Character Design 101 with Chance Raspberry

Charles Z - Jun 19, 2023

New students looking to get started with their vocational training in animation can begin with Chance Raspberry's Character Design 101. This is a fundamentals oriented class that Chance is offering independently. The class is ideal for beginners and is open to a wide range of ages. Also his Character Design 101 Art Camp is dedicated to children from 7 to 11 years old.

Chance is a former instructor with the Academy as well as an accomplished alumni and has had many years animating on The Simspons. He is an excellent instructor and highly knowledgable in marketing and promoting one's work as well.

For more information you can contact Chance through this link.

Academy's Aaron Horvath - Director - Super Mario Bros Movie

Charles Z - Apr 26, 2023

It's a blockbuster movie. Super Mario Bros has grossed $782,452,239 worldwide as of this writing. After 21 days in release it has remained king of the box office with 3 consecutive weekends at number 1. The film has nearly 60% of total box office revenues.

And our very own Aaron Horvath directed the movie!

Click on this link to see samples of his student work when he was enrolled with us 20 years ago.

Great things happen over time when you Keep Creating! :)

Academy's Aaron Horvath - Super Mario Bros Director

Charles Z - Apr 17, 2023

I am very happy and beyond enthusiastic about the success of the Super Mario Bros Movie from Universal / Illumination. It's the biggest motion picture in the world. As of this writing it has grossed $585,474,381 in less than 2 weeks. It has broken the record for a 5 day opening for an animated feature previously held by Disney in 2019. And to top if off it has a 96% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The reason for my excitement is that the Academy's Aaron Horvath is the director of this blockbuster movie. Aaron was with us as a student in 2002 and as an instructor in 2003 up until he broke into the industry at Comedy Central. He went on to an illustrious career and great accomplishments including the Producer / Director of the WB's widely popular series Teen Titans Go on Cartoon Network.

Aaron Horvath is a highly talented artist. He was considered one of our greatest students even when he was here. To celebrate his astounding accomplishments I'll be featuring his art from the time he was with us along with a few extra photos. One in particular where we honored him at the Academy's AnimationNation night in 2007. You can view the presentation on a public post on The Animation Academy's Patreon.

Academy students change the world with their vision and leadership. Keep Creating !!

The Animation Academy is 25 Years Old

Charles Z - Jan 19, 2023

On this day in the evening of January 19 in 1998 we had our first session in the back room of the Coral Cafe in Burbank California with 20 students. It was the flagship class of The Animation Academy. I started the school with a small mailing list and $15 for stamps and envelopes to send flyers and enrollment forms. All available seating sold out.

Today after a quarter of a century I'm happy to say that the Academy is still going strong.

Thank you to everyone who has ever been a part of this great experience. My affectionate gratitude for these past 25 years and what they have meant.

KEEP CREATING FOREVER !! :)

Sean Natarajan's Online Portfolio

Charles Z - Jul 05, 2022

One of our most productive and innovative students of late has been Sean Natarajan. He's recently organized his impressive art onto his own website. Sean is currently a student at the University of Southern California (USC). Take a look at his first professional online presentation by following this link. 

Anna Lee Duck - Simple Portfolio and Success

Charles Z - Mar 29, 2022

We're celebrating the success of a recent Academy student. Anna Lee Duck is now working as a Storyboard Revisionist at Renegade Studios. Anna is a very talented artist and applied herself when she was with us as a student. Now she's working as a professional in the animation industry at a high quality studio. She did it with a simple presentation of her talent. Follow this link to Anna's website and see her online portfolio.

Robert Misirian accepted to Cal State Northridge

Charles Z - Feb 09, 2022

It's always a personal thrill to share a student's success with our community.



Robert Misirian who's spent extended time at the Academy received excellent news yesterday. He's been accepted to California State University in Northridge!

Robert worked very hard to achieve this exceptional accomplishment. He's faced many daunting challenges in his life and cleared the biggest hurdle yet. Now he's on his way to an outstanding school and his Bachelors Degree.

A big congrats to you Robert! We're all very proud!

Our 24th Anniversary

Charles Z - Jan 19, 2022

The Animation Academy is 24 years old today! This is the project that started the school. New chapters published each Wednesday.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Another Success Story

Charles Z - Jan 15, 2022

The Animation Academy has a great legacy and that legacy is embodied in our students. In our nearly 24 year history I've personally seen amazing things happen with many who've studied and created with us.

Here's another example. Alexandra is a recent student who was attending class in our last year in Burbank before we went fully online. I received an email from her this week, She's been accepted to one of the finest degree granting art schools in the world.

................

Hi Charles! I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I felt that I should reach out. Yesterday I received my acceptance to my top choice college, Ringling College of Art and Design. This Fall, I will be an illustration major there. If it wasn't for you and The Animation Academy, I would not have had the skills needed to apply or attend a school like Ringling. When I first came to you in 2020, I really didn't have any good experience and had never taken a serious drawing class. You helped me become the artist that I am today and the artist I will become in the future. Thank you for everything I learned from the Animation Academy! Best wishes!

Sincerely,

Alexandra

..............

Congrats Alexandra! You're on to great things! Keep Creating!

A New Way for the New Year 2022

Charles Z - Jan 01, 2022

For an animated look at this character click on the Graphics below...

Wishing you a fantastic creative year ahead!

The Academy is expanding its content on Patreon. This format will be extensively developed in the coming days in a unique and significant way. It will become the central educational venue of The Animation Academy.

We have a huge archive of exceptional materials to publish. Years worth of class notes and demonstrations in all sorts of subjects exclusive to our Patreon which you'll be able to see and follow. 

The Academy's Patreon has updated subscriber levels to reflect our new direction. Very affordable artistic education by means of graphics and videos organized in categories for easy access. This will be our primary tool for sharing knowledge as we migrate away from our previous model to an alternate one.

We have a $5 monthly level for graphics based lessons, a $10 level which will include access to videos, and a $20 level which will feature a monthly live stream option.  

Content is uploaded just about every day. To get started follow this link to The Animation Academy on Patreon.See the difference this great reference material and specialized lessons will make with your art!

Thank you and Keep Creating !!

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