Congratulations to year 4 students who are working for top companies part time before graduation!
Concept Art student – Zabi Hassan received a concept art paid internship at UbiSoftlast summer, was asked to stay on in September while completing year 4 at MTM, and is currently part of a team developing a new game! He works 4 days a week at UbiSoft, and has one full day, Saturday and evening classes at MTM.
Concept Art student – Dhenzel Obenga was given a 3 day a week contract by Secret Location during the middle of first semester.
In December Concept Artstudent AdamHomonylo also began working for Secret Location as an intern 3 days a week.
Adam Homonylo
Classical & Computer Animation & Production year 4 student Josh Hill has been hired to freelance for the month of January as a classical animator on a TV show that will be in its first season of 13 episodes! Yowzais overseeing this production that Josh is working 20 hours a week. Josh will be working on the same project as Canadiangreats Roger Chiasson and Claude Chiasson !
Why do our graduates do so well? Why were we ranked first in North America for Digital Illustration & 3rd in the world by The Rookies, an international website supported by major companies worldwide? Why are our employment rates so high?
Visit us to find out about the unique learning environment at a college created 20 years ago by artists, animators and educators passionate about their arts, and motivated by the desire to pass on their skills.
Community, professionalism, and generosity of spirit are words that best describe the culture we believe in and do our best to encourage at the college.
On Saturday, January 27th at 11:30 am at the Info Session you can learn more about each of MTM’s three in depth 4 year diploma programs and the careers each prepares you for:
Our new 4 year Illustration & Storytelling for Sequential ArtsDiplomaProgram (replacing the 3 year illustration program)! We’ll share with you the additional courses that now make this a more secure path for people who want to study for a career in comics and graphic novels. This program now gives you additional skills, including graphic design, for jobs that will sustain you while build build your comic book/graphic novel career!
Visitors tour the Year 4 Computer Animation studio during November’s Open House
Learn about exciting changes in the Classical & Computer Animation & Production Diploma Program, the only program in Toronto that gives you strong classical skills, and entry level skills for both 2D computer (Harmony) and 3D (Maya) animation jobs! (ALL 2017 Canadian Animation graduates are employed in the industry)
Learn about the many career paths open to graduates of our Concept Art for Animation & Video GamesDiplomaProgram and why we have year 4 students who have already been hired as Concept Artists, working part time now, with full time offers after graduation!
Following the Info Session, participate in a group tour of the college, where you can view student work from all 4 years and see classes in session.
At 1:30 pm – Come with your sketchbook and drawing pencils, and bring your lunch! Then following the short lunch break, take a free “Layout for Comics” Workshop withKent Burles, Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, MTM Instructor and Illustration Coordinator.
Kent Burles with workshop student
Max the Mutt is open on Sunday, January 28th for pre-booked private tours. To arrange your private tour, please call or email to book a time!
Visit us to see where they got their start and find out how our programs help our students make dreams come true!
Please note: We suggest a private tour for those of you who are sure which direction you want to go in! We encourage you to include family or a good friend, and we offer, if you request it, free consultation on your art work and portfolio advice
art by: Boris Radevski – current year 3 Concept Art student
“The Rookies” has ranked Max the Mutt 3rd worldwide for Digital Illustration, and first in North America, for their 2017 School of the Year Official World Rankings.
art by: Dhenzel Obeng – current year 4 Concept Art student
The Rookies is an international website dedicated to emerging artists and supported by major companies worldwide. Every year students around the world submit work and compete for scholarships, internships and prizes, and, most important, to get their work critiqued by major international digital artists. Each fall schools are rated based on the work uploaded by their students.
Environment Design by: Boris Radevski – current year 3 Concept Art student
As stated on The Rookies: “The Best Creative Media & Entertainment Schools in the World 2017 is based on the quality and performance of student work that is submitted to our judging panel between March 2017 – May 2017.” The judging panel is composed of respected professionals from top companies.
Last year was the first year Max the Mutt students entered, and we were delighted to discover that for 2016 we’d ranked 5th in the world.
Character Design by: Zabi Hassan – current year 4 Concept Art student
This year we rank 3rd! We received the highest ranking of any program inNorth America. Work was submitted by students in years 2, 3 and 4. Our ranking is particularly exciting because Max the Mutt’s Concept Art Program is small, especially when compared to some of the university programs both in Canada and the USA that we’re competing with. We never have more than 15 students in a class, and frequently fewer. For such a small program to have so many students with excellent work that we have come out this high, is the end result of everyone’s caring and passion, a well-thought-out curriculum, dedicated students, small class size, and inspired instruction.
