Animals & Creatures: Master Class Fact Sheet

"Imagine assembling some of the biggest visual effects studios and asking them what animation skills they seek and what
their dream demo reel would look like. Then imagine bringing some of the world's top creature animation talent together to
teach you and bring every detail to life. Well, that's just how Animals & Creatures: Master Class was born!"
— Bobby Beck, CEO and cofounder of Animation Mentor

WHAT IS THE ANIMALS & CREATURES: MASTER CLASS?

A first of its kind in the industry, the Animals & Creatures: Master Class is an advanced animation program that teaches
students how to tell a different kind of story. Taught by leaders in the visual effects animation industry, the course focuses
on animating quadrupeds, fantasy creatures, flying animals, as well as effectively integrating animation with live-action
footage. Students use three new advanced rigs and match-move plates provided by Animation Mentor.

In the first 12-week class, students are introduced to the basics of locomotion, quadruped walks, weight and behavior. In
the second part of the series, students further develop these skills as they create believable animal and creature
performances that are integrated with live-action footage. In addition, the entire course offers workflow tips and tricks and
best industry practices from professionals who are currently working on animating animals and creatures.

Animals & Creatures: Master Class is taught using Animation Mentor's signature mentor-based instructional methods.

Tuition: US $3,300 per term

US $6,600 for two terms

Discount for alumni: US $2,310 per term

US $4,620 for two terms

Registration fee: US $175; in addition, all students must pay a $50 application fee

Cost of application: US $50 (Waived for alumni)

Age requirement: 18 years or older

Language requirement: Have a good understanding of the English language as measured by a passing score on the
Wonderlic test.

WHAT DO STUDENTS GAIN FROM THE ANIMALS & CREATURES: MASTER CLASS?
Animals & Creatures: Master Class introduces students to the basics of animal and creature animation and explores it
deeper in the second part of the series as students create believable animal and creature performance integrated into
live-action footage. Students receive face-to-face mentoring from top animators and visual effects professionals and
access to a rich library of lectures where mentors share tricks of the trade.

COURSE FEATURES:
 Access to 24 weekly video lectures taught by working industry professionals.
 Learn how to animate different forms of locomotion. Gain animation skills in transition, behavior, weight and
physicality.
 Animate with advanced rigs for three new characters designed by an industry professional.
 Learn how to integrate animation into live-action photography, providing stand-out shots on a demo reel.
 Learn the essential skills for animation work at visual effects-focused studios, such as Industrial Light & Magic
(ILM) and Weta Digital, as well as in studios producing games, advertising and TV.

ENROLLING IN THE ANIMALS & CREATURES: MASTER CLASS

Animation Mentor alumni as well as animators new to our school are both invited to sign up for our Animals & Creatures:
Master Class. Note: Students who have not graduated from our Character Animation Program may still enroll in the

PR | Ellen Pasternack 510-558-8085 epasternack@pacbell.net | Rita Cahill 310-556-2712 rita.cahill@roadrunner.com

Animals & Creatures: Master Class by meeting our admissions requirements (see
http://www.animationmentor.com/masterclass/animalscreatures/requirements).

EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM
Animation Mentor has developed a host of proprietary tools to help give better support, guidance and feedback to our
students. One of the school's tools is the eCritique®, which allows mentors to critique each frame and draw directly on a
student's work to correct lines of action, blocking and movement, and to provide visual direction for how to improve the
shot. Each student receives a weekly eCritique for the assignment. To see an example, go to
www.animationmentor.com/11secondclub/mentorcritique.html where a contest winner receives a free eCritique from a
mentor each month.

The school provides direct instruction through rich media lectures and demos, filmed documentary style, with top experts
in the field. These are posted on the online campus for students to download. Students also participate in live, interactive,
real-time, weekly Q&A sessions (or classes) with their mentors and up to 15 other students. These sessions make use of
Web conferencing technologies and other tools developed by Animation Mentor. During these sessions, the students and
mentors discuss the lectures or demos, their assignments and other important animation-related topics.

This formal instruction takes place within an online campus that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and contains
many elements of popular social networking sites like Facebook. All students have personal profile pages where they post
their eCritiques, assignments, tests and thoughts. Students and mentors are constantly cruising the campus, commenting
on other’s work and offering helpful suggestions as posts, in the chatrooms, as well as on Animation Mentor’s instant
messaging tool. Best of all, students immediately become part of our thriving global community of students, alumni,
mentors and industry professionals.

PRIMARY SOFTWARE PROGRAM

Maya®, published by Autodesk, is one of the most popular and advanced high-end 3D computer graphics and 3D
modeling software packages used in the animation, film, TV, and computer and video game industries. Maya's open
architecture allows users to script and program actions. In 2003, Maya won an Academy Award for scientific and technical
achievement. Animation Mentor students will be provided with a copy of Maya at no charge.

PR | Ellen Pasternack 510-558-8085 epasternack@pacbell.net | Rita Cahill 310-556-2712 rita.cahill@roadrunner.com