Category: Education and Training

The Gnomon Workshop released three DVD titles on Dec. 15, 2004, dedicated to understanding the complexity and power of Pixologic's ZBrush. Accomplished artists Meats Meier and Zack Petroc take the artist through the basics and intricacies of this remarkable digital sculpting tool.

To meet the growing requirements of the animation industry, Arena Multimedia, a division of Aptech, has introduced a diploma in Animation Engineering. The course is designed to teach students animation techniques, keeping in mind the requirements and standards of the industry.

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco announced it has remodeled its curriculum for interactive design in response to technology advancements and changing opportunities in the multimedia field. The school is now enrolling for its upcoming classes in the program starting January 10, 2005.

The new curriculum in "Interactive Media Design" will arm students with skills needed to enter the interactive graphics, digital marketing and Web development industries. The program is offered at both the Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science levels.

NaturalMotion Ltd., a British developer of motion synthesis technology, announced that the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University, U.K., will be using multiple licenses of endorphin across its animation and visual effects courses. endorphin, which uses AI and biomechanics techniques for realtime character motions, was chosen due to the advances it makes in computer animation and the possibilities it will offer students upon graduation.

The Disney Elementary Magnet School dedicated its new state-of-the-art computer facility on Nov. 9, 2004, reports NBC5. All of the school's 1,600 students will have the chance to make animation on the computer. Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, was a major sponsor of the lab, in addition to IBM.

"You know, my dad always said, 'Education should not be boring; it should be entertaining!' And that was kind of the key word to everything he did," she said.

The Art Institute of Vancouver and The Art Institute of California - San Francisco have formed an international partnership and articulation agreement allowing students to complete certificate or diploma programs in Vancouver and continue their studies by earning Bachelor of Science degrees in San Francisco.

Noel Goin, a Media Arts & Animation instructor at The Art institute of California Orange County, is one of two Americans invited to teach animation workshops to local Caribbean artists, as a part of Animae Caribe 2004, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2004, in Trinidad.