“Workshops do not require approval under the Private Career Colleges ACT 2005″.

REGISTRATION TERMS

*Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and is limited to the same space restrictions as our diploma programs (15-17 students). Advanced registration is recommended for all courses. All registration is subject to availability. Instructors are subject to change without notice.

*Goods and Services Tax is applied to non-diploma courses (workshops / seminars etc.) if payment is made prior to July 1, 2010. After that date, the new H.S.T. of 13% will be applied.

*Materials are not included in the costs.  Digital programs will be run on Max the Mutt computers.

*Tax receipts (T2202A) are not given on non-vocational courses.

PAYMENT

*Do not send cash or credit card information by mail.
*There is a one-time non-refundable $25.00 application fee for new applicants used for administration purposes.

Payment methods are:

1. Over the telephone with a credit card.
2. By mail: mail in check, money order, or draft only after you have spoken to a representative.
3. In-person: Stop by the office during office hours with a check, money order, or credit card. (We discourage cash.)

For courses under $400.00, full payment plus the $25.00 one-time application fee (if applicable) is required.

For courses over $400.00, a minimum of $100.00 plus the $25.00 one-time application fee (if applicable) is required.

REFUNDS AND WITHDRAW

*Payment must be in full prior to the beginning of the first class. After the beginning of the first class, there is NO refund.

To receive a refund, you must ensure that the Office receives a written request to withdraw as follows:

• Prior to the start of the class: 10% of the course cost + tax (registration fee if applicable is not refunded)
• There is no refund after the first class.

Absence from classes does not constitute notice of withdrawal.

Allow 30 days for processing and mail delivery of refund check.

CANCELLATION OF CLASSES

Max the Mutt Animation School reserves the right to cancel programs; in the event of cancellation, a full refund will be provided.

To ensure that we are able to run your preferred classes, we recommend that you enroll at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the program.

In the event of course cancellation, registrants will be notified 48 hours / 2 working days prior to the scheduled commencement of the course and a full refund will be provided.

STUDENT INFORMATION

Please notify the office of your change of address, telephone number, and email to ensure that you received important information.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS (conditions)

• Students may not be contacted when the school is closed due to weather.
• We will provide every effort for make-up classes but they cannot be guaranteed.
• When a class is cancelled due to weather and is one of a series of classes, a make-up class will be rescheduled and will be left up to the majority discretion of the class and teacher.
• If a one day class is canceled and a make-up class cannot be rescheduled, a full refund will be given.

You may fax your request to withdraw to 416-703-3930.
Please include: Name, course name, reason for withdrawal and your signature.

I understand that Max the Mutt Animation School is entitled to use photocopies of my artwork and video copies of my assignments for purposes of promotion.

Max the Mutt Animation School
952 Queen Street West, Suite 300
Toronto, ON. M6J 1G8
Canada

Phone: 416-703-6877,
Toll-free: 1-877-486-MUTT,
Fax: 416-703-3930
Website: www.maxthemutt.com/

I just found this on the internet and thought all of you who want to write in graphic format for kids would enjoy it!

Happy holidays, everyone.

Maxine

Art Spiegelman turns his talent to young readers

Defender of the graphic novel now creating reading primers

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | 6:03 PM ET Comments1Recommend13

CBC News

Jack and the Box by Art Spiegelman uses graphic storytelling to develop a love of reading in young people. (Toon Books)Art Spiegelman, who moved the graphic novel into adult territory with his Pulitzer Prize-winning comic Maus, has set out to generate more respect for the comic form for young readers.

He is creating a series of books he refers to as primers for readers age five or six who are just learning to decode language.

Jack and the Box, a book just released by his wife Francoise Mouly’s publishing imprint Toon Books, is the latest in the series.

“Now I’d actually like to shine a flashlight on the really engaging deep literature for kids which can happen in comics,” Spiegelman told CBC’s cultural affairs show Q.

He believes the simple primers that start with “See Dick run” bore children and underestimate their intelligence.

“It’s a matter of thinking that kids, because they’re not experienced in the world, they’re somehow stupid. It’s a Victorian notion that their minds are innocent, and they are, but they’re also hungry,” he said.

Jack and the Box is the story of an unpredictable and rather scary toy. It looks like a picture book, but it’s not aimed at three year olds, Spiegelman said.

“The goal is not teaching the [younger] kid who is just learning the notion of up and the notion of down… it’s for the kid who has to look at these arbitrary squiggles from left to right and turn them into language and learn to enjoy what a book is,” he said.

“Comics, by acting out and showing you things that happen from moment to moment — even more than a picture book, having the text be the dialogue, so it’s not a repetition of the picture but carrying more information — invites one into reading,” he said.

Spiegelman has been a champion of the comic, creating underground comics in the 1970s, the anthology Raw in the 1980s and the Pulitzer Prize-winner Maus, the story of his family’s survival of the Holocaust, in graphic novel form in the 1990s.

He’s done work for children right down the line, from his Garbage Pail Kids comics for a gum company to the well-regarded Little Lit series he did with his wife. Spiegelman said he always knew that comics were turning kids into readers and lovers of literature.

“That turned into wanting to give back the real pleasures of what I think were the greatest accomplishments of children’s literature in the last century, which were comic books for kids,” he said.

“They were the most sophisticated and rich kid’s literature, but kind of got cast in the same shadowy danger zone as other comics by people who refer to all comics as junk literature.”

