth training via workshops and three programs of study; Classical and Computer Animation and Production diploma, Concept Art for Animation and Video Games diploma (only of its kind in Canada) and Illustration for Sequential Arts: Comic Books and Graphic Novels diploma (only of its kind in Canada). Max the Mutt prepares students for careers in animation, concept design, advertising, art direction, comic books and graphic novels.
For media information, interviews, media tours and images please contact:
I’m writing this in the hope that more people will take action to start developing real skills! Sitting back and saying you’ll just attend “art fundies” is not a solution! Most courses that teach foundations have 30 people in a class, and you can spend one, two or even three years in such a program and still not have a good grasp of visual language. This is teachable! Start learning it now!
Nicolaides says that god is lavish with talent: there are many acorns. But what does it take for the acorn to develop into an Oak tree? Just as students study a musical instrument, take dance classes, get coached for sports those of you who may want to pursue a career in art need to begin NOW! That acorn needs nurturing.
It takes desire, focus, small classes, good instruction, and practice. Max the Mutt offers all of this.
The best place to start developing your art skills this summer is by taking the July learn To Draw program, open to all, at Max the Mutt. Now is the time to find out if you like drawing in a class setting everyday! Now is the time to start developing work that may be used when you need to develop portfolios for university or college applications!
I suggest the full program, but you can enrol in parts: Life Drawing every day for 2 weeks, or 4 weeks; 2 weeks of structural drawing; 2 weeks of learning, through the use of still life setups, the basics of composing and rendering a still life drawing.
When you understand process, and link it to feeling and sense of touch, the outcomes are surprising.
The tuition for this program is $400 for each of the 4 parts, with a discount for taking the whole thing, and a discount for signing up before the end of May. Parents of minors can claim a tax credit for art instruction. Professionals seeking to add skills (graphic designer? BFA graduate?) can claim professional development tax credit. Here is the link to more information:
https://mtmcollege.ca/beehive/learning-draw/
Don’t procrastinate: sign up now!
All the best, and wishing you all good drawing experiences,
