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                THE AMERICAN ANIMATION INSTITUTE
                    4729 Lankershim Boulevard
                 North Hollywood, CA 91602-1864
                         (818) 766-0521

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1987 CATALOGUE AND CLASS SCHEDULE

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             Spring Semester (February 23 - May 11)
              Summer Semester (June 1 - August 25)
           Fall Semester (September 14 - December 15)

The American Animation Institute was founded in 1980 by the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists, Local 839 I. A. T. S. E., to further the art of the animated cartoon in the United States through educational and other activities.

WHY THE AMERICAN ANIMATION INSTITUTE? Cartoon animation in the United States is at a crisis point. The classic animators of the "golden age of animation" have almost all retired, and too many of the greats have passed away. Few attempts have been made to pass the wealth of these artists' knowledge to a new generation.

Within the last twenty years, most of those who have entered the screen cartooning industry in creative and artistic job categories have received little or no professional instruction in the "nuts and bolts" of the art. Few animation studios are willing or able to offer their apprentices any real training, and there has been no real means for screen cartoonists to brush up their skills. The American Animation Institute is attempting to bridge that gap.

In addition to our classes geared to industry professionals, the Institute offers introductory and intermediate classes for persons without previous professional experience who are seeking their first jobs in screen cartooning. The two introductory seminars, Introduction to the Art and Industry and Basic Animation Mechanics, run for three consecutive weeks, one two-hour session per week. Most of the Institute's other classes run for twelve weeks, one night a week.

All of the Institute's classes are offered at the M. P. S. C. Local 839 headquarters building at 4729 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, California. Our facilities include two classrooms, an animation work room equipped with lightboards and facilities for viewing pencil tests, and a fully-equipped studio classroom for painting and drawing classes.

Our animation classes utilize the NAC Quick Action Recorder, a revolutionary computerized animation pencil-test system that enables animation students to see their rough animation tests within minutes after they have have been drawn.

With the QAR system, students can shoot their own pencil tests during class time, and can instantaneously judge the effect of timing changes and drawing alterations. The Institiute is the only educational organization in the United States using this equipment.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A CARTOONIST … Persons without previous professional experience in screen cartooning are required to take Introduction to the Art and Industry and Basic Animation Mechanics as prerequisites for all other industry classes. However, neither these nor any other classes offered by the American Animation Institute are either a guarantee or a prerequisite for employment. Although many graduates of Institute classes have gone on to careers in screen cartooning, the Institute is not a placement service and cannot recommend students to specific employers.

High-school graduates should be aware that most employers in this field require some form of junior-college or college level art training as a prerequisite for employment. The Institute encourages college students to take its classes concurrently with their other studies.

CLASS REBATES: Active members in good standing of M. P. S. C. Local 839 qualify for a rebate of $20.00 on twelve-week classes. In order to receive a rebate you must attend at least ten of the twelve class sessions. Rebates will be mailed within a week after the last class session.

REGISTRATION: Reservations for upcoming classes will be accepted by mail, by phone or in person. Reservations can only be taken for the next upcoming scheduled class session.

After you have registered and shortly before the class is scheduled to begin, you will be sent a postcard confirming that the class is to be held. This card must be returned with payment in full to complete your registration and reserve your place in the class. Local 839 members will be given registration priority only if they have paid in full before the first class session. Your reservation for the class is not confirmed until you have paid in full.

The Institute reserves the right to cancel a class at any time before the first scheduled class session. If the class has been cancelled, your name will be kept on file and you will be informed of any future scheduled class sessions. Any money collected for a cancelled class will be refunded in full.

Unless otherwise listed, all classes run from 7 pm to 9 pm. The building is opened at 6:45 pm Monday through Wednesday, and 6:15 pm on Thursday.

For further information on registration, contact the Institute. The office is open weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

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                      INTRODUCTORY SEMINARS
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INTRODUCTION TO THE ART AND INDUSTRY 3 Tuesdays, January 6, 13, 20 Bud Hester February 24, March 3, 10

                                                April 14, 21, 28

Fee: $30.00 June 2, 9, 16

                                                August 4, 11, 18
                                               October 6, 13, 20

An overview of screen cartooning in Los Angeles County. The nature of this challenging (and often exasperating!) field is discussed. A realistic appraisal is given of current employment possibilities in entry-level job positions. The union and its purpose and function in relation to employers and workers are explained, to show that union membership and industry employment are not a "catch-22" for the prospective screen cartoonist. For the final class session, students prepare portfolios to be submitted and reviewed in class by the instructor, who will give personal advice on presenting to a potential employer the skills necessary for employment.

BASIC ANIMATION MECHANICS 3 Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17 Bud Hester March 17, 24, April 7

                                                   May 5, 12, 19

Fee: $30.00 June 23, 30, July 7

                                       August 25, September 1, 8
                                      October 27, November 3, 10

Prerequisite: Introduction to the Art and Industry, or membership in Local 839 IATSE. Reservations will not be taken for this class until after the immediately preceding session of Introduction to the Art and Industry has begun.

All persons working in screen cartooning, whether in creative, rendering or technical job categories, are required to understand certain technical aspects of the animation process. This class covers the functions and capabilities of the animation camera; the use of animation bars and peg systems with tilts and pans; the composition and reading of the exposure sheet; and the flipping, rolling and stacking of drawings by the animator in in preparation for the work of the assistant animator, the clean-up artist and inbetweener.

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                   TRAINING CLASSES: ANIMATION
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INBETWEENING 12 Tuesdays, February 24-May 12 Dale Oliver June 2-August 18 Fee: $70.00* September 15-December 1

Prerequisite: Basic Animation Mechanics, or membership in Local 839 IATSE.

This class covers the working duties of the inbetweener, the apprentice assistant animator who fleshes out the movement of the animated sequence by providing "in-between" drawings as specified by the animator and his assistant.

Students work during class time at inbetweening animated sequences, using supplies and equipment provided by the Institute.

ASSISTANT ANIMATION 12 Thursdays, February 26-May 14 Dave Brain June 4-August 20 Fee: $70.00* September 17-December 10

Prerequisite: The Inbetweening class, or membership in Local 839 IATSE.

This class will focus on choosing drawings to be keyed, following and interpreting model sheets, and putting characters on model without losing the animator's action or expression. Strong emphasis on improving drawing skills and line quality.

ANIMATION 12 Mondays, February 23-May 11 Clair Weeks June 1-August 17 Fee: $70.00* September 14-November 30

Prerequisite: The Assistant Animation class, or membership experience in Local 839 IATSE as an animator, assistant animator or inbetweener.

Emphasis in this course will be placed on strong, descriptive poses, clear staging, a detailed study of dialogue and the acting involved in character animation. Further refinement in the theories of timing will also be emphasized.

Students should be prepared to do homework assignments using their own supplies and equipment. These assignments will be photographed at the Institute using the NAC Quick Action Recorder, and will be critiqued in class.

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               TRAINING CLASSES: CARTOONIST CRAFTS
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BACKGROUND PAINTING AND DESIGN 12 Mondays, February 23-May 11 Jeff Richards June 1-August 17 Fee: $70.00* September 14-November 30