Megan Jessup.
“I am currently a second year animation student at Max the Mutt, and I love it! I did three years of fine art before coming to this school and I found I learned more in my first semester at Max than I did in three years of “fine art”.
If you’re looking for a school that will give you a good solid understanding and training in the traditional skills of art Max the Mutt is a school to definitely look into.”

Dan Kitchen.
“I am the studio technical director and post production supervisor at Providential Pictures. Max the Mutt is starting to take over here as well now as we just hired 3 Max grads, Tess, Magda and Tabitha and as well, Jordan Denenberg works here still. I will have to come by for a visit as I have had some other great experiences since I graduated almost 2 years ago now.”

Philip Ducharme - Big Soul Productions Inc.
We were very impressed with the quality of work and professionalism of the two Max the Mutt graduates that we recently interviewed and look forward to working with them on our animated series ‘By The Rapids’. We are also excited about the possibility of bringing on a couple of student interns for the summer.

Keith Fukumoto.
“I graduated in 2006. I’ve been working for Fatkat Animation Studio for 1 year and 4 months in Miramichi, NB.
I animated for 1 year on a flash television show called Super Normal that is currently broadcasting across the UK.
I was promoted to 1 of 4 animation supervisors and was responsible for 4-6 animators and all of the scenes I received from them. That project ended and since September I’ve been an animator on a classically animated cartoon called Three Delivery which is completely hand drawn. It will be on YTV in a year or so. www.threedelivery.com”

Ryan Wall.
Inbetweener and Clean-Up Artist, Calabash Animation (Chicago, Illinois)
“Not only does Max the Mutt Animation stress hard work and dedication to it’s students, it also puts a great deal of emphasis on professionalism and courtesy. Max the Mutt teaches students to be the best artists and the best people that they can be.”

Francisco Garcia
“When I first came to Canada back in June, 2003, I took a portfolio development course at Max the Mutt Animation School. My experience in that course and through the whole year of the animation program was amazing. I can truly say that Max the Mutt’s greatest asset is a real commitment to the students. The friendly environment, the quality of the teachers and the well-taught courses make you feel like part of a family, where people care what you do, and give you the key to your potential.”

Dale Hayward
“The skills that I have gained from this school will constantly stay with me, and working with such talented mentors has been a great gift. The first hand experience that I have received from Max the Mutt Animation is of the utmost value, as it has gone far beyond what any other school could offer me. I have not only gained valuable experience in the field of animation, but lessons in life.”

Tom Bradnam
“In the last 8 months I have worked on 7 different shows all ranging from different style of animation and jumping from flash to classical. The list includes “George of the Jungle”, “Stargirls”, “Apollo’s Pad”, “Exiles” and “Stardust”
I can honestly say that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for Max The Mutt. Everything that I learned has proven not only useful but critical to survive in this industry. I had a great time and met life long friends in my time there. So to every one that taught and inspired me in my three years at Max The Mutt I say. Thank You. Not only for the skills and tools that you taught me but also the level of professionalism and passion for the arts that I believe has been a major part of my success this year.”

Matt Rose - Associate Artist and Assistant Art Lead, Electronic Arts
“Max the Mutt has the best faculty and curriculum of any school I’ve seen. Breaking into the games industry has been my biggest goal for as long as I can remember, and it’s due to the solid fine arts training that I secured my position at Electronic Arts.”

Maxine and Alain Nov. 2nd 2007.

Alain Heese-Boutin is an Alumni of Max the Mutt Animation School, Toronto.

At Max the Mutt Animation School we are constantly in touch with our graduates who have embarked on great careers in the animation and

gaming industries. This sense of community is very important to us; it results in an ongoing dialogue between our past students and those

currently studying at the school. Read the rest of this entry »

Twenty-two year old Keith Fukumoto had already decided by the age of 12 that nothing was going to stop him becoming an animator. Today he is realizing his dream as a “Flash Animator” at Fatkat Animation Studio in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

Keith joined Fatkat early September 2006 right after graduating from Max the Mutt Animation School in downtown Toronto this past summer. He believes his drawing skills and background in classical animation training obtained at Max the Mutt was what landed him his dream job and he couldn’t be more thrilled. “Right now I am working on a flash animation tv show…animating everything - like special fx, character animation, camera movements. They allow us to be creative with all of it…it’s loads of fun,” he explains enthusiastically. “The job as a whole is a cool experience…one of the employees brings in their dog. The dog adds to the great atmosphere by bringing down stress levels. The people I get to work with every day have become close friends and when the team finishes an episode and we watch the end result…I can’t describe how rewarding that is,” he adds.

Keith had lived in hectic Toronto his whole life and felt he was ready for a change so when the opportunity at Fatkat in Miramichi became available he jumped at the chance to move to New Brunswick. So far his experiences have been great and he also finds it funny that dogs and cats seem to keep popping into his life. “Something that I find funny,” he says…”is that I graduated from Max the Mutt Animation School and now am working for Fatkat Animation Studios! Talk about kats and dogs!”

For Fatkat Animation Studio go to http://www.fatkatanimation.com/

At Max the Mutt Animation School we are constantly in touch with our graduates who have embarked on great careers in the animation and gaming industries. This sense of community is very important to us; it results in an ongoing dialogue between our past students and those currently studying at the school.

One such opportunity for current students to hear first hand invaluable industry experience was the visit of Matt Rose, a team leader for EA Games Vancouver (class of 2004). Matt spoke to students at length and was quick to point out how important skill sets and levels of professionalism taught at Max the Mutt have been to his career.

Another alumni who recently happened to drop by and visit with school director Maxine Schacker was Sean Ng Qui Sang (Class of 2001). Sean has worked for Lynn Johnston of “For Better or For Worse” fame assisting with the development of her website and is currently living in England where he animates with Flash.

It is a wonderful experience seeing our graduates lead fulfilling professional lives and we encourage them to come back to share that with us!

Photo from left to right: Maxine Schacker, Sean Nq Qui Sang, Matt Rose, Tina Seemann