Learn Animation Art and Business Skills from Pixar Experts

In partnership with animation, story, design, and creative leaders from Pixar, Disney and other notables, The Art Department has launched a new, multi-track collegiate animation program.

The Art Department (TAD) is a career-driven online-centric art and entertainment development college for both digital and traditional media. Created as an alternative to traditional art schools, it enables you to study exclusively online or choose a hybrid program that fuses online classes with biannual workshops at one of The Art Department’s state-of-the-art studios in Austin, Kansas City, or Richmond.

Like all of TAD courses, the new animation program will be led by a top industry professional. The department chair is Pixar Directing Animator Andrew Gordon, who has contributed to films such as A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 and 3, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille

“I want the best animation program in the world,” said Gordon. He notes that the program will teach students what they need to know to be great storytellers, directors, animators, and visual artists: “Everyone involved wanted the program that we wished we had when we were in college. That is what we built and it does not exist anywhere else.”

Courses will span five tracks: Directing, Animation, Experimental, Games, and Visual Effects while covering 3D, 2D, and Flash-based media options. Along with foundational training in drawing, painting, and problem solving, students will learn to create effective characters, visual narratives, meaningful stories and personal creative voice. Plus, students will gain insights into some of the business, finance, legal, planning, marketing, and promotion skills that are critical for long-term success in the animation industry.

The animation classes and major start August 27, 2012. The school’s website is currently accepting applications for merit-based tuition awards, including full-ride scholarships.

“Having Andrew Gordon and esteemed animation faculty lead this innovative international program brings true knowledge and deep practical experience to our students,” said Jason Manley, president of The Art Department. It also connects students to people who are capable of delivering life-changing opportunities.

“Our animation program is rooted in history, tradition, and visual storytelling. It is highly focused on creativity, visual expression and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Manley. “Plus, it can be attended by students anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

About The Art Department

The highly flexible programs at The Art Department are delivered synchronously online. This means that classes are conducted live (in real-time), allowing you to interact with the instructors as if you were in the same place of study. The Art Department’s proven tools allow students and faculty to seamlessly collaborate and learn in applications like Autodesk: Maya, 3DSMax, Painter, Photoshop, and Art Rage. In addition to attending live demonstrations and presentations, you will have your work critiqued by leaders in the field.

The founders of The Art Department believe their online-centric model not only gives art students a better education, but also put students and their families at less financial risk. Online learning and collaboration can help you avoid the mountainous cost of traditional art-school education, particularly at one of the top-ten US art schools.

The online model also makes it possible for anyone around the world with Internet access to take advantage of The Art Department’s classes. The school’s students and instructors hail from 24 countries and 6 continents.

“Art school education has been broken for decades,” says John English, CEO of The Art Department. To help solve this problem, he says, “The Art Department brings accurate and current industry knowledge, lower tuition costs, practical skill building, and career opportunities to any student wishing to learn from those who truly do what they teach.”

LINKS

The Art Department Animation Program + Pixar Artists

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