Maxine's Updates Archives

2013 Graduate Aaron Long Visits Max the Mutt

Director of BoJack Horseman offers valuable advice to MTM students

Aaron Long, Canadian animator and filmmaker, well known as a director on BoJack Horseman (Netflix), was in Toronto in early November to make an appearance at TAAFI INDUSTRY 2019‘s 2-day event, which offers exclusive talks from top animation artists and creators.

TAAFI INDUSTRY 2019

At TAAFI, Aaron spoke about his career starting as an intern for the Chuck Grammage studio with little experience and a ton of passion, through to his current work as a director for Bojack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie with Netflix. He also discussed how animation isn’t just for cartoons, as new streaming services start to take animation seriously. And the ins and outs on crafting your ideas for a primetime world. And lastly was the judge on a pitching competition.

Aaron Long’s Alma Mater

Aaron Long is a 2013 Max the Mutt (MTM) graduate. We were thrilled when he reached out to say he’d love to drop by to say hi, and talk to the students about his work!

As part of his presentation, Aaron showed fascinating behind-the-scene clips from BoJack Horseman and other programs he’s worked on (like the fabulous Tuca & Bertie) and gave students insight into what working on these productions was like. He shared the story of how his career in animation launched. And he emphasized the importance (and challenges) of continuing to develop his personal work while working on other projects.

Aaron Long Animator and Director, visits student at Alma Mater, Max the Mutt — MTM students express their happiness at getting to meet Aaron Long during his November 6 visit.

Our students were inspired by his humility, the information he shared, and his love of traditional animation. He spoke about the inspiration he got from History of Animation, a first-year course at MTM, and his love of using physical movement, attitude, and timing to tell a story. He also highlighted the importance of life-drawing and other fundamental drawing skills he learned at MTM to his work.

Aaron Long created “Fester Fish” while still a student at Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art, and Design. A producer in LA who saw his YouTube channel discovered and contacted him.

Aaron Long speaking at Max the Mutt College — A standing-room-only audience during Aaron Long’s visit to Max the Mutt.

Aaron Long with Co-Directors Tina Seemann and Maxine Schacker — Aaron Long enjoyed catching up with MTM Co-Directors Tina Seemann and Maxine Schacker during his November 6 visit.

Thanks for the visit, Aaron! Please come back soon.

Aaron Long is an animator and filmmaker from Toronto. He currently lives in Los Angeles, and has directed for Bojack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie, Triptank and more. He also creates independent cartoons Sublo & Tangy Mustard and Fester Fish which appear online and in festivals around the world.

Want to learn more about Aaron Long? Check out his work here, or visit his IMBD page.

Fine Art Portfolio Skills Classes Begin September 18!

Max the Mutt will offer the Fine Art & Portfolio Skills Certificate Program as an all day Sunday program starting Sunday, September 18th !

Curriculum changes in secondary school programs leave many students without a grounding in traditional REPRESENTATIONAL fine art skills, the skills required for success in many art based careers such as animation, illustration, fashion design, advertising art, concept design, and often required for acceptance into to undergraduate college and university programs. The Fine Art & Portfolio Skills Certificate Program at Max the Mutt was designed to help anyone who plans to apply to these college or university programs. Class size is limited, and individual attention is guaranteed. This program is open to adults as well as secondary school students.

The curriculum:

20 three hour life drawing classes
20 three hour drawing classes using still life to teach you how we create the illusion of 3 dimensions on a 2D surface;
10 three hour perspective classes introducing 1, 2 and 3 point perspective
10 three hour classes on composition, colour theory, and using acrylic paint.

At the end of each unit, you will have a one on one meeting with the instructor, and at the end of the course, a final meeting with a qualified professional to assist in choosing work for you portfolio.

Successful completion of all units is required to receive the certificate. This includes professionalism ( good attendance, punctuality, ability to take direction, polite professional behaviour) as well as Pass level work.

The schedule:

Life Drawing and Principles of Drawing (60 hours): September 18 to November 27 (60 hours)

(Off October 9 for Thanksgiving)

Life Drawing and Perspective (60 hours) : December 11, 18; 26, 27, 28, 29, 2016; January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2017 (Note: classes will meet 4 consecutive full days during the winter break.)

Design and Painting (60 hours): February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 2017

Saturday, March 4 Overall Portfolio Reviews

March 5 last day of classes

Life Drawing with Jock MacRae, building portfolio skills!

Sign before September to receive discounted tuition!

Matte Painting for Visual Effects, A Post Diploma Certificate Intensive

Matte Painting for Visual Effects, designed by James Raiz, a new post-diploma Certificate Intensive!

