Become A Compositing Artist for Harmony!

The animation industry is actively looking for compositing artists, people with animation education, who have worked with Toon-Boom Harmony and know how to  composite.

If you’ve completed  a diploma or degree in animation, have worked with Harmony software, and are looking for your niche in the industry, successful completion of  industry pro Sonya Hassan- Carey‘s  Certificate Workshop in Compositing for Harmony will bring you to the level of someone with at least 6 months compositing work experience ! 

What will your job be as a compositing artist?

You’ll be responsible for constructing the final image of the film or series by combining layers of FX, animation and background elements into  final composite shots, fulfilling each shot’s requirements.

As a compositing artist, you’ll need artistic sensibilities in the areas of 2D/3D animation compositing, rotoscoping, warping and particles, morphing blue/green screen keying and colour correction. All of this will be covered in our new professional development certificate workshop!.

Who is your instructor?        

Sonya Hassan-Carey
Sonya Hassan-Carey

Sonya Hassan-Carey, currently Head of Operations for Portfolio Entertainment in Toronto (www.portfolioentertainment.com), is an animation professional with 25 years of industry experience, including compositing, producing, VFX, recruiting talent, and training studio employees for Toon Boom Harmony productions.

 Her credits include Ren and Stimpy series, Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh, The Ballad of Nessie, The Proud Family Movie. She’s also worked with live action plates, maya elements, and was a Roto Artist for Saw 111 using Digital Fusion and After FX. 

Will you need other qualifications to be employable as a compositing artist?

If you choose to stay in a 2D Harmony environment, this course will do the trick.  If you choose to go into a VFX or 3d studio, you’ll  need to add some understanding of Nuke, Maya and Fusion.

About the certificate workshop:   class size is limited to 10 to allow for individual instruction and mentoring.

This workshop will meet 8 Sundays, beginning February 26, 10 AM to 1 PM, one hour lunch break, and an afternoon class from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Pre-requisites:

  •  completion of an animation diploma or degree program, or equivalent work experience in animation
  • knowledge of Toon Boom Harmony software .

Dates: 8 full days, Sundays 10 to 5 PM (one hour lunch break), starting February 26th, 2016. (closed Easter Sunday April 16, 2017)

Tuition: $1050.00 plus HST

To apply for this workshop please email info@maxthemutt.com. To meet Ministry of Education guidelines, we will need evidence of your animation diploma or certificate. Knowledge of the basic Harmony program is a pre-requisite. If you have no animation clip, or transcript showing you’ve completed Intro Harmony, you can apply and Ms Carey will contact you to discuss your ability to successfully participate in the workshop   Once accepted, we’ll email your invoice and payment instructions.

Reminder: a maximum of 10 students, so apply early!

 

 

The Royal Winter Fair, Annual Drawing Event for MtM Students & Faculty 2016

Every year Max the Mutt takes a trip to the Royal Winter Fair. The fair is filled with excellent exhibits and animal shows, offering an opportunity for our students to practice their animal drawing, and gain more experience with on location studies that include people as well as animals. 

Here are some thoughts from one of Max the Mutt’s Drawing Instructors, Ed Shawcross, about this year’s visit:

20161110_144547
..… the event was quite successful with most students seeking feedback and exhibiting excitement as they worked throughout the copious arenas finding of diverse subject matter to draw. It was also great to see some recent grads who joined us, continuing the tradition started at MtM, and now attend to draw for themselves.
20161110_113924
Ian Culley, a former instructor, was a special surprise guest. I was delighted to have him assist us as an added member of the teaching team.
Tina Seemann, Director of Animation, offering animal drawing advice at the Royal Winter Fair
Tina Seemann, who heads the Animation Program and also instructs Animal Drawing, offering drawing advice at the Royal Winter Fair.

Tina made a good suggestion for next year:  perhaps we should extend an offer to all our grads to join us on the day we visit the Royal Winter Fair! They could benefit from the reduced entry fee and enjoy the camaraderie of drawing on location with  mentors and peers.

Kent Burles, MtM Illustration Coordinator, looking over MtM student's sketches at Royal Winter Fair
Kent Burles, Illustration Coordinator, looking over MtM students’ sketches at Royal Winter Fair

Kent Burles, MtM Illustration Coordinator, looking over MtM student's sketches at Royal Winter Fait

A quick note of thanks to everyone for all efforts- both physical and artistic – as we worked with the students on location at the Royal Winter Fair. A big hurrah goes to Noelle for organizing the tickets and scheduling the event; it went as smoothly as silk

 

MtM Has A Foal (baby horse) Skeleton!

It started as a pile of bones, carefully cleaned and sorted. Now,our foal is finally part of our skeletal menagerie for Animal Drawing!
It’s been a few years since an intrepid SA group accompanied Tina Seemann to Orangeville to Stuart Johnston’s horse farm to dig this animal out of the ground.

And   (drum roll please!) finally, here he is!
MtM student Kris Manser-Hart was the architect and he did an amazing job- building an armature worthy of the ROM!
In these photos  year 3 Concept Art students are seen drawing the recently completed skeleton.
The foal  (* it was only 6 months old when it was put down, due to illness) is perfect for the school setting, where it seems VERY LARGE !

