The Disney Training Program; the one Eric Larson started back in the 70's that trained the likes of Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, Don Bluth, Tim Burton, Brad Bird etc etc, does it still exsist today?
Ie, could someone get hold of this Disney department and send in their portfolio and be accepted into their 4 stage training system (that they certainly still had several years ago). I've found several references of it on the web that refer to it in more modern terms (past the famous start of the program), but said sites seem distinctly mid-to-late 90's in design, so i'm not sure if their information is still up-2-date ('specially after the ol' Michael Eisner 'only CG' shenanigans).
Just wandering if anybody knew any up-2-date details on this, b4 i ring Disney and potentially make a fool of myself (wouldn't be the first time :D )
Cheers,
El Rich-el-rooy
________________________________Perpetual Motion________________________________
The program you're asking about is, or was, called Foundations of Disney Animation (or FODA). Don't know if they now have a computer-animation equivalent, but I'd be willing to bet that the traditional program went the way of the dodo a few years back when Disney stopped making hand-drawn features.
I do know that there is now a site where you can upload your portfolio and resume to apply for a job at Feature, but since they just had a layoff when "Robinsons" wrapped, I don't know how hard they're looking just now.
I've got that Disney portfolio upload site bookmarked, but it doesn't really explain much, it's literally an upload and register portal (on a plain white background; if any of you havn't seen it), and like you said I dunno what Disney's situation is with taking applicants, and from what dicipline (CG or Trad).
I know they lay off peeps after every wrap, and just hold a core staff, then rehire as the job needs come the next feature, so there maybe hope for new applicants if they are accepting. S'pose the best way to find out is give them a buzz.
Dunno, just thought about it as an avenue to consider amongst others, 'specially considering the cost of education this day and age (so if it's a possibility, getting payed to be trained would be so awesome it'd make me moist!)
Rich
________________________________Perpetual Motion________________________________
I was under the impression that the animation department at CalArts became the de facto Disney training ground. I believe Walt himself actually had a hand in getting the program off the ground.
Well, walt did donate money to Calarts to merge two pre-calarts colleges creating what it is today, but the company has nothing to do with it's training other than letting some of their staff guest lecture there etc. It is true quite a few Calarts alumni ended up at Disney, but it isn't a feeder school or anything, they simply got in because of their respective talents.
Disney has (or certainly did have) an in-house training program specifically for the studio, working as a paid intership that the trainee had to pass stage by stage (assigments and review) until they were finally employed. Whether this is the case now is what i'm trying to find out.
________________________________Perpetual Motion________________________________
Disney's training program exists (or existed) to train artists in the workflow and techniques used in production. It is (or was) not a general art or animation training program. Most artists hired and run through the program had already been through art school or had self-trained to the degree that their portfolios looked like they had.
Just wanted to clear up any misperceptions that might exist.
Yeah, i did think it very unlikely that they would accept someone who hasn't attended ani college/art school beforehand, or someone who hasn't really had any major studio experience, but there's always a slim chance. It was really just an off thought after I'd been mulling over the massive fees required for most ani schools, that if it was possible, why not bypass all that. Meh, worth the cost of postage for a shot, who knows? I know Deja got in after having no experience being from germany and after attending only minor art classes, but apparently his life drawing skills were very good, or good enough as it was. And of course he turned out to be one of the best in his generation... s'pose that always helps :rolleyes: lol
Still, anyone actually know for sure (or fo shizzle if you're so inclined) if it still exsists today?
________________________________Perpetual Motion________________________________
Deja got in during a very different time in this business. The old guard was retiring and there was no one coming up to fill the gaps. There were very few formal animation training programs in colleges and fewer students in them.
I'm not trying to discourage you in any way, and I agree that it's worth the cost of postage to find out. I did a similar thing back in the day :) Just wanted to help out with a few details that I had... :D