Diploma Programs

How Does Being A Career College Make Max the Mutt Different?

The mandate of a career college is to prepare  students for careers. I value general, liberal arts education but feel that to teach the skill base necessary for careers in animation, sequential arts and concept art, as well as liberal arts subjects, we would need a longer program. We would also be weakened by the inability to have the best instructors available teaching: in a degree program in Canada, the instructor must have a higher degree than the one the students are trying to acquire. We would therefore lose some of our best and most qualified instructors, most of whom are outstanding working professionals. They know what the industries are looking for and how the industries are growing and changing.  we constantly benefit from our ability to respond quickly to their input and make adjustments to the curriculum without having to go through lengthy procedures.

As a career college,  we also have the freedom to create a serious, focused community environment that prepares individuals for the realities of  the workplace. Skills are only part of this. Professionalism and the ability to be a team player are equally important. Our students are expected to take direction, meet deadlines, get to class on time, be inclusive, and treat everyone with respect.  Any behavior that would not be acceptable at work, is not acceptable at Max the Mutt.  These are not just words for us. We have a commitment to protect every student’s right to an optimum learning environment, and every instructor’s right to teach respectful, serious students. The intensity of the course of study in all our diploma programs, means that we aren’t the right school for everyone. Quite honestly, not every student is interested in having to work as long and hard as these programs demand. We need students  who are excited by learning, are self motivated,and appreciate high standards. For these individuals, there’s palpable excitement as skills grow.

Our graduates tell us  they had no difficulty making the transition to the work world, and employers tell us that they consistently find our graduates great to work with.

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Industry Night and Graduation 2010

We are in the midst of redesigning our website, and have also been incredibly busy with Industry Night and graduation,  so please excuse our being behind in updating information on the website!

Both evenings were positive events  and  graduates have many job opportunities. Megan Leonard was tested the next day for a job animating for 9 Story…and starts work Tuesday! Congratulations, Megan.

Former Max the Mutt students and graduates  Tess Tolmatchev, Matt DiLallo,  Matt Mozgiel and Kelley Conley attended as representatives of their companies!  It was great to see them again.

Maxine Schacker and Tina Seemann with former graduates Tess Tolmatchev, Matt DiLallo,  Matt Mozgiel and Kelley Conley

Maxine Schacker and Tina Seemann with former graduates Tess Tolmatchev, Matt DiLallo, Matt Mozgiel and Kelley Conley

We’ll let you know as other graduates start working. Of our 14 animation graduates, 4 are international students returning to their own countries and 5 are returning to Max the Mutt in September to do the Advanced Diploma in 3D Computer Animation and Production.  Of the 4 remaining graduates, one is a competitive rider and is considering taking a year to be with her horses. That leaves 3, and we think the chances are very good that they’ll be employed very soon. Animation jobs in Toronto, after a hiatus, have opened up.

The Illustration graduates are entering a different kind of field. They will be freelancing, speaking with editors and art directors, going to comic book conventions to show their work. Art editors from several Toronto publishing houses were very impressed with the work they saw and plan to contact graduates. One graduate is already working with Ty Templeton. We’ll try to keep on top of their employment success and report it.

Thanks to Justin Gabrie from Marvel who took the time to fly up from New York City, address students in the afternoon, and attend Industry Night. We really appreciate your joining us, Justin, to celebrate the first graduating class in Illustration for Sequential Arts.

@ Industry Night

Dave Ross and Justin Gabrie (MARVEL)@ Industry Night

Dave Ross and Justin Gabrie (MARVEL) posing with a Max the Mutt Student

Justin Gabrie (MARVEL) and Dave Ross having fun posing with Te'Shawn Dwyer, a Max the Mutt student

Have a nice weekend everyone! Photos will come soon….

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Why Do Animation Students Need Year Four?

Max the Mutt is retooling the animation program to put more emphasis on acting, storytelling, and character animation. In fact we will specialize in character animation. The culmination of this, is the fourth year: students not only deepen their knowledge of Maya, they work under a professional director on a real film project in which they are the animators.

