Apprenticeship learning
It has been a life-long dream to establish an ‘atelier-style’ studio/academy, where talented students can apprentice with master professionals on unique and groundbreaking animated films. This was the way most of the older veteran animators started out and it still really is the ONLY way that animation can be learned properly. That is, if the future survival of the 2D animated feature film industry is concerned.
Without a doubt the only way to truly gain mastery of a subject is to immerse yourself entirely into it until it fully sinks in. This was once possible when full-time, long-term employment existed - especially at the Disney studio when it was considered great. But now that is all gone and there are just not the same options available to the young students of today that there were for earlier generations. The industry – especially the industry of traditional hand-drawn animation - is so much the less because of it.
So this has to change of course, IF there is to be any real production learning for talented youngsters in the future. It will not happen in mainstream Hollywood or the industry at large of course as they have entirely distance themselves from the hand-drawn animated artform. Therefore, if a breakthrough is to be made it has to happen at the independent production level.
With this in mind the 2D Academy is working with indie partner studio, “Drawassic”, to develop innovative feature length productions where a paid, apprenticeship learning factor can be built into them. This is no mean task of course, as that part of the equation can only be achieved with outside investment. (The salary of an animation teacher alone will just not cut it at this level I’m afraid!)
Consequently Drawassic is actively seeking independent investment for their current major project development, “Spirit of the Game” - and for others recently developed, such as “Bad Penguin” and “The Adventures of Uncle Lubin”. Should ‘Spirit of the Game’ or one of the other projects get off the ground, then proven 2D Academy graduates would be prioritized for any available apprenticeship positions that would open up on the production. This clearly would be a major opportunity breakthrough for our current day and age!
There cannot of course be any timeline given to this possibility however. The indie funding world is as fickle as its mainstream counterpart in these tough economic times – more so if fact, due to the lack of investment money in circulation. However the dream will not die and the 2D Academy will do everything in its power to ensure the future of traditional hand-drawn animation is nurtured and ultimately realized in this way.
Keep your fingers crossed everyone... and keep your drawing practice going in the meantime! Dreams can come true!
'Spirit of the Game": A socially-real 2D animated drama that is a cross between 'Bend it Like Beckham' and 'Billy Ellitot'
~ with a touch of 'Its a Wonderful Life' thrown in!
Now check-out the 'Spirit of the Game' website here!
~ with a touch of 'Its a Wonderful Life' thrown in!
Now check-out the 'Spirit of the Game' website here!