Environment Design by: Desiree Moffatt – 2017 Concept Art graduate
Hats off to all of you!
Just an additional note: special congratulations to Zabi Hassan, who having completed a summer internship at UbiSoft Toronto, is now working for UbiSoft. by special arrangement, as a Junior Concept Artist (joining 4 other former MTM students) while completing his fourth year at Max the Mutt. Congratulations, Zabi! Well done.
Max the Mutt offers the only in-depth Concept Art Program in Canada, and we are looking for applicants who have imagination, passion, work ethic, grit, and a desire to learn and develop as designers and digital artists. Because this program prepares you for both animation and games, in addition to working digitally, it requires a serious interest in developing traditional fine art skills, including painting in oils. If this description fits you, we encourage you to contact us now!
We offer private tours and consultations, and also host one Open House weekend each month (the first is Sept 30/Oct 1).
Join the Max the Mutt students and graduates who year after year produce exciting, imaginative and artistic digital illustration recognized worldwide.
admissions@maxthemutt.com 416-703-6877, toll free in North America 1-877-486-MUTT
Tina’s report: “It was a long and intensive job getting the ‘good ship Max’ out of dry dock and ready to sail into and new term!”
Tina Seemann, Co-Director of Max the Mutt & Animation Coordinator, carting casts of feet and hands
This summer we tackled all kinds of work. After the term-end events (our Industry Event & Graduation in May) those studios that were crammed with furniture to make spaces for graduate exhibits, had to be unloaded and the classrooms put in order again, and those studios stripped of all visual aides to be used as exhibit spaces for had to be reassembled !
Studio drapery was carted off to the laundry. MTM’s Handyman, Chris Babarik, was called in to repair easels and horses, down size drawing boards and do other general repairs. It was time to clean the walls, dispose of a half ton of used paper. Just as we worked to improve our curriculum over the summer, we used the weeks after workshops ended to make improvements
I enjoy finding solutions, so having a team of student assistants really helped with everything from putting up an extra shelf here and there, to installing extra pencil sharpeners, to making more room for students to have lunch, to reorganizing one of the computer labs. It was wonderful to work with a crew of students were happy not only to get summer work, but also really enjoying improving the spaces they’ll be studying.
As we approach our 3rd anniversary at this location this December, I felt as though we finally are really moved in.
There was that 12 hour Saturday when Jay Naidu helped me secure all the electrics in the animation studio so there’s no more mess with extension cords on the light tables. Yay!
Jay also assisted Chris Babarik on weekends and found time to repaint a washroom. Jay is excited to begin year 2 of the Concept Art program. He also recently assisted Carla Drmay at our booth at the 2017 Toronto FanEXPO.
2nd year Animation student Zander Awbrey and 2nd year Concept Art student Jayesh Naidu assisting with needed touch ups
Zander Aubrey, newly arrived from Georgia, USA and joining us as an Animation advanced standing student (year 2), also lent a hand painting. He even brought his own toolbox to help with some of the handyman work.
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Carey, eager to begin her second year in Illustration for Sequential Arts, our comics and graphic novels program, put in the most hours! Always cheerful and ready to lend a hand. Lizzy also worked hard on giving the second floor lobby sofa a deep upholstery clean, a big job! Two coats of Scotch Guard followed. We hope the sofa stays clean for awhile.
We progressed from cleaning the interior of the anatomy cupboards to cleaning the plaster casts and giving them a face lift (LOL!) with some spray paint. They’d had suffered all year, getting progressively grayer with Conte fingerprints.
Not to forget returning 2nd year Animation student, Juan Fernandez, who was so busy hauling tables that he somehow evaded my camera. He assisted with all kinds of heavy lifting, plaster cast cleaning and showed up unexpectedly one Saturday when I was excavating an office all alone. I was especially happy to have his assistance that day!
Cartoon by 2nd year Illustration student Lizzy Carey – ‘Welcome to Anatomy’
The biggest bonus was that Lizzy and new roommate, year one student Christina Stellmacher, got the horse skeleton urethaned. This is our newest articulated animal skeleton. It was ‘raw’ last year. When Kris Manser-Hart, Concept Art Program graduate, finished the painstaking task of its 3 year assembly, we were delighted to get to finally use it as part of the Animal Drawing course even though it lacked a protective varnish, which it now has.
