Education/training

Centennial offers 14-month digital animation program

Get animated!

Not so long ago we were all advised to "Think globally, act locally."

DAVID CHILTON

[ 2007-10-19 ]

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That slogan's not used much these days, but for anyone thinking about going to school to study for a career in 3-D animation, it's a catchphrase they would do well to remember.

That's because some of the best training can be found here in Toronto; and some of the best jobs in Vancouver, Montreal, and the U.S.

Brent George graduated in 2000 from what was then Centennial College's eight-month digital animation program. He says that for the time being, the career outlook in Toronto is a bit "rocky." That's because British Columbia's aggressive recruiting, backed by generous tax credits, has left Ontario behind.

Still, for all the temporary uncertainty about employment, George remains upbeat about the program at Centennial, which now runs for 14 months full time. For one thing, there's lots of collaboration among the instructors, says George, who teaches in the program. "Here (Centennial), it's a much more organic way of learning," he says. Tuition is about $8,100 a year.

TWO INTAKES A YEAR

Kala Ramachandran, digital animation program manager, says the college accepts 15 students every September and another 15 in January. About half of them come to Centennial straight from high school and the other half are either career changers, artists and designers who want to learn other skills, or international students. Many of the college's overseas students come from India, Ramachandran says, although this year she has some from China, Mexico and other places abroad.

Ages of the digital animation students range from the late teens to those in their 40s and even 50s, Ramachandran says. Most students are male, although Centennial is trying to attract more women.

Applicants need a high school diploma, a minimum grade in a Grade 12 English credit -- or they have to take a skills assessment test -- and a portfolio of 10 to 15 pieces of art completed the old fashioned way; in pencil, ink or paint.

Applicants should also be comfortable with computers, although they need not be geniuses. "We do look for portfolios that are a balance of both (art and technology)," Ramachandran says. But where it's a case of a candidate being strong in one area and weaker in the other, she'll take artistic ability every time. "We love to get arts background graduates," Ramachandran says. "Because the natural ability to draw can't be learned in a classroom, although computer skills can".

The classroom component of the digital animation program lasts 12 months, with an eight-week work placement added on at the end. Typically, students aren't paid during their work placement, Ramachandran says, but some studios will offer them out-of-pocket expenses. Paid or unpaid, the work placements are a good investment of a student's time. Many studios hire those students who worked for them before graduation.

Following graduation, new 3-D animators shouldn't expect to earn massive amounts of money. Ramachandran says starting salaries are all over the proverbial map, and much depends, of course, on where in the animation chain the new graduate works and the city they work in. George suggests a ballpark average salary of $30,000 to $35,000 for someone "green, right out of school."

And that greenhorn might even find a job in good old T.O., because despite George's earlier caution about job prospects here, he predicts employment opportunities will return -- even if it takes a while.