In today’s world knowledge of 3D, married to a solid drawing and classical background and good timing and acting, will get good jobs for animators. in addition to the plethora of video game companies that will be looking for animators, we now have Pixar in Vancouver, and Starz in Toronto. The following article will be of interest to all current and incoming animation students.

Starz Canuck studio puts US$11.3 million in financing in place

by: Nov 24, 2009

Fresh from receiving a US$21.7 million cash infusion from the government of Canadian province Ontario, Starz Animation Toronto has secured a US$11.3-million deal with the Royal Bank of Canada to interim finance local tax breaks on behalf of Hollywood clients.

The five-year deal will enable the Toronto studio to pass savings onto studios and indie producers that sub-contract their computer animation to Starz Animation, which opened in 2007 and has since completed five animated features, including this year’s 9 for Focus Features and Tim Burton.

“In an environment where the ability to gain access to credit has been constricted, we’re able to reduce [Hollywood's] cash requirements,” said Jeff Young, VP of finance and business development at Starz.

The loonie may be surging in value compared to the US dollar, but Starz Animation studio head David Steinberg said producers can still secure up to 45% in immediate production cost saving on a typical US$18.9-million animated feature by tapping the federal and Ontario film tax credit and the province’s digital animation tax credit — and banking the refunds with the RBC.

The Toronto studio, now employing around 300 CGI artists, is currently at work on Gnomeo & Juliet, an animated feature for Miramax Films and Elton John’s Rocket Pictures, and the CBS Christmas special Yes Virginia, set to air Dec. 11.

On the proprietary side, Starz has acquired the original screenplay Q from Toy Story writers Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen, who will produce the animated feature about marionettes in New York’s Central Park who escape from their theater to embark on a fantastical adventure.

Steinberg explained the studio has an incentive to keep work flowing through the Toronto studio. The recent deal with the Ontario government to retain local high tech jobs in the province pays Starz Animation fees based on how many employees it has at work in front of its computers over the next five years.

“It’s an investment strategy that incentive-izes us to bring the jobs here,” Steinberg said.

The studio head added Starz is in talks with potential new investors or partners on future film and TV co-productions.

“The RBC deal is a sign of confidence of investment in this studio,” Steinberg said.

From Playback Online

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Alexander Ahilov Joins Max the Mutt Concept Art Faculty!

We are happy to announce that Alex Ahilov will teach a major Max the Mutt  Concept Art course,  “Advanced Environment Design and Painting in Photoshop. “  Alex was a senior level designer, environment artist and concept artist at Pseudo Interactive, and is currently Senior Layout Artist and Concept Designer at Digital Extremes where he is currently working on Bioshock 2 Multiplayer.

Alex is also an exhibiting artist. He received his education at The Academy of fine Arts in Sofia,  Bulgaria.

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2009: First Semester Faculty

Our “faculty” page needs updating! Bios for new faculty members will be available very soon. Please bear with us: we are short staffed and very busy. I have placed an asterisk besides new faculty names.

Fall 2009 Semester - List of Instructors

Program: Classical and Computer Animation Basics

Year 1

Beginning Life Drawing - Jock MacRae

Principles of Drawing - Vivian Felsen

Perspective & Structural Drawing - Bojan Redzic and Jelena Sisic

Representational Painting - Trudy Binder

History of Animation- Maury Whyte

Design & Composition - Jock MacRae, Scott Cameron
Year 2

Intermediate Life Drawing - Ed Shawcross

Cartooning for Animation - Tina Seemann

Layout for Animation - Bojan Redzic

Introduction to Storyboarding - Maury Whyte

*Cleanup & Inbetweening -Phillip Street

Background Painting - Jelena Sisic

Digital Editing Basics (non diploma) - Niall Dowdell
Flash (non diploma) - Bojan Redzic