James Raiz is a Senior Digital Matte Painter and Concept Artist at Pixomondo.

Current projects include Furious 7 (feature film), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Netflix) and Fantastic 4 ( Feature Film).

“A matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that is nonexistent in real life or would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit. Historically, matte painters and film technicians have used various techniques to combine a matte-painted image with live-action footage. At its best, depending on the skill levels of the artists and technicians, the effect is “seamless” and creates environments that would otherwise be impossible to film. In the scenes the painting part is static and movements are integrated on it.” ( Wikipedia)

Canada is a major centre for Visual Effects, and demand for matte painters is high.

Requirements for consideration for this program for Canadians and International applicants include:

completion of a relevant diploma or degree or equivalent work experience,
strong concept art and photoshop skills,
and basic 3D experience (preferably Maya).

What will you learn in this certificate program?

How to create a realistic matte painting from scratch.
How to work in a visual effects production pipeline.
Time management skills.

At the end of this course, you will have a DEMO REEL with 3 to 4 competed Matte Paintings.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

This spring/summer, the program will run as an intensive, running for 6 weeks, with 3 classes per week – 1 weeknight, and two three hour classes on Saturday. Class size is limited to 12.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Matte Painting Basics 1

Replacing Greenscreen plate with new background matching perspective of plate
Replace elements in a scene with new elements
Set Extension

Week 2: Matte Painting Basics 2

4.Relighting Elements
5.Basic Matte Painting Creation 1: Blocking in Elements
6.Basic Matte Painting Creation 2: Integration of Elements

Week 3: Intermediate Matte Painting 1

Matte Painting Assignment 1: Concepting a Matte Painting for Production
MPA1: Creating a Sky
MPA1: Blocking in Photographic Elements

Week 4: Intermediate Matte Painting 1

MPA1: Integration of Elements
MPA1: Effects, MP Finishing & File Prep for Projection
Simple Maya Projection, Geometry preparation for Nuke

Week 5: Intermediate Matte Painting 2 – working with 3D

MPA2: Preparing 3D for Production
MPA2: Concepting around 3D, Create Sky
MPA2: Block in Photographic Elements

Week 6: Intermediate Matte Painting 2 – working with 3D

MPA2: Integration of Elements
MPA2: 3D Preparation & Nuke Projection
Matte Painting Demo Reel

Class size is limited to 12.

Tuition: $1620 (+HST) (54 hours of instruction at $30 ) A tuition reduction is offered to graduates of MTM’s Concept Art Diploma Program see it here.

To apply for this program please email us now at admissions@maxthemutt.com.

Now Is The Time: Start Developing Traditional Art Skills!

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,

Maxine Schacker

Max the Mutt’s First Open House At 2944 Danforth Ave: A Great Success!

Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design offers three in depth diploma programs, #Classical&ComputerAnimation&Production, #IllustrationFor SequentialArts:ComicBooks&GraphicNovels, and #ConceptArtForVideoGames&Animation. We are also expanding our general interest workshops offerings, professional development and skills building courses testtest.

We moved to 2944 Danforth Avenue over the winter break, and held our first Open House on February 7th. It was a great day! An appearance on #CP24Breakfast on Thursday, February 5 had really spread the word!

Our Open House started with a 10AM Information Session about the college, our philosophy and our programs. The turnout was wonderful, and included our MPP Arthur Potts, who announced to me and the audience that The Pilot Tavern in Yorkville ( he is one of the owners) is inviting us to hold a fundraising event this spring, an auction of student and faculty art work, to raise money for the school.

Following the Info session, Tina Seemann, Carla Drmay, Roksolana Tchotchieva, and Kent Burles each led a group on a tour of the school, including visiting some classes that were in session.

At noon, following coffee, tea and doughnuts, a Panel Discussion, featuring Industry professionals began.

The panel: moderator, freelance Concept Artist, MTM year 3 & 4 coordinator, Jonathan Standing, Concept Artist Ben Reynolds (Uken Games), animation veteran Tim Deacon ( Director and co-owner, Smashing Animation), Adam Ghering (Legend 3D Director), Jeff Lyons (9 Story Entertainment Layout Artist), Greg Beettam (Ilustration and Comic Book veteran).

Feedback on this event was so good that we plan to present similar events as part of future Open House days.

At 2 PM, following a lunch break, Tina Seemann offered a free cartooning workshop to another full house: more photos soon!

For more information about Max the Mutt please check our website, , or call us at 416-703-6877 (toll free 1-877- 486 MUTT), or email us at admissions@maxthemutt.com. We offer personal tours and information sessions!