VanArts – Dreams Can Come True

A review of the VanArts - 2D Animation program.
By Irving S. who graduated in 2008. 310 views.

While some of my other classmates wanted to be doctors, police offers, or other things; I had always wanted to become an animator. In Mexico, this was just not possible, so I ended up studying graphic design. Somewhere in the process, I started to make animations and even got some jobs as an animator, though I knew I wasn’t doing things quite properly.

It was never enough for me. I wanted to become a real animator, a professional one, not just a pretending amateur. And after I went to watch “The Incredibles” when it was released, I left the theatre incredibly excited, desperate to learn how everything was done so I too could create something that AMAZING. Snooping around the Pixar website, I found this – a list of schools that Pixar recommended to learn animation.

On the list was VanArts and I liked all the demos they had online. So, I sent all the work I had. When I was accepted, I talked to my family and they said they would do whatever they could to help me realize my dreams. I got a small scholarship from the government, and now here I am in Vancouver.

The 2D Animation Program

Taking the 2D Animation program was one of the hardest years of my life, a lot of work, but I learned everything I needed. We started with the basics: the bouncing ball, the jumping sack, assignments that helped me to understand motion, timing, spacing, etc. Then we did a couple of walk cycles and panning backgrounds. Once you understand the principles of animation you start applying acting and dialogue to your animation to give personality to your characters. We even recorded our own dialogue to animate with.

Life drawing class is scheduled the entire year, and you’ll notice how far your drawings have improved over the course of the program. The last part of the course is focused on flash animation, which is a very affordable way to make your own films.

The teachers were all very good and it was what I expected. They helped me to understand the language of animation.

By the third term, I was at a point where I started to feel more comfortable with the animation process. You’ve developed enough skills to make your animation look so much better. You begin to feel more comfortable with your work. It’s very motivating at the end of the day, when you shoot your pencil tests and you instantly like what you see.

All I can say is that, if you’re someone who wants to learn animation, you can definitely do it at VanArts.

The Verdict

I don’t want to sound like a commercial for the program, it’s just that I am very happy with the decisions I have made. I wouldn’t say the school was perfect of course. There were some bad things, but honestly it doesn’t matter to me. The only thing I came to do was learn animation, and I feel like I’ve done that. All I can say is that, if you’re someone who wants to learn animation, you can definitely do it at VanArts.

My plan was always to study both animation courses. After the 2D program, I was pleased with everything I learned, and had no doubts in enrolling in the 3D program in VanArts. I am in my last term in this program and everything has been pretty good so far.

All the things I’ve said are based on my experience in the 2D program. I cannot vouch for other programs, and people who have taken those courses I’m sure have different opinions. I hope this information answers most of the doubts that you may have of the program.

You can see some of my work here irvingsevilla.blogspot.com although I haven’t updated it for a while, but I will do it as soon as I get a break.

(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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7 Comments

Kevin Harte

7.10.10

The course was completely inadequate, over priced and a lie for quick profit. 2d animation can’t be taught in one year. I got 26,000 euro in debt, no post-grad support and no hope of employment because I was far from being adequately skilled.

My grade average was 84%. Biggest regret of my life going there. I guess I am yet another casualty of the college industrial complex that chews you up and then spits you out.

sam123

7.12.10

I am sure Kevin Harte had some major personal problems in learning art from an Art school or otherwise. I had the opportunity to study at VanArts in 2007, it was a pretty good for our batch and my self. I got more that what I asked for. Just like every body else I also did an extensive research for Art Schools before enrolling myself. I looked into other schools like AI, VFS, VCAD, and others and found that only VanArts teachers were offering extended support to students even after class timings. All my teacher spent a lot of time and devotion to pass on their valuable knowledge to us. There were so many facilities which we utilize to the best of our advantage to learn. The school had a huge DVD movie collection with latest 3D and VFX movies. The students were allowed to watch movies in free time, learn and critique shots using the in-house theater. We all had dual monitors, good infrastructure, the school was located right in the heart of downtown, close to various gaming and Visual effects studios, VanArts even organized a trip for us at production studio in our third term so that we all could see, meet and interact the industry professionals first hand. The instructors were form the Industry and we had guest lecturers from Pixar and Weta visiting us. The whole curriculum was designed like a studio production pipeline. Every morning we had critiques and learned from our mistakes. It was a great learning experience.