Year 3

*Advanced Life Drawing - Geordie Millar

Drawing Hands & Feet - Steve Millard

*Animation Basics 3 - James Miko

*Animal Drawing - Maureen Shelleau

Character Design - Steve Millard

Digital background Painting, 2 week intensive - Knud Skov

Fall 2009 Semester - List of Instructors
Program: Illustration for Sequential Arts

Year 1

Beginning Life Drawing - Nina Bunjevac

Principles of Drawing - Vivian Felsen & Steve Millard

Perspective & Structural Drawing - Bojan Redzic

Representational Painting - Trudy Binder

Design & Composition - Jock MacRae, Scott Cameron

Year 2

Intermediate Life Drawing - Ed Shawcross

Cartooning for Comics 1 - Tina Seemann

Comic Book Layout and Composition - Kent Burles

Inking 1 - Bojan Redzic

Drawing Background, Props and Structures for Comics - Dave Ross

*Cinematic Storytelling and Story Development ( 2 week intensive) - Ken Steacy

History of Sequential Art - Kent Burles

Drawing Heads & Features - Steve Millard

Year 3

Advanced Life Drawing - Ed Shawcross

Drawing Hands & Feet - Steve Millard

Character Design for Comics & Graphic Novels - Bojan Redzic

Advanced Page Composition and Penciling - Dave Ross

Computer Coloring & Lettering - Jock MacRae

*Illustration for Children’s Books Part 1 - Dusan Petricic

*Animal Drawing - Maureen Shelleau

Fall 2009 Semester - List of Instructors
Program: Concept Art

Year 1

Beginning Life Drawing - Ed Shawcross

Principles of Drawing - Vivian Felsen

Perspective 1 - Dimitri Kostic

Representational Painting - Trudy Binder

Design & Composition - Jock MacRae

Structural Drawing - Dave Ross

History of Animation - Maury Whyte

Year 2

Intermediate Life Drawing - Ed Shawcross

Introduction to Concept Art - Don Gauthier

Environment Visualization - Sasa Radosavcevic

Understanding Basic Animation - Bojan Redzic

Cartooning 1 - Tina Seemann

Drawing Props & Structures (2 week intensive) - Bojan Redzic

Background Painting - Jelena Sisic

Digital Background Painting - Jelena Sisic

Year 3

Digital Background Painting (2 week intensive) - Knud Skov

*Environment Visualization (2 week intensive) - Sasa Radosavcevic

*Advanced Life Drawing - Geordie Millar

*Portrait Painting in Oil - Gregory Furmanczyk

Drawing Hands & Feet - Steve Millard

Understanding Basic Animation - Bojan Redzic

*Advanced Environment Design & Painting in Photoshop - Paul Cieniuch

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Max the Mutt: The School for Concept Art, Sequential Arts & Animation

We were one of the first, if not the first, schools to offer an in-depth program dedicated to Concept Art.  The general level of work produced at the school by Max the Mutt Concept Art students is very high, and very prolific! If you can’t make it to the school to see the year end show,  when the new web galleries are finally live (sometime in the middle of July)  you’ll get to see the work produced by first and second year CA students.  Please let me know if you agree with me about the quality of work produced during the ‘08-’09 academic year.

I was also very happy to see the Illustration for Sequential Arts year two work. These second year Max the Mutt Comics and Graphic Novels students are a very dedicated, hard working group and produced impressive work!

I’ll be writing soon about some of the amazing new instructors joining us this year. They are interested in teaching at Max the Mutt because of the quality of work on exhibit.

It was easy to go to my studio today and concentrate on nothing but my own painting! I am feeling so good about the way things are going.

I haven’t mentioned animation, and I should have. Steve Sayer and Steve Barnes really are a dynamic duo!  you can see them on the grduation/ industry evening video. The 3D work is outstanding, and I’m sure the group film, as well as several of the year 3  Toon Boom films, will be contenders for awards.

Max the Mutt is definitely the school for Concept Art, Illustration for Sequential Arts, and, of course, Animation!

Have a good summer everyone!

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