“If we were to start over again, how would we want to learn?” So asks Pixar’s Bobby Beck, who with Carlos Baena and ILM’s Shawn Kelly, has founded Animation Mentor.com, an online animation school “designed by animators for animators”. Accessible by anyone in the world, AM’s launch is scheduled for the fall 2004, with students learning via video classes, assignments, and personal video critiques from professional animators and guest speakers, including Eric Goldberg. For details on enrollment, or more information, please read the full press release:

AnimationMentor.com – The Online Animation School

San Francisco, CA – June 16th, 2004 – AnimationMentor.com is the new online animation school, designed by animators for animators. The founders, three professional animators currently working for major studios, have created an interactive school where students can learn from the best professionals of the feature film industry. AnimationMentor.com is accessible by everyone in the world and is more affordable than traditional art schools. The launch of AnimationMentor.com is scheduled for the fall 2004, and students can join at any time until seats are full.

The key creators of AnimationMentor.com are Bobby “Boom” Beck, Pixar Animation Studios, Shawn Kelly, Industrial Light & Magic, and Carlos Baena, Pixar Animation Studios. They have worked on several major films such as Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Toy Story 2, the Star Wars prequels, The Hulk and the upcoming Pixar film The Incredibles. They also have gained experience in education through teaching, mentoring and giving conferences and lectures, both in the US and internationally. For animation interviews and mentorship positions in the school, they have carefully selected renowned animators currently working for nearly every major animation studio.

The Online Animation School is designed as a one-year intensive animation school covering four comprehensive levels of experience. Students will learn from online video classes, assignments, and personal video critiques from professional mentors in order to give the best possible learning experience. Students will also develop and extend their knowledge by learning from one another through internal forums and chat rooms. They can also view other student’s video critiques to learn from each others mistakes and successes. Professionals will interact with students through live question and answer sessions, and some of the most respected animators and directors in the world will offer their insights as featured guest speakers.

AnimationMentor.com is designed to provide the highest possible level of education in the art of animation, both to beginning students as well as professional animators seeking to grow in their art. As one of the founders, Bobby Beck says “We built AnimationMentor.com with one question in mind – if we were to start over again, how would we want to learn?”.

Launch date: Fall 2004
Enrollment starts September 2004

For a special sneak preview log on to www.AnimationMentor.com

Contact: Cecile Hokes
Public Relations Coordinator
cecile@animationmentor.com