Max the Mutt was happy this Tuesday to welcome Alwyn Hunt from ‘The Rookies,’ www.therookies.co. Alwyn, visiting from Australia, has worked in VFX in England, Toronto, as well as Australia, and is now working full time on The Rookies. Part of his job is travelling to visit recruiters and art directors at companies all over the world. The purpose of The Rookies is to foster talent and help young artists launch their careers.
In addition to stressing that the entertainment arts industries are now global, Alwyn shared some valuable insights about how to approach professionals to ask for feedback. He encouraged students to research studios that they might wish to work for early on to find out the level of skills necessary to get hired..
“Don’t wait until you graduate-“Alwyn said. “You want to be ahead of the curve, not beginning your research when you have grads from all the schools to compete with.”
Alwyn also discussed why uploading work onto the The Rookies website is an excellent idea, a way to create a page about yourself and your work so that recruiters and artists world wide can see your work. In addition, top professionals will judge what you’ve done, rate your work (the rating is not made public), and give you an idea of what you need to do to create a competitive portfolio.
Apart from valuable exposure, the sponsors for this website include major animation and video game companies who award internships. There are also cash awards.
The Rookies also has school pages, and top schools (Max the Mutt included) are profiled. Last year was the first time MTM participated, and, although it was announced late, most of the students who entered made it to the finals! We hope that this year all MTM students will take advantage of this opportunity and post their work.
After his presentation, Alwyn looked at work from many animation, concept art, and illustration students and seemed genuinely impressed by what he saw. “It’s not the size of the school,” he said, “but the talent and drive of the students to make it in these industries.” We can’t wait until June when this years entries will be judged! We think we’ll do very, very well!
Thanks for the visit, Alwyn!
Alwyn hunt speaking to MTM student about “The Rookies,” a website dedicated to promoting young artists worldwide.Alwyn with students and faculty.
Alwyn looking at Angela Matinong’s work (he loved it).
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!
Concept Art work by- Zabi Hassan (now entering year 3)
Background Layout Scene by 2016 graduate Mandy Wills
Character Designs by 2016 graduate Melissa Lodu
Congratulations to Max the Mutt’s Concept Art students:
Zabi Hassan, a 3rd year student this Fall, https://www.artstation.com/artist/zabi and Mandy Wills, a 2016 grad, https://www.artstation.com/artist/mandy169
Who were both selected by the Official Judging Panel at TheRookies for “The Drafts” section of their prestigious International Awards contest in the Illustration Category! They are among 12 chosen, for this section of the contest, as representing the most Impressive Work submitted by Students from 77 countries around the World in 2016!
And Congratulations to Melissa Lodu, a 2016 grad, https://www.artstation.com/artist/melissalodu, who was chosen as a semi finalist!
You can find the work of all finalists in this category here: http://www.therookies.co/results/draft/illustration
Max the Mutt College of Animation Art & Design will celebrate the work of 2016 graduates, as well as undergraduates!
2016 ‘Concept art’ graduate Harrison Smith (Camelot)
Acclaimed independent Toronto college of animation, art and design holds popular annual ‘Industry Event’ on May 18, and celebrating its 2016 graduates, gives the public a behind-the-scenes look at ‘Year-end Exhibition and Weekend Open House’ – with free workshops – on May 21 and 22
“A lot of potential talent here and we actually had two people working with us in the past. I would recommend it for students looking for a place.” – Mark Maia, creative director at Big Blue Bubble (Canada’s largest independent mobile gaming company)
“Really impressed with the student work. There are really talented people.” – Robert Anderson, supervising producer at 9 Story Media Group(world leading creator, producer and distributor of award-winning animated and live action content)
Toronto, ON, April 8, 2016 – Toronto’s Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art and Design (2944 Danforth Avenue, M3C 1M5) holds much anticipated annual ‘Industry Event’ for animation, gaming and publishing professionals on Wednesday, May 18 (2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), and gives the public a chance for a behind-the-scenes look at their year-end open house exhibition (free workshops with top industry pros) on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, 2016 (detailed open house schedule below).
Max the Mutt’s industry only event, represented by top companies including Entertainment, Big Blue Bubble, Drink Box Studios, 9 Story Media Group, Moovix Media, Corus/Nelvana, Portfolio Enterntainment, Toon Box, Yowza! Animation and more, gives the opportunity to students and graduates to display their work and for industry pros to scout for new recruits. Works to be on view include; children’s books, animation reels and slide shows, prop and character design, comic book pages, figurative and portrait paintings and much more.
Max the Mutt founder/director Maxine Schacker states, “Our year-end events are almost here! We’re happy to hear from so many companies that they will attend our Industry Event – it seems every year gets bigger! And we also look forward to welcoming the public to our weekend Open House, where we’re again providing free workshops on both Saturday and Sunday!”
OPEN HOUSE 2016 SCHEDULE:
Open to the public Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. The main reception is on the second floor (enter through the side door, elevator is available). Year-end student and graduate exhibition, curriculum information, school tours and free one-hour workshops on both days.
Ø Saturday, May 21:
10:30 a.m. – Doors open.
11:00 a.m. – Information Session; school philosophy, the curriculum for the three diploma programs, workshops and certificate programs. Followed by group school tours.
1:30 p.m.– Free workshop; ‘Comic Book Layout’ with head of Max the Mutt’s Illustration for Sequential Arts diploma program Kent Burles. Burles has worked with Malibu Comics on creating a series of Planet of the Apes comic books, and a series called The Adventurers. He also worked on many role playing games by Fasa, Steve Jackson, White Wolf, and recently on Anvil Galaxy and Rifts for Palladium Books.
5:00 p.m. – Doors close.
Ø Sunday, May 22:
11:00 a.m. – Doors open.
11:30 a.m. – Free workshop; ‘Cartooning’ with MTM’s animation director Tina Seemann. Seemann is the head of classical and computer animation, and a cartoonist. Her work has appeared on TVO’s children’s shows including Polka Dot Door and Bookmice, she designed the ‘Max the Mutt’ mascot and is currently working on a children’s book. Seemann has also taught animation at Sheridan College andthe Bell Centre for Creative Communication.
2:00 p.m. – Free workshop; ‘Character Design’ with MTM instructor Greg Beettam. He is a veteran comic book/graphic novel artist, freelance illustrator, graphic designer, writer and visual storytelling expert with more than 20 years experience. In addition to his work in comics, graphic novels and cartooning, he has worked in advertising as a concept artist, specializing in storyboards, story development, scriptwriting and presentation design.
3:30 p.m. – Doors close
Summer Programming: Workshops and Camps
Max the Mutt summer programming offers students an opportunity to upgrade skills or develop new ones. There are workshops and camps in drawing, painting, computer animation, cartooning and comic books and a new certificate program for Fine Art Skills & Portfolio Development. They are taught by the same industry professionals who teach in the diploma programs and they run on different dates starting from June 25 to August 2, 2016. See the website for full schedule: https://mtmcollege.ca/workshops-camps/.
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.
Every year, to celebrate the hard work and amazing progress of first year students, max the Mutt presents an exhibition of their work. After the private opening ( for students and their friends &families) we host an Open House...and you are all cordially invited!
Please join us on Saturday April 30, from 10 AM to 4 PM, and/or Sunday May 1 from 11Am to 3PM.
On Saturday at 10AM at a brief meeting in our theatre, we would like to share with you Max the Mutt’s unique vision and philosophy, speak about pre-college workshops and the new Certificate Program, and share information about the growth and skill requirements for the increasing number of animation, comic book and game related careers available in Canada.
(PS Our major Open House of the academic year will take place the weekend of May 20 to 22, when graduate work and new work from year 2 & 3 students will be on display, free workshops will be offered, and a Saturday AM presentation will be held about all diploma programs. Full details will be posted soon!)
Max the Mutt has always featured strong community, instructors who are working professionals, and small class size. After teaching several guest classes in Advanced Environment Design & Painting in Photoshop, and despite his busy schedule as Creative Director at Crush Visual Inc. in Toronto, top concept artist Frank Hong agreed yesterday to take on some classes for CA students beginning September 2016! This is exciting news for all of us. Frank joins a wonderful faculty, led by Concept Art Program Coordinator Jonathan Standing.
He told me he really enjoyed the environment and the enthusiasm of the students. We are all excited to have him as part of our community and look forward to getting to know him better.
Digital Painting by Frank HongSunflower Street by Frank HongDigital painting by Frank HongDigital painting by Frank Hong
Frank Hong has worked for major clients that include UbiSoft, Electronic Arts, and Legendary Pictures, and has been a featured artist on Concept Art World. http://conceptartworld.com/?p=3043
Max the Mutt offers the only in depth program in Canada that focuses entirely on concept art for animation & video games. Contact us now to arrange a tour!
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.
“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.
