Master vs. Mentor????

[urthmaan]

hello all. ok,...ive been playing with Animations Master for a while now, and i have nothing but great things to not only say about the program itself, but the vast library of training materials the come though the community. i got a couple of the older tapes from hash and the first older Quickstart Disc from Anzovin,... lately i was exposed to this Animation Mentor website, and i was curious. but then i went back to the Anzovin website after i purchased the "Facial Modelling" cd-rom, to find they now offer the "Animate!!!" training series, which in my research looks to be the same thing they offer on the "mentor" website. now,... my question is, would a person wanting to learn character animation benefit more from the training cd-roms, or enrolling into the online "mentor" program? to me it looks like the offer pretty much the same principles, except the latter is more expensive and you get a diploma, but even they said that this isnt needed to get a job in the industry, but moreso a strong demo reel.

 

for me, i learned a lot from the tapes and the cd-roms i have thus far, and after im done getting the "facial" bundle, i wanted to get "Animate" bundle, as i really didnt see a reason as to why i shouldnt. but after learning of the online courses, would there be any kind of advantage to going that route over me just getting the cd-roms? thanks for your time.

[robcat2075]

would a person wanting to learn character animation benefit more from the training cd-roms, or enrolling into the online "mentor" program? to me it looks like the offer pretty much the same principles, except the latter is more expensive and you get a diploma, but even they said that this isnt needed to get a job in the industry, but moreso a strong demo reel.

 

AnimationMentor.com (i'm presuming that's what you are refering to) is a school. What you are paying for is the individual attention and expert feedback of successful and accomplished animators. That is something you can not get from a self-help book, CD-ROM or video. The lectures are usually very good, but the individual attention is the main deal.

 

For most people that will be crucial. You can do an exercise from a book and imagine you have done it right, (you wouldn't intentionally do it wrong, would you?) but how will you know you got it right?

 

Animation is not just a procedure you can follow from a book, it is an art that requires an eye for motion just like a painter needs an eye for color and form. That "eye" is what they are trying to develop in you.

 

I did the first 4 quarters of AnimationMentor. Most of my classmates made good progress, some spectacularly so. A certain percentage did not appear to "get it".

 

Is it worth it? that's hard to say. I'm very doubtful about the animation job market in the USA. I would not view any art school as a guaranteed way to get a job.

 

Previous answer to similar question.

[PF_Mark]

 

Is it worth it? that's hard to say. I'm very doubtful about the animation job market in the USA. I would not view any art school as a guaranteed way to get a job.

 

Previous answer to similar question.

 

I have been thinking about the job market in my area (Ontario, Canada) I would have thought the US as the place to be Robert? Can you elaberate on your thoughts. As for me one night I did a search for jobs in my field of work (Tool & Die) and searched a particular specility of the trade. I got two hits for that then tried Animation and got 2 hits for that as well. One required a formal education the other didn't harp on it. Left me wondering

[robcat2075]

Elaboration...

 

Hoodwinked. $15M budget $69M gross (Not made in USA)

Valiant. $35M budget. $65M gross (Not made in USA)

 

Dreamworks wants to open studio in India

 

Dreamworks outsources animation to former Christmas Tree manufacturer in Hong Kong

 

Same ex-Christmas Tree company in Hong Kong making next Ninja Turtles movie for Warner (scroll down to May 25)

 

George Lucas' Clone wars to be made in... Singapore!

 

DNA (a Dallas, USA studio) can't find project to work on, has to lay off all staff.

 

Keith Lango so optimistic about US job market he's going to go do missionary work in Brazil instead.

 

I'm not saying there are no animation jobs in the USA, but there's 100 people applying for each one.

 

I guess this thread was originally asking about Anzovin's instructional materials. I have quite a few and I found them very helpful. The more self-critical you are of your work, the more you can get out of them.

[urthmaan]

thanks Robcat,... im still concidering this as an option for the Aug. submission., ive already upgraded and prepped my set-up @ home to accomidate their requirements. basically i wasnt looking for a guarantee for a job, i just wanted the skillset firstly because i just love animation, i always have. i feel fortunate that the progression of technology at this time has allowed us who create, to get the education needed to create. i have the mindset to do my own films, or the like and wanted the knowledge to be able to do the best work i can possibly do, even if it is just for my own amusement and gratification. after saying that, do you have any adventures during your time there that you'd like to share? did it meet your expectations from when you first started classes? what could someone like me expect who's interested in attending? thanks.

 

... and im still planning on gettting the other training discs, as well.

[Rodney]

Not to stray off topic but...

 

RE: Keith Lango moving to Brazil. Whoa.

Glad to see he is considering resurrecting 'The Secret Joys of Myopia'.

 

Back on topic a bit.

There is a lot more to contrast between Anzovin products and Animation Mentor.

I think you'd get more out of Animation Mentor but then again thats what paying $14,000 compared to $300 *should* get you.

 

For those that can afford it I think Mentor is a great opportunity. Having access to others in the industry on a daily basis is worth a lot of the purchase price. Its the mentoring part of Animation:Mentor that really makes it what it is.

 

For the rest of us there is Anzovin.

I haven't seen Cristin's animation lessons. Those look like they are great stuff.

There are some sample lessons on her site to download for those interested.

[dborruso]

I was hoping to go to animation mentor but can't get a loan. I think it is the greatest thing to happen to animation education. You can not beat learning from those masters at the cost comparable to one semester of private university. If it won't break your budget I say go for it.

 

Since I can't afford animation mentor I ordered the animate! cds. I have to say these are great learning materials. It might do you some good to order these and go through them before you start mentor and save yourself some head spinning. They really cover the principles well.

 

I will do animation mentor in the future if it kills me. Not even to get a job, but to be a good animator.

[urthmaan]

dborruso - yeah, you and i have the same mindset. and after speaking to them at the school, since i didnt have a loan in default, they didnt forsee a problem with me applying and getting the loan. im still ordering the "Animate!!" series as since im a fan of A:M, and that it couldnt hurt that im interested in applying for the "Traditional Animation" courses. plus in my experience, i didnt even try to look anywhere else, i saw Hash advertised on the back of a comic-book, went to WizardWorld Chicago and they had a rep there demonstrating the program, and was selling it at a discount, so i was like "word, im on this", which then led me to get the training video tapes they had, which lead me to Anzovin. ive learned so much just by ending up on this route, so i dont mind making further investments. the cd-roms have done right by me so far, and i tweeked a but by coming here to the boards.

 

...so basically if you could take the course, its safe to say that many would, not as a substitute but in addition too.

[Fuchur]

I think you could do both...

A:M isnt that expensive and at least you need an 3d-programm (okay you could draw by hand or do a stop motion as well, but i think it is easier to start with a great 3d-program) and A:M is the cheapest and at the same time one of the most powerful Animation-Programms which can be bought. Maybe the most powerful at all.

 

So I would start by learning A:M in depth, than try some learning-material like Anzovin, Jeff Lew and some more offer and after that, if you want more, go and do the Animation Mentor-courses.

 

*Fuchur*