' Tara Donovan - Animator: Pixar Masterclass in Toronto

Pixar Masterclass in Toronto

June 18-19, 2010


I had a great time at the Pixar Masterclass here in Toronto. It was jammed with inspiring ideas and anecdotes to recharge my animation batteries and get me excited about handling 3D characters again this fall after a foray into directing 2D.

Story Artist Matthew Luhn and Animator Andrew Gordon each taught a full day session to a captivated audience of animation fans and seasoned industry pros. I can never get enough 'behind the scenes' action, and we were treated to plenty of clips from the making of many of Pixar's amazing features and shorts.

Even though the animation session was mostly review for many of us, I always learn from hearing a fresh interpretation of the animation principals. The story session was extremely valuable as well, with a huge dose of solid theory plus practical information about the day-to-day life of a storyboard artist at Pixar.

A totally inspirational weekend, worth every penny.