2nd year Illustration student Lizzy Carey and 1st year Animation student Christina Stellmacher working hard.
After Christina and Lizzy completed the horse skeleton, Christina also gave some unarticulated human bones a protective varnish and then spray painted some new oil waste disposal bins.
Cartoon by 2nd year Illustration student Lizzy Carey – MTM Instructor Jock MacRae receiving therapy from a skeleton
On Thursday evening of our Orientation Week, I was still there tinkering like an elf on Christmas Eve, and decided to work from home the next, and final, day. After a trip to purchase their art supplies, Lizzy and Rebekah returned to Max the Mutt to do the final small jobs.
Down to the wire, yipes!
Now we’re all ready for the exciting new term to begin!
So many thanks to you all! We couldn’t have done all this important work without you!
You helped us get ready to welcome all the new and returning students, and we all owe you our sincere thanks!
Orientation Week 2017 at the ROM – with artist instructors Steve Millard and Roksolana Tchotchieva
Orientation week has been a great success! After a day of introductions, a picnic in the park, and scholarship presentations, Students and faculty had a day at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and another day at The Royal Ontario Museum. One afternoon was spent doing a drawing challenge and buying books brought to the school by Labyrinth Books. International students had a special breakfast, and over the weekend are taking a boat ride on Lake Ontario.
Here are some pics sent in by students and faculty:
Yr 1 Orientation week picnicOrientation Week Picnic
Kent Burles gave instructions to create a character to draw. A 4 min drawing challenge!
Orientation Week group drawing project challengesOrientation Week Labyrinth book saleOrientation Week 2017 at the ROMOrientation Week AGO field trip
You are cordially invited to Max the Mutt’s November Open House !
Why do our graduates do so well? Why were we ranked first in North America for 2017 for Digital Illustration, 3rd in the world, by The Rookies, an international website supported by major companies worldwide?
Visit us to find out about the unique learning environment at a college created 20 years ago by artists, animators and educators passionate about their arts, and motivated by the desire to pass on their skills. Community, professionalism, and generosity of spirit are words that best describe the culture we believe in and do our best to encourage at the college.
On Saturday, November 4th we will be open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm:
Learn more about each of MTM’s three, in depth 4 year diploma programs and the careers each prepares you for:
Our new 4 year Illustration & Storytelling forSequential Arts Diploma Program (replacing the 3 year illustration program)! We’ll share with you the additional courses that now make this a more secure path for people who want to study for a career in comics and graphic novels. This program now gives you additional skills for jobs that will sustain you while build build your comic book/graphic novel career!
Learn about exciting changes in the Classical & Computer Animation & Production Diploma Program. the only program in Toronto that gives you entry level skills for both 2D computer (Harmony) and 3D (Maya) animation jobs!
Learn about the many career paths open to graduates of our Concept Art for Animation & Video Games Diploma Program!
Following the info session, you’re invited to participate in a group tour of the college, where you can view student work from all 4 years and see classes in session.
Dave Ross – Author, Comic Book Artist and MTM Instructor
Bring your lunch, and stay on to meet Dave Ross, Author of “Figure Drawing for Illustrators”, Internationally acclaimed Comic Book Artist and MTM Instructor.
A book signing will follow the workshop, Introduction to Figure Drawing Without a Model.
Dave’s recently published book, “Figure Drawing for Illustrators” will be available for purchase, or bring your copy with you and get it autographed!
We are also open on Sunday, November 5th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Call us tobook private tours, and attend one or both free Sunday workshops:
11:00 am: Introduction to Cartooning & Character Design For Animation Workshop with Tina Seemann, Co-Director of Max the Mutt and Animation Coordinator!
Tina Seemann with Cartooning Workshop student
1:30 pm: Layout for Comics Workshopwith Kent Burles – Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, a MTM Instructor and Illustration Program Coordinator.
Kent Burles, MTM Illustration Coordinator, giving instructions for a 4 min drawing challenge
Remember if you plan to take a workshop or workshops please bring your sketch book and drawing materials.
Visit us to see where they got their start and find out how our programs help our students make dreams come true!
