It’s a very unique experience being part of Max the Mutt. We are really very connected to each other, all of us, faculty, students and support staff. It seems to be getting better and better as the personality and nature of the school have become clearer, and the students who are coming to Max the Mutt are more fully embracing total immersion into the arts they are studying.We know the third year animation students as individuals, and they know us. The mutual respect this year has made it a joy, and the hard work on everyone’s part has resulted in some outstanding work. I feel confident that everyone will graduate.Third year animation students still have a month to go.Portfolio Development is a course you have to pass to graduate. Each student submits a portfolio, throw away portfolio, and a demo real. In addition, students will be working on their films, which are done in ToonBoom Animation Pro. They need a minimum of a pass in that course as well. They have class every day for four weeks. With completion of the final film, the demo reel can be completed. This is followed by a final interview with two industry professionals. Each student shows both portfolios and the demo reel.We then hold our industry evening. All the animation companies are invited to see graduate work and films. Its a gala evening.Are we tired? You bet we are! But we are also feeling proud and excited.Ten third year students are applying for year four (which I’ve written about on this blog) and are applying for internships for the summer, and five others will be looking for employment.I’ll let you all know the outcomes. Films and art work will be on the gallery page by early June.Its been - and continues to be - a very exciting year. I hope that all of you who live close enough will visit us in June when the graduate work (as well as year 2 work) is on display. The first year show is also definitely worth seeing. The learning curve in first year is mind boggling!By the way, next year (2009) will be the first time we’ll have people graduating from both year 3 and year 4 animation programs, and Illustration for Sequential Arts. It will be another year after that when the first Concept Art students graduate.The goal is to keep each diploma program small enough so that we keep the unique nature of the school.We look forward to your visits to Max the Mutt.