Chris Ebeling to serve as Creative Lead-in-Residence for the inaugural Master Degree of Animation and Visualisation; Dr. Andrew Johnston joins as Research and Course Director.
SYDNEY -- In anticipation of the arrival of the first cohort of the UTS Animal Logic Academy, the University of Technology Sydney has announced the appointment of Chris Ebeling as Creative Lead-in-Residence for the 2017 Master of Animation and Visualisation and Dr. Andrew Johnston as Research and Course Director.
Ebeling comes to the course with valuable experience and knowledge following his recent work with Animal Logic on The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Movie and Guardians of Ga’Hoole.
“Chris’s experience in feature film animation joined with his leadership in education and mentoring made him an ideal candidate for this crucial role in laying the foundations for the MAV,” said Dr. Shilo McClean, Head of the UTS Animal Logic Academy. “We know that Chris’s energy and enthusiasm for inspiring great work is going to be integral to our goal of making sure that the members of the Academy have a powerful year of learning.”
Dr. Johnston will be joining the Academy to develop its role in pursuing leading edge research opportunities for CGI industries.
“We’re so excited that we will be getting to work with Andrew again. He was responsible for the amazing soundscape for the Showreel which was such an important part of building UTS’ relationship with Animal Logic and, as the UTS producer for the Showreel, I found Andrew an absolutely brilliant collaborative partner,” added McClean. “We are very thrilled to be planning the research opportunities that will emerge from the work of the Academy and the relationship with Animal Logic and other industry partners. This is going to be so great.”
The UTS Animal Logic Academy’s Master of Animation and Visualisation (MAV) program is offered in partnership with world-leading digital production studio Animal Logic through the UTS Animal Logic Academy. It is the first of its kind in Australia offering students the opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow students, industry partners and mentors in a custom-built studio where real-world production pipelines will be emulated.
UTS Vice Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs and CEO of Animal Logic Zareh Nalbandian together recognized the need for an advanced education model to support the burgeoning animation and visualization sectors. Bringing together UTS’s commitment to experiential learning with Animal Logic’s industry expertise, the UTS Animal Logic Academy represents the perfect symbiosis of what both organizations strive for – excellence in technology, creativity and innovation.
Offered for the first time in 2017, the Master of Animation and Visualisation is a one-year postgraduate degree structured specifically to foster the development of creative and technical talent and offer a learning experience as closely matched to an industry production experience as possible. With particular emphasis on advanced computer graphics and emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, the UTS Animal Logic Academy will produce professionally-trained, industry-ready graduates.
To further support the initiative, UTS is offering one fortunate candidate a full scholarship that will cover tuition fees for the 2017 course. The UTS Animal Logic Academy recognizes that pathways to a creative career in animation and visualization can be varied. The scholarship offers an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to consider a course such as this, one that is industry-focused and innovative. The Academy is looking for people with a broad range of skills and welcomes membership from IT, architecture, graphic or industrial design, animation or other creative arts.
“We want to build a cohort of global creative visionaries offering them the opportunity to work within a state of the art studio designed by BKA Architecture,” said McClean. “The experience will not only be a powerful learning one but also present career-making relationships and opportunities across the range of industries taking up emerging uses of computer-generated images. It is our intention that the Academy become recognised as a global leader in industry-led education.”
Candidate interviews will form part of the application process, with applications due by 11th November, 2016.
Source: University of Technology Sydney