Recently, in trying to explain our Sequential Arts Program, I wrote:

“There is no ambiguity about this: our role is to empower students by teaching them the language of graphic expression. The goal is to enable them to find their own style and voice, not to perpetuate one particular genre.”

We are not limiting students to one market. We are giving them the education and the opportunity to develop skills for all graphic storytelling art forms: the children’s market, the indie market, the graphic novel market, as well as more traditional outlets. We have the same goals for every diploma program. Our goal is to educate. We want our students to have a deep enough understanding of their areas of interest to fulfill the demands of current markets, while having the ability to innovate and adjust to an ever changing world. I should add that we are committed to emphasizing the individual responsibility we each have for the content of our work and the effect popular culture has on society. We will not accept gratuitous violence, sadism, or violent sexuality as part of student projects.

Now that first semester is over, we can all enjoy looking back at the September welcoming outing for new students from outside the GTA, and the school BBQ and awards ceremony. It hardly seems possible that the school winter holiday party is the day after tomorrow!

“Every year prior to orientation week, Max the Mutt arranges an outing for incoming students who are new to Toronto, in order to familiarize them with our great city. This year’s outing was kicked off with a neighborhood walk followed by Toronto’s famous Hippo Tour. Students then enjoyed a carefree visit to Toronto’s landmarks followed by our traditional ferry ride to Toronto Island for lunch.” Sun was followed by clouds and then rain which did not dampen our spirits.

Carol Stewart presents the three year “Sean Michael Stewart Memorial Scholarship”.

Stewart Johnston presents on behalf of “The Bradley Mark Johnston Educational Foundation”.

Tina Seemann presents the full tuition  “New Canadians Scholarship” to a full time student entering first year of any diploma program.

This photo was taken on the outing to the Royal Ontario Museum.

We also visited Riverdale Zoo.

Starts February 5, 2009 (Thursday evenings).

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Description: This program is geared to students who are interested in submitting portfolios for entrance into visual arts programs. The “round robin” concept has been developed so you can sign up for the areas of interest that you would benefit from. As room and space will be limited to 17 students in each session, you should choose your areas of interest soon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Another dynamic presentation, this time by Ramon Perez, a professional cartoonist/writer and Max The Mutt faculty member, whose wide-ranging repertoire includes comic books, role/playing games, editorial illustration and, according to Ramon himself, anything intriguing that crosses his path.

Ramon encouraged students to foster qualities such as courage and adaptability in order to meet the shifting demands of the comics industry today; the talk was accompanied by an impressive slide presentation and an even more impressive string of amusing anecdotes.

For a slice of Ramon Perez and hist current projects go to:

www.cranialpercolations.com

We were delighted to hear Barack Obama refer to himself as a “Mutt.” All the mutts welcome him to the fold.

I am particularly interested in issues concerning education and am hoping that the newest “Mutt” will spearhead  reform  in the US that will serve as a blueprint for the world.

In my opinion, it isn’t effective or cost-effective to turn trades and crafts into degree programs. Throwing road blocks,  both academic and financial,  in the way of students gifted in non-academic subjects makes no sense to me. Nor does limiting instructors to individuals with the right papers.  Some subjects demand hands-on current industry experience, not academic degrees.

I’m interested in your comments. Please let me know your thoughts on the current state of affairs.

Our goal at Max the Mutt is one we can probably never achieve: we want every student to succeed.  To that end, we try to assess applications to our programs for more than artistic potential.  We look for passion and drive, the ability to listen and follow directions, an inquisitive mind that wants to solve problems, the desire to do the best one is capable of…. success is dependent on a number of qualities that have very little to do with innate talent.

Some students  dream of becoming an animator, or comic artist, or concept artist but  have never had to work hard consistently or apply themselves to learning difficult but necessary skills.  Staying organized,  working even when they aren’t in the mood,  continuing to work  when an exercise  isn’t coming easily…these are challenges for them.

The first semester of first year can be difficult.  Happily, it’s been our experience that most of the students  struggling with discipline will finally make the leap, and will begin to discover the pleasures and rewards of focus, hard work, and what Confucius called “qualities of attention.”

The reality of learning any skill is that it takes  application and hard work.  Applying yourself to learning  skills that will enable you to express your vision is easier if you understand the connections and what the eventual pay off will be.  This is called delayed gratification. It requires motivation and self discipline. No one can do this for you but yourself.

We all need to remember that there are highs and lows for everyone, and there are times when all of us feel frustrated and may want to give up. That’s where drive, passion and and a belief in our own power to grow come to the rescue.

My advice to individuals having a hard time right now is to rethink the way you are approaching learning. Be determined.  Be organized.  Take responsibility for listening, following directions, staying focused in class. Give assignments your best shot. Work when you should be working and play when you’re playing.  Keep a positive attitude - take some time every day to sit quietly and see yourself succeeding. Look at work that inspires you.  Get at least a half hour of exercise every day, even if it’s walking to school.  Watch your nutrition-  drink enough water, stay away from junk food, bring healthy snacks to keep your energy levels stable.  Take pride in the quality of your efforts. Right now, you’re in a serious program. Vacation will come before you know it.

Right now,  your education is your priority. Give it your best shot. That’s all anyone can expect from you and it’s all you can expect from yourself.  The odds are good that if you listen and do your work, you’ll learn and you’ll succeed.

First year students celebrating Halloween: