Animation Mentor Unveils Animals & Creatures: Master Class

Ask some of the top animation and visual effects supervisors in the industry what skill sets are in the most demand, and you’ll hear a lot about specialty skills such as animating animals and creatures.

Animation Mentor has decided to fill that particular void on the education side, announcing today a new program called Animals & Creatures: Master Class. The class is an advanced course that focuses on how to animate quadrupeds, flying animals and fantasy creatures in a realistic style. The school also says the course will cover integrating animation with live action footage.

The class will be taught over a pair of 12-week classes and has students animated three advanced character rigs provided by the school. The first class covers four-legged animals, the second on flying and fantasy creatures and live-action integration.

The instructors for the course include Animation Mentor co-founder Shawn Kelly, Brian Mendenhall, Pete Kelly, Glen McIntosh, Jim Brown, Alexiss Memmott, Will Groebe, Dovi Anderson, Kevin Freeman, Marco Marenghi, Kenny Roy, Jess Morris, Tom Gibbons, Rick O’Connor. Keith Sintay and Charles Alleneck.

Spearheaded by Bobby Beck, CEO and co-founder of Animation Mentor, the class is open to alumni of the school’s character animation program. Professionals and non-alumni can begin applying on April 11. Total tuition and fees for Animation Mentor alumni is $4,795; for new applicants, it’s $6,825. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and fluent English speakers.

Want more? Check out the school’s trailer. There’s also a live webcast at http://www.animationmentor.com/events/specialannouncement/.

And below are some images of concept art, the characters used the course and a matchmove example.

Concept Art for “Cat” - illustrated by Glen McIntosh, Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

Introduction to Animal and Creature Animation character - “Cat”

Concept Art for “Dragon”- illustrated by Glen McIntosh, Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

Advanced Creature Production character - “Dragon”

Concept Art for “Ogre” - illustrated by Glen McIntosh, Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

Advanced Creature Production character - “Ogre”

“Cat” character interacts with live action plate.