 

20161014_114051-1_20161018174948315

Why Is Max the Mutt Your Best Choice?

Why Max the Mutt? It’s simple: we care. Max the Mutt offers working professionals as instructors, small class size, community, an emphasis on focus, a developmental curriculum following a year of basic skills training. We are in constant contact with the industries we serve to ensure that course content is up to date! Our yearly Industry Event, where graduating students show their work to recruiters and art directors from top companies who are looking to hire young talent, is well attended and our graduates are in demand!! 

There is a difference between attending Max the Mutt, with small class size and constant access to individual assistance, and a large school where classes sometimes have 25 to 30 people and even the best instructors simply don’t have the time to get around to everyone!

Max the Mutt was founded by professionals. Our mandate has always been a commitment to teach the skills we value to coming generations. We care about every student. We are a small community where every person matters, and we know what it takes to develop your talent – because we’ve been there.

It isn’t easy. It takes discipline and passion. You, as a student, have to be present, committed, and willing to do the hard work. You need to buy in to our emphasis on professionalism and focus.

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 to keep faith in your ability to grow and develop. 
For our part, we do our best to assist when you hit difficult patches. We have a vested interest in the success of every student and want to see everyone succeed.

When you graduate, companies will hire you and keep you on if you have both the skills and the professionalism required. 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.

Focus is a major part of success.

Our goal is to help you set your imagination free by helping you develop the artistic and computer savvy that will build your confidence and your portfolio, and marrying that to professionalism: polite behaviour, meeting deadlines, being on time, taking criticism well, being a good team player, and following directions. This is a winning recipe for success.

This is why we believe Max the Mutt is your best choice if you are serious about having a career in animation, illustration or concept art!

Zabi Hassan - Alladin-Evil-Genie-Attack
Zabi Hassan – Alladin-Evil-Genie-Attack

 

Devil's Cake - Angeline Mauri
Devil’s Cake – Angeline Mauri

 

AMatinong LineUp
AMatinong LineUp

 

We are now responding to inquiries for September 2017 admissions! Submit the tour request form, or contact us at admissions@maxthemutt.com, or by phone at 416-703-6877, toll free in North America 1-877-486-MUTT.

Visits and Portfolio Reviews with DHX Media & Portfolio Entertainment !

There was lots of excitement at Max the Mutt last week, as two more top animation companies asked to visit us, speak with students and hold portfolio reviews! Max the Mutt hosts an “Industry Event” every May, but this year there is so much need for qualified graduates that companies are visiting early, doing portfolio reviews, and sometimes offering  jobs!

 

Waiting for portfolio reviews...
Waiting for portfolio reviews…

 

On Wednesday Portfolio Entertainment Head of Studio Operations Sonya Carey and Julie Stall of the creative team, visited the school…

Sonya Carey speaking to Max the Mutt students...
Sonya Carey speaking to Max the Mutt students…

(https://www.facebook.com/portfolioent/    http://portfolioentertainment.com/)…. addressed concept art and and animation students, and then stayed on to hold one on one portfolio reviews. Sonya emailed us the next day, commenting on the continuing excellence and professionalism of our students, and requesting follow up interviews at the studio with some of them.

 

On Thursday, DHXMedia visited. Here is Animation Director Tina Seemann’s report:

 

DHX Media has studios in Vancouver and Halifax, and interviewed for both locations.
DHX Media has studios in Vancouver and Halifax, and interviewed for both locations.

 

 

Five representatives from DHX Media came to visit: 3 from Vancouver- Jezebel Pimentel* (*HR, recruiter ), Robin Shea & Craig Roberts; and from Halifax: Andrew Anningson, and Mike Pascucci (originally from Toronto)

Students with Robin and Jezebel from DHX Studios
Students with Robin and Jezebel from DHX Studios

They are producing ‘Peabody & Sherman’, ‘Inspector Gadget and several other series for TV simultaneously, and are interested in hiring people who are passionate about what they do, and will even provide training in software. (http://www.dhxmedia.com/)

We were happy to hear them stress that being able to draw is more important than knowing the software! Robin told everyone that the ‘bouncing ball ‘ is a good test for a new animator!

Like Portfolio Entertainment, the DHX business model is reminiscent of the old days when companies mentored new employees. This is a real and positive change. DHX
was pleased to say that they have retained the original 75 people they started out with 5 years ago. These people have simply progressed within the company. DHX wants a stable work force of people who they know and who have worked with each other, and they hope to continue to keep having enough work to keep everyone steadily employed.

They showed a short film portraying studio life- everyone agreed that DHX has plenty of appeal on either coast!

20160310_133555

After the presentation the reps were generous with their time, talking to all the senior students at length and having a look at their websites.
They were very impressed by our students work, and happy to find a school with a real sense of community.

Everyone had a great time visiting with DHX! Thank you so much for coming !

Director Tahir Rana: “Finally an animation school that gets it!”

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 speaking to animation and concept art students at tMax the Mutt.