To be honest, every one need the best bang for their buck. Working hard and staying late goes without saying, this goes for every Art School. None of us were afraid to put in our best efforts, especially after putting in so much money into our education. Our class size was 12 and we all had a great time.

I believe it also depends on how much of enthusiasm and commitment a student shows towards learning. In the end we got more that what we had asked for and more then half of us landed good jobs based on our demo reels. It took us couple of months to get jobs but then this is the reality of life, you can’t expect production studios standing at the door of every Art School serving jobs on a silver platter to every student who just graduated. No one can help you if you can’t help your self. Rightly said by idesofmerch in the above post reply that “there are always few people who try to drag everyone down with them”

I feel sorry for you Kevin, sad to know about your experience. May be you could have put is some efforts from your side too, rather than wait and expect the schools to spoon feed you everything. Even favorable circumstances won’t force one to do something one doesn’t want to, as in – you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

Kevin Harte

7.19.10

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. I actually did put in a lot of hours and was there 6-7 days per week till midnight nearly everyday. I was a keyholder. Even if it were true that I had personal problems, that doesn’t change the fact that it is 3 years now and I still haven’t got a job yet. I’ve improved greatly and have been following a self directed study path based on expensive dvd tutorials out there gnomon, etc. I’ve been getting good feedback and am confident that I will eventually gain employment, no thanks to the debt burden the school left me with. (Down to 5k euro).

The basic statement you’re making is that you get back what you put in and you have to follow the directions you’re given is a bit lame and a cliche really.

I got a 84 % average, explain that? Studios were surprised I passed. Maybe that was because there were 26 people in the class when there was supposed to be only 12-15. Plus I found out the department head at the time, actually only had one years experience in the industry. He’s not even mentioned on their website anymore as they have a new department head.

Anybody out there, especially from 2nd or 3rd world countries, do a foundation art course in your country then ask studios to recommend a good school. Get pro feedback and don’t get sucked into these “quick fix” scams that claim to do what no-one else in the world can do. Remember people, jobs are scarce at the moment-don’t get scammed out of money or you’ll be screwed if you’re not rich!

Kevin Harte

7.19.10

They’re corporate scum. Trust your first impression when you talk to the admissions head.

Kevin Harte

7.19.10

By the way people, “sam123″ is one of the shills in the promotional video promoting the school. He was in my class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAGr3mhQoP4

It just proves my points, don’t trust them.

sam123

7.21.10

Sorry Kevin Harte, Nice try but I am not this guy in this video.

It is very unfortunate to see how desperate you are that you had to reply 3 times to the same post to spread your negative thoughts and are just blindly pointing fingers at people based on your presumptions and preconceived notions. Poor guy in the video, how will he feel is he finds out that Mr.Kevin is talking bad about him, by pointing him out in the video. I feel sad for what you did to him and feel sorry for you.

This just proves the point that you do really have some major personal problems. You are just feeding your ego by stating that you got 84%. I am happy to learn that you also did put in a lot of hours and you were there 6-7 days per week till midnight nearly everyday. But as know this yourself, people get jobs based on their Demo reels and not by showing their percentage score.

Seems to me that you are jealous of the other guys who got jobs and you did not. Well I guess it is time to do some introspection. You are just playing the blame game, may be Art was not your field at all. I am sure the employers who take your interview also notice this- I feel sorry for you.

Kevin Harte

7.21.10

Feed my ego? I paid 26k euro for the course, got good grades according to the “experts” and that still wasn’t good enough.

Anyway, I’ve said my peace and won’t be commenting on this business that fronts as a school.