This program has been designed with input from major animation companies in the United States, Canada, Japan and Great Britain. It is open to students who have completed our three-year diploma program in Classical Animation Basics, and to any student who has completed an equivalent course of study elsewhere. This program is designed to give classically trained animation students production experience on a real 3D animated short film, which will be entered into international film competitions. The program is divided into two parts. The first part familiarizes students with Maya basics, taught through classroom exercises, lectures and drills that help form good working habits in 3D production. The second part consists of a 3D group project directed and supervised by the director/instructor, as well as various members of the faculty.

Max the Mutt™ Animation School offers a rigorous, in-depth curriculum based on Warner Bros. and Disney guidelines. In addition to a series of classical animation courses, the curriculm includes in-depth drawing classes, a year of cartooning, character design, a sequence of visual language, storytelling and storyboarding courses, background painting and background design. In year three, computer courses are introduced: digital background painting and Flash animation to broadcast standard are part of the curriculum. Max the Mutt students graduate with a solid profolio, demo reel, the skills to write a cover letter and resume, and the ability to conduct themselves professionally in a job interview. We have strong contacts in the animation community; our annual industry Open House is well attended by representatives from animation and gaming companies. Many employers contact us when they have job openings, and we regularly inform our graduates of job opportunities.

Illustration for Sequential Arts: Comic Books and Graphic Novels is a new two-year diploma program. Students entering this program will have successfully completed Visual Arts Literacy, or will be able to show a portfolio demonstrating competence in the VAL curriculum. If you are interested in this diploma but do not have strong representational art skills, you should apply for entry into Visual Arts Literacy. The Illustration For Sequential Arts program has been structured to give students a broad skill base which will enable them to work in graphic design, advertising and publishing. They will have skills valued by the game industry, and the potential to gain employment in the comic book and graphic novel industries. The course of study also includes a full year of Children's Book Illustration. Since many of the courses in this program are also part of the Classical and Computer Animation Basics Diploma, students will have the prerequisites for, and may choose to take, some animation-related courses such as Storyboarding. This program has been designed with input from Richard Pace, Ty Templeton and David Ross, all leading Canadian artists in the field.

      The Concept Art Diploma Program has been developed to meet the increasing level of proficiency required by the video game and animation industries. Like our animation programs, this program offers a rigorous, in-depth curriculum based on suggestions and portfolio requirements from major video-game producers and animation companies. This unique four-year diploma program includes a mix of fine art, illustration, animation, and cartooning courses, as well as concept courses and instruction in all necessary computer software from Photoshop to Maya. Students in year 4 will work on a “real time” assignment.