Director Tahir Rana Speaks to animation and concept art students at max the Mutt!
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...Tahir was generous with his time
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.

Animation has lost Jim Macaulay, Our Mentor, 1924-2015

 Jim Macaulay was the most revered Animation instructor in the original Sheridan Animation program. Under his guidance people like Charlie Bonifaccio and Scott Caple, both of whom did great  animation work for Disney, Chuck Gammage (one of Canada’s top classical animators) and many, many others got their starts and developed their skills. He was also Tina Seemann’s teacher, mentor and friend. Below is Tina’s  homage to his life and work. At our 2015 Industry Event, Max the Mutt will have a special presentation in Honour of Jim’s legacy. This event will take place on May 27th at 6:30 PM and will give those who want to speak about him the opportunity to say a few words. We will also share a video of Jim in his workshop, and display all the wonderful models he created for the school.
“On Saturday of the Easter weekend, Jim Macaulay passed away, aged 91.  His family told me that he passed away peacefully in his nursing home.

 

I had always referred to Jim as our school’s “personal “Gepetto,” and how lucky we were to have him! He believed in what we were doing from the beginning and it was his ingenuity that allowed us to get our animation program started.

 

In 1997, I worked with him in his workshop to create the portable light tables that enabled us to teach animation in a one room school house .

 

Even though we didn’t have a rotating disc, each came equipped with  a small light and a handy ‘beach-chair’ type angle adjustment feature.  It was important that that these tables be portable because we couldn’t have permanent work stations. Jim created a beautiful prototype in miniature to start with- itself a work of art, complete with a metal peg bar! The light tables fit onto the drawing horses that we were already using to teach life drawing, a very necessary skill for animators.

 

Jim believed in what we were trying to accomplish and was their to help whenever we had a question or a need,
It was Jim who assembled our animal skeletons for us, two dogs and a cat, as well as various wooden models for teaching both animal and human  anatomy. It was Jim who repaired a donated human skull so that we could use it to teach students how to draw heads, and built the stand to hold it and a second skull in place.
He built beautifully designed and crafted  wooden boxes to house everything he made for us – which has helped to protect the treasures inside over the years, even through our recent move.

 

Apart from this, I had his permission to share many of the wonderful handouts he had created, images from his sketchbooks showing how he handled anatomy, figure drawing as well as simple things students had trouble with; shoes, hats, hands & feet. Add to this the sizeable number of inbetweening exercises which he created to help students improve their drawing skills.

 

Just recently, I distributed a handout he had written in his beautiful script on ” Seeing and drawing well”. He mentioned how important it is to take one’s time to accurately copy images well, to deconstruct the original in order to appreciate the effective choices that had been made. Such valuable advice!

 

Jim was the best of what good teachers strive to be, a generous and kind individual who was patient and encouraging to us  all. It’s a testament to him that he touched so many lives in a positive and caring way.
 May the same be said of all of us!
We’ll miss you, Jim.”

 

Tina Seemann and Jim at his 75th birthday party.
Tina Seemann and Jim at his 75th birthday party.
Jim Macaulay with Tina, Maxine and dog skeleton he assembled for Max the Mutt
Jim Macaulay with Tina, Maxine and dog skeleton he assembled for Max the Mutt
Jim with Maxine and the portable light table he designed and created for us!
Jim with Maxine and the portable light table he designed and created for us!

 

http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=001096  This thread from Animation nation features discussion among animators who studied with Jim, and those who regret missing his instruction!

 

Max the Mutt 2014 #Animation Diploma Graduates Are On Their Way!

 Max the Mutt Animation Diploma 2014 graduates are on their way. See why this is the school for people who  have passion, grit and want a career! All  2014 graduates found work in the animation industry within six months of graduation. Max the Mutt’s Animation Diploma Program includes classical, 2D and 3D animation, acting, drawing for animation…and much, much more. That’s why our 2014 graduates have jobs.  That’s why companies approach us and ask to visit before our “Industry Event.” Our goal is is employment in the industry  for every graduate.  Every student at Max the Mutt College ofAnimation, Art & Design counts. Every student gets personal attention.
Creature design by Jan Veldman, 2014 graduate
Creature design by Jan Veldman, 2014 graduate
Denis Bejtic: denisbejtic.weebly.com
 Matthew Chan: Www.matthew-chan.weebly.com
Daniel Lee Poy: danielleepoy.weebly.com
Laura Massingham: lauramassingham.weebly.com
Josh Schaefer: joshschaeferanimation.weebly.com
Jan Veldman: janveldman.weebly.com
Misha Zuzuk: www.zuzuk.weebly.com

 

mtm-slider-3d02

 

Top companies want students with a broad based general education. This should include traditional fine art skills, as well as classical and computer animation. You’ll need the demo reel and the skills to get in the door, but you’ll also need to impress the recruiter as someone who is a good team player, can take direction, and has a professional attitude.

 

Max the Mutt grades on professionalism as well as course content.
https://mtmcollege.ca/animation/ Click to learn more and see our show reels!
Call us now to book a tour and get more information about this unique College!
 Accepting applications now for September 2014.
416-703-6877  admissions@maxthemutt.com