Looks great, do you know if this is suitable for beginners or more for those with a bit of background?
I'm enrolled on AM and due to start on June 25th but my focus right now is games rather than acting and film production so it may or may not be more suitable.
I suppose if they focus on the fundamentals then there's no difference but there's quite a few technicalities in a games workflow that AM won't be covering but at this stage, if it's all based on principles at iAnimate too then I'll probably stick with AM.
Well, I've always heard GREAT things about AM. But when iAnimate came out, I definitely was more interested in it. 2 Reasons. First, iA has live crit sessions, opposed to AM's video recorded crits. So you can ask questions and really understand it better with live interaction. And, it's cheaper. Oh, and last I heard, you couldn't just do one or two of the AM workshops, you had to enroll in the full thing. iA let's you do one 14 week workshop, and then you can choose to continue or not (maybe skip 1 term to save up money for the next). And you can jump in at any workshop, if your reel is good enough. So you don't have to redo the basics if you already know them.
Now, all that is based on stuff from last year, when iA first came out. I don't know if AM has changed any since I looked at it.
But, to answer your question, I honestly have no idea. It doesn't look like it's for BEGINNERS. They do have their first workshop that deals with ball bounces and what not, to really get your timing and spacing down.
I'd say your best bet is to contact them using this form and just show them whatever work you may already have, and they`ll tell you where they think you should start, and if the games WK1 would be ok for you. They usually answer pretty quickly.
Yeah I hear you, iAnimate looks great and I have heard very good things about it. Unfortunately it's mainly a funding thing when we're talking about that kind of money. Over here in the UK, Animation Mentor is recognised as a learning provider eligible for a 'Professional Career Development Loan' which is basically a deferred (relatively) low interest loan for people going back to school/college.
That's the only way I can afford to do AM because I sure as hell haven't got £12k banked. Unfortunately iAnimate isn't recognised as a learning provider at the moment so it's out of the question. The feature course at iAnimate is still $14k, which is more than i can afford out of my own pocket. The games course however, is $6k which leads me to believe that as you say, it's possibly aimed at those with a bit of background. It also means though, that I could potentially look into it after I've graduated AM.
You could always do 1 or 2 workshops through iAnimate, then take time off and try and get a job with what you`ve learned. Or do the first workshop for feature, then jump to games. That's what I like about it. I'm trying the first workshop for games, and depending on how I do, and what I get out of it, I'll either stop, or keep going. I am working full time, so it's gonna be tough.
But ya, if it comes down to government loans, then that's totally understandable.
Ah sounds great! I'm saving up for the first part of either feature film or game (probably game).
I have some friends that finished AM and they all have great things to say, but I just cannot afford it.
iAnimate on the other hand is affordable and seems to be just as great. Although i have been told plenty of times that on AM you also get many opportunities to network with a LOT of people. Is that less so at iAnimate, do you know?
So, I'd love to hear your experiences/opinion on iAnimate at some point, slipsius, once you have spent some time there. If you want to share and have time of course.
I want to hear what people who've attended have to say before I decide. You know, to be sure.
Stephen, Lico was my first instructor. Absolutely BRILLIANT man. I can honestly say he has been the best teacher I've ever had, regardless of subject. He knows his shit, and is such an AMAZING animator.
Thanks for the info. Does anyone have any stats on job placement for animation in our industry and placement rates for AM and iAnimate graduates? Animation is not an easy field for an entry-level job-seeker. I've read some anecdotal posts on other forums about AM placement that estimates that fewer than 10% of graduates end up with an animation job within two years of graduating. Wanting to become a game animator needs to balanced by hiring and placement facts. We all know its the quality of the reel in the end, but knowing placement rates and position availability is something every student should consider given the cost of education these days.
I took a class at Gnomon with Timothy Ingersoll from Dreamworks and he was amazing. While I was attending the class he told me about iAnimate. Seems like there's some pretty legit instructors there so if you're serious about animation it might be a pretty decent program to check out.
iA doesnt track placement rates, as it isnt a legit "school". It's just training. Plus, a lot of people that take iA are already working in the industry (film or games), so it really wouldnt be accurate. But, on the member page, they do have a group for job postings, and I know a few people have gotten jobs from it recently. A bunch of the grads are working at disney and stuff too. The games division hasnt had any graduates yet. The first grads will happen in May. Still a new program
It really comes down to the individual, and if studios are actually hiring. If studios arent hiring, it doesnt matter how good you are.
Also, all those colleges that say they have a 90% placement rate or whatever, they are pure BS. After you finish uni or college, you get a phone call about 6 months after from the school to do a survey, to find out if you're working and how the school helped you. but here's the problem. They dont ask you if you are working in your field. just if you are working. even if you're working at mcdonalds, they count that as you found a job. They are so flawed.
Replies
I'm enrolled on AM and due to start on June 25th but my focus right now is games rather than acting and film production so it may or may not be more suitable.
I suppose if they focus on the fundamentals then there's no difference but there's quite a few technicalities in a games workflow that AM won't be covering but at this stage, if it's all based on principles at iAnimate too then I'll probably stick with AM.
Now, all that is based on stuff from last year, when iA first came out. I don't know if AM has changed any since I looked at it.
But, to answer your question, I honestly have no idea. It doesn't look like it's for BEGINNERS. They do have their first workshop that deals with ball bounces and what not, to really get your timing and spacing down.
I'd say your best bet is to contact them using this form and just show them whatever work you may already have, and they`ll tell you where they think you should start, and if the games WK1 would be ok for you. They usually answer pretty quickly.
That's the only way I can afford to do AM because I sure as hell haven't got £12k banked. Unfortunately iAnimate isn't recognised as a learning provider at the moment so it's out of the question. The feature course at iAnimate is still $14k, which is more than i can afford out of my own pocket. The games course however, is $6k which leads me to believe that as you say, it's possibly aimed at those with a bit of background. It also means though, that I could potentially look into it after I've graduated AM.
But ya, if it comes down to government loans, then that's totally understandable.
I have some friends that finished AM and they all have great things to say, but I just cannot afford it.
iAnimate on the other hand is affordable and seems to be just as great. Although i have been told plenty of times that on AM you also get many opportunities to network with a LOT of people. Is that less so at iAnimate, do you know?
So, I'd love to hear your experiences/opinion on iAnimate at some point, slipsius, once you have spent some time there. If you want to share and have time of course.
I want to hear what people who've attended have to say before I decide. You know, to be sure.
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I've been following that guys' work since his Sunstorm interactive days. I very much respect and admire his animation skills.
Looks like iAnimate is the real deal folks
It really comes down to the individual, and if studios are actually hiring. If studios arent hiring, it doesnt matter how good you are.
Also, all those colleges that say they have a 90% placement rate or whatever, they are pure BS. After you finish uni or college, you get a phone call about 6 months after from the school to do a survey, to find out if you're working and how the school helped you. but here's the problem. They dont ask you if you are working in your field. just if you are working. even if you're working at mcdonalds, they count that as you found a job. They are so flawed.