Preparing Students for Careers Where Skills and Professionalism Count.

MAXINE SCHACKER, Founder and Director of Max the Mutt Animation School, is an artist who has exhibited in Montreal, Toronto and New York. She studied with Robert Beverly Hale, world-famous Instructor of Drawing and Anatomy at the Art Students League of New York. She has taught painting, life drawing and anatomy for the Illustration and Animation programs at Sheridan College, and the Bell Centre for Creative Communication at Centennial College.

TINA SEEMANN, Director of Animation, is a cartoonist and character designer whose work has appeared on TV Ontario’s, “Polka Dot Door,” “Book Mice” and “Today’s Special” to name a few. Tina is currently designing the characters for the Max the Mutt Animation feature production “The Jazz Bears”. She has taught animation at Sheridan College and the Bell Centre for Creative Communication.

ALEXANDER AHILOV a graduate of fine arts in Sofia Bulgaria has many years of experience in the Video game industry where he has worked as a senior level designer, layout artist, environment and concept artist. He is currently a senior layout artist and designer for Digital Extremes where he is working on Bioshock 2 Multiplayer.

STEPHEN BARNES is a character animator who returned to Canada after many years animating for Pixar. He worked on “Toy story 2,” “A Bugs Life,” and was a lead animator for “Monsters Inc.” After returning to Toronto, he was lead animator on Disney’s “The Wild.” He is currently working on an independent film project.

SARAH JOY BENNETT is an actress who has worked in film and television as well as theater. In addition to her training at Concordia University, she studied at L’Ecole Phillipe Gaulier in Paris, France, and Antonio Fava School of Commedia del Arte in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

TRUDY BINDER is a graduate of the Sheridan College illustration program, and worked for many years as a colour stylist for animation at Nelvana.

NINA BUNJEVAC is a fine artist, comic book and graphic novel artist who has exhibited in Toronto and internationally. She has produced and self-published several graphic novellas for which she was awarded a Writers Reserve Grant from The Ontario Arts Counsel. She is a regular contributor and editor for the international edition of “ Don’t Touch Me Comics.”

KENT BURLES is an illustrator whose love of the comic and fantasy genres led him into the comic and role-playing game industries. He worked with Malibu Comics on creating a series of Planet of The Apes comic books, as well as a series called “The Adventurers.” He has also worked on many role playing games by Fasa, Steve Jackson, White Wolf, and recently on” Anvil Galaxy” and “Rifts for Palladium Books.”

SCOTT CAMERON has been an illustrator since he completed OCA in 1984. He was a background painter for Disney Canada . As an illustrator he has numerous credits including magazine covers and children’s books, and was nominated for a Governor General’s Award for Illustration for his work on “Beethoven Lives Upstairs.”

SCOTT CHANTLER is a graphic novelist and popular commercial illustrator whose past and present clients include the New York Daily News the National Post, the Toronto Star and Maclean’s Magazine. He is currently working on 2 major graphic book projects: Two Generals, a non-fiction graphic novel based on his grandfathers experiences in WW2; and Three Thieves, a series of fantasy adventure graphic novels.

VIVIAN FELSEN is a figurative and abstract painter whose work has been widely exhibited and collected in Canada and internationally. She joined Max The Mutt Animation School in 1999 and has taught both painting and drawing.

FABIOLA FILETTI has worked in the animation industry for almost twenty years in both 2D and 3D animation as a Manager/ Supervisor/ Production Coordinator/Checker/Artist. Film credits include the National Film Board's "Karate Kids" and Warner Bros' Looney Tunes Back in Action.

GREGORY FURMANCZYK a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, is a professional portrait painter who has done state, corporate and ecclesiastical commissions. Some of his notable paintings include the official state portrait of the Honourable John Fraser, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Dr. James Ham, president of The University of Toronto.

JOSE GASCON HURTADO received his training in Spain where for many years he was an animator and animation supervisor. He was Art Director for Disney’s “Legends of the Ring of Fire”. He has also headed many pre-production departments.

DON GAUTHIER was a background supervisor and art director for Disney Canada’s “Little Mermaid 2,” “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas,” “Return to Neverland” and “Beauty and the Beast, The Enchanted Christmas.” For Nelvana, he has worked as a background painter on series such as “Jacob Two-Two,” and was the concept artist and Art director for series such as “Spliced,’ and “Grossology.” He is currently the Art Director and head concept artist for Red Rover Creative in Toronto.

VLADAN IGNJATOVIC, a graduate if the University of Fine Art in Belgrade has worked as a colour key designer and background supervisor, senior designer, illustrator, and background painter. He is also an established fine artist with numerous exhibitions worldwide.

DIMITRI KOSTIC illustrated many children's books in his native Yugoslavia. He has years of experience as storyboard artist/director for Warner Bros., Nelvana, and Cuppa Coffee.

