Before I discovered Think Tank Training Centre, I was enrolled in a 3D Animation program at the Art Institute of Vancouver. As a fresh graduate from high school, the classes at AI felt more or less like an extension of high school Art 101. By my fifth ‘quarter’ there, (about six months prior to graduation) I could see that AI was not going to provide the resources necessary for me to become successful in the competitive world of 3D Animation. I started looking around and found Think Tank.
This was an establishment that cared more about producing knowledgeable students than making a quick buck.
Administration And Facilities
I had heard a little bit about the school from friends, and was intrigued by their mentorship program and small classes. Curious, I talked to one of the school’s owners and they gave me the rundown on what the school was about. It was clear to me from day one; this was an establishment that cared more about producing knowledgeable students than making a quick buck.
I was very impressed by Think Tank’s state-of-the-art work stations, and render farm. In hindsight, the school did an excellent job of creating the atmosphere of a real animation studio. Everyone was provided with their own workspace and computer. Not only that, but the staff went above-and-beyond the call of duty, providing each student with a free wacom tablet.
At the end of that same week, I had transferred to Think Tank. It was the smartest decision I ever made.
Classes And Structure, For Semesters 1 and 2
As I was joining Think tank about three-quarters of the way through semester one, the school’s administration allowed me to ‘ride out’ the last few weeks for free. This is where I started to learn XSI, a 3D software which most other schools don’t include in their curriculum.
Semesters one and two were very informative, and offered a taste of a lot of different jobs; from 3D modeling to Animation and everything in between. These semesters are meant to give students a good well-rounded knowledge of 3D, and encourage them to choose a specialty for their demo reels. For me, some key learning happened in these first months. Not only was I getting well-versed in the principles of animation, but I was introduced to the software that I would go on to use at my first studio job.
Mentorship And Semester 3/Demo Reel Production
In semester three, it was nose to the grindstone. This was the final stage, where students are expected to choose an area of expertise and produce a demo reel; a digital portfolio of their 3D works. In this last semester, we all worked closely with our mentors to produce the most polished final product possible.
His philosophy: eight hours of animation practice a day and we will all go far in the world of Animation.
My mentor was a self-proclaimed task master, with nothing short of the highest expectations for us. His philosophy: eight hours of animation practice a day and we will all go far in the world of Animation.
At first I found the mentor sessions quite stressful, making the newbie’s mistake of internalizing all the criticism. Looking back however, this process was probably the biggest key to my becoming a working professional.
In my opinion, Think Tank’s greatest draw is its ability to challenge its students, and bring out a work ethic that will take them far in their careers.
Demo Reel And Job Prospects
As the third semester progressed, my demo reel took shape and eventually came together. Though most of my classmates were ready to stay an extra few months to fine-tune their reels, I was determined to tie things up on time and start job-hunting as soon as possible.
If there is any area that requires a bit of improvement at Think Tank, it is the organization at the end of the third semester. I can admire the two owners for generously keeping the school open to alumni to work ‘post graduation’, but without a solid deadline it seems like many of my classmates lost the motivation to finish up. Maybe this open door policy needs to be rethought a little, as it’s fostering the false impression that deadlines are optional in the industry.
That being said, I think that Think Tank is an amazing school, which provides students with a real-world learning experience. I graduated last June, demo reel complete; and by the end of the summer I attracted several job offers, all positions in my field.
I got on board with Ironclad games, a fantastic studio behind the award-winning RTS title ‘Sins of a Solar Empire‘. I am still there today, working on an unannounced new IP.
Lianna Scrimger
Animator, Ironclad games
http://www.lianna-mation.com
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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kayla
Hey,
Thanks so much for this review. I’ve just been focused on getting into VFS, but then I read some not very good or even negative reviews about them. Then I read yours and I must say, it let’s me reconsider my choice for the perfect school.
Thank you!