It’s 11:30 on a Thursday morning and students from two upper-division animation classes are gathered in the basement of Pollak Library for an ACME teleconference with Disney Studios’ Don Hahn, producer of such animated blockbusters as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.” Snacks and water bottles are cleared from the tables and while they’re waiting out the final technical adjustments that will connect them with Hahn and two other schools, the students have their sketchbooks out, busily drawing and sketching.
With Hahn is Master, who moderates the two-hour, weekly sessions with professionals from Hollywood’s biggest animation companies. Taking turns, a student from each school shows Hahn something they’ve worked on: an animated clip, a background layout, a character study. The pieces are very good, and one in particular, elicits laughter from the gathering. But like a master acting coach or director, Hahn looks beyond the obvious, seeing much, much more.
Senior art major Dexter Caseres presents his character study, a lineup of high school teens whose personalities are depicted through their clothing, expressions and postures. About one of them, Hahn says, “I’d like to know a little more about the character — any clues beyond the stereotype. I’m asking you for more layers; use everything at your disposal.”
About the critique and the sessions in general, Caseres, who hopes to be a character designer or storyboard artist, says, “It’s very helpful to have someone in the industry see my work and tell me what they think of it. They know their stuff, what’s good and what’s bad.”
In addition to striving to give students access to industry technology that will further their future success, the program has brought on board such animation veterans as Chuck Grieb, who joined the art department almost three years ago and is teaching them how to master these tools.