JOCK MACRAE is a skilled illustrator and graphic designer. He has been an art director, has worked in advertising creating illustrations for print media, and has extensive experience as a children’s book illustrator.

NOAM MARKUS has acted in numerous theatrical productions in Canada, the U.S. and abroad. He also has extensive teaching experience in physical theatre, mime and improvisation.

JAMES MIKO has had an extensive career as an oversees director on animated features such as Charlotte’s Web 11 and “Tom and Jerry – The feature;” a producer and animator for Sesame Street, Animation director for TV series such as “Back to The Future,” “Johnny Bravo” and “Spielberg’s Tinytoons.” In addition to having his own company, he has directed in Los Angeles for Warner Brothers , Film Roman, Hyperion, Universal/Colossal and Nickelodeon.

GEORDIE MILLAR is an exhibiting fine artist and educator who received his training at the Art Student’s League of New York and The National Academy. He has been an instructor of Life Drawing and Anatomy for 12 years and has a specialization in animal drawing.

STEVE MILLARD has worked as a character designer for Disney Canada and Nelvana, where he designed characters for many shows including “The Berenstein Bears,” and “Max and Ruby.” He is currently a character designer for 9 Story Animation.

KEN NICE is currently an architectural illustrator. From 1996-1999 he was a background painter for Walt Disney in Toronto.

DUSAN PETRICIC is the award-winning illustrator of more than 20 books for children including Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur “written by Mordecai Richler.” A former professor of illustration and book design, Petricic’s work appears in the New York Times, Scientific American, The Wall Street Jornal and the Toronto Star.

JEAN PILLOTE has contributed to over 20 animated television series and two feature films, ranging from traditional to 3D and Flash animation. In 1999 he received the Quebec Gemini Award for Best Director of An Animated Series for the first season of “Caillou.”

SASA RADOSAVCEVIC has worked for many years as a concept artist for Nelvana, where he worked as a location and prop designer, and is now Design Supervisor. He was an environment designer for the animated features “All Dogs Go to heaven 2,” and “Franklin the Turtle,”

BOJAN REDZIC has over 16 years experience in all aspects of animation, illustration, and comic book art. An international award-winner, he has worked for companies in Europe, Mexico and Canada, and is currently Production Director for Big Soul Productions in Toronto.

DAVE ROSS has drawn and written for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on “Captain America,” “Spiderman,” “Batgirl,” “Star Trek,” “Daredevil,” "Birds of Prey" and "JLA: Act of God,” among many other projects. He was also an artist for the series "Rai" at Valiant,” and has worked as a concept designer and layout artist for animation.

PETER ROE has worked for Nelvana since 1996 as a storyboard artist, assistant director, background and layout artist and designer. Peter’s television credits include “Ned’s Newt,” “Moville Mysteries,” “Bob and Margaret,” and the upcoming “Spliced.”

STEPHEN SAYER holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a diploma in Classical Animation. His combined scientific and animation background has resulted in a deep understanding of 3D Computer Animation. He has his own business specializing in computer animation, traditional and digital artwork, storyboarding and digital photo-editing.

ED SHAWCROSS is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and an artist with many exhibitions to his credit. He has taught at Sheridan College and Dundas Valley, and is past President of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.

MAUREEN SHELLEAU has been a senior animator and animation supervisor on feature films such as “Pippi Longstockin,” “All Dogs Go To heaven,” and “Little bear.” She has also worked as a character designer and poser, and as an illustrator, mural artist, painter and sculptor specializing in animals.

JELENA SISIC has designed and illustrated children’s books. She painted color keys for Disney’s “Gargoyle” series, and is currently a senior background artist and supervisor for Nelvana.

KNUD SKOV is an illustrator, graphic designer, layout and background painting artist for film. He has worked for Nelvana, Funbag, Lacewood/Amberwood and was layout supervisor for Pacific Rim Animation in their studio in Shenzen, China.

KEN STEACY has written and illustrated the exploits of many popular characters including Astro Boy, Harry Potter, That Man, Superman, Spiderman and the X -Men. He has worked for many years with LucasFilms, producing stories and computer rendered illustrations for Star Wars books.

PHILIP STREET, in addition to working as an animator for the CBC, is the creator of the syndicated comic strip “Fisher” which appears daily in the Globe and Mail.

ROKSOLANA TCHOTCHIEVA, is a fine artist who was trained at a the V.I. Surikov State Acedemic Institute of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia where she studied for 7 years. She is currently an exhibiting fine artist and also runs a fine art school for children.

MAURY WHYTE is a storyboard artist, animator and production manager who has worked on series, commercials and educational films. A committed educator, for many years he has been a faculty member of both Sheridan College’s animation program, and Max the Mutt’s Classical and Computer Animation Diploma program.