Please note: We suggest a private tour for those of you who are sure which direction you want to go in! We encourage you to include family or a good friend, and we offer, if you request it, free consultation on your art work and portfolio advice
This program, based on our previous 3 year diploma program, Illustration for Sequential Arts, has been re-structured and designed with input from leading Canadian artists in the field, and gives students a 21st century skill base that includes using digital media, creating mobile comics, knowledge of the entire Adobe Suite, essential graphic design and illustration for advertising skills, storyboarding for film and advertising….and a fourth year two-semester graphic novel development course that will leave each graduate with a package that can be pitched to publishers. Core courses from the three-year diploma remain part of the new diploma program. These include all the basics of creating, penciling and inking comics, storytelling and scripting for comics, and children’s book illustration.
Catwoman page by Jonathan Younadim
Digital media is now an essential part of the course, leading students to the ability to create digital art in both vector and bit-map based programs. Students will learn the basics of using e-book creation software as well as creating a print book available for sale online. Each graduating student will complete this course with a professionally self-published book available in print and ebook format.
Illustration by Haley Millman
We’ve been developing the “Illustration & Storytelling for Sequential Arts” diploma program for several years, getting ideas and input from industry professionals, getting feedback from graduates of the 3 year diploma program, holding meetings with current faculty to discuss and develop course ideas, and re-examining the curriculum in the current program to make tweaks and additions. We’ve been waiting with great excitement for this new 4-year version of the diploma, renamed “Illustration & Storytelling for Sequential Arts” to be formally approved by the Ministry of Education.
All year one and year two students currently enrolled in the 3-year diploma program, will have the choice of either remaining in the 3-year diploma program or choosing to transfer to the 4 year program. The 3-year program, however, has had its final intake with the group starting in September 2017.
Graphic Novels are now an accepted and popular literary genre. They are being used as part of grade school and high school curriculums bought for school libraries.
Comic Books have also gained popularity, as have apps for uploading comic books with limited animation. Max the Mutt offers the ONLY in-depth program in Canada! Now, we are ensuring that while our graduates are establishing themselves, they are employable in a variety of jobs that can use their skills, everything from advertising to graphic design.
Why is Max the Mutt unique? We believe in a solid foundation and teach more traditional representational skills in greater depth than other programs we know about. Many programs limit life drawing partly because of the cost of models: Max the Mutt is pledged to offer the best education we are capable of and will never do that.
Our faculty continues to be composed of top industry professionals who have the desire to share what they love with the next generation.
The new business course, combined with Portfolio Development, ensures that students are prepared to handle themselves in the real world. Every student has a website before graduating and every student has learned the ins and outs and processes of internet publishing- and has published before graduation.
Our annual Industry Event brings top professionals from Publishing, Animation, Games, and Advertising to the college to see graduate work and meet all graduates from all 3 programs in person.
We offer an exceptional education…and we’re very excited!
Contact us to get more information and arrange a tour and information session. It’s our pleasure to discuss your goals, share information, and, if you decide this program is a good fit for you, explain our application process.
Character Sheet by Angeline Mauri
Kent Burles, MTM Illustration Coordinator, looking over MTM students’ sketches at Royal Winter Fair
Our Cartooning workshop with Tina Seemann was a huge success according to Tanya Gerber, Rosanna von Sacken and Carolyn Ellis, three members of the class that ran the week of July 10th -14th. The three ladies are all professional ‘whiteboard artists‘- those people who draw ‘live’ at conferences such as the ‘Ted Talks’ you can see online.
Tina Seemann giving one-on-one instruction to Tanya Gerber, Cartooning workshop student
” That’s gutsy work ” Tina says, ” as you cannot erase what you’ve done, you just have to carry on as the person giving the ‘talk’ cannot wait for you to get an image ‘right’.
The ladies were adept at drawing simple people and concepts and being good at calligraphy is important. ( Rosanna’s handwriting was especially beautiful!! )
Even though this workshop introduces novices to the art of cartooning, beginning with a simple stickman and builds upon that, the ladies were pleased that Tina was able to impart cartooning tips that were especially useful to them.
Congratulations Kristiyan Bechev, who has been accepted into our Concept Art for Animation & Video Games Program, and has received a glowing write up in the Alberta, Canada publication, the Okotoks Western Wheel.
The link to the Okotos Western Wheel article is displayed below:
