News from SJSU Animation/Illustration

SJSU Students Visit Los Angeles

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:38:02 -0700

SJSU A/I faculty members David Chai and David Yee led a group of 36 students on a four day trip to Los Angeles, visiting local studios and exhibitions. Places visited included The ASIFA Hollywood Animation Archives, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Getty Center, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks Animation, and New Deal Studios, wrapping it up with a full day at Walt Disney Animation Studio’s “Inspire Days”.

The evenings were topped off by meetings with SJSU A/I Alumni working in the area.

Students Attend Ashland Shakespeare Festival 75th Anniversary Season

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:38:57 -0700

Distinguished lecturer Rex Grignon accompanied a group of thirty-two Animation/Illustration students to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. The group arrived on Friday, March 5 in time to see “Well”, a humorous modern production, conceived by performance artist Lisa Kron. Saturday’s amazing backstage tour was followed by Tennessee Williams’s sultry classic, “Cat on A Hot Tin Roof”. An evening with Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice” rounded out a very inspiring day of theater and design. Sunday ended in traditional Ashland style with the boldest production of the weekend, Artistic Director Bill Rauch’s arresting, contemporary interpretation of “Hamlet.”

SJSU Students attend the 2009 Ottawa International Animation Festival

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:58 -0700

Assistant Professor David Chai accompanied eight Animation/Illustration students who trekked up to the Great White North to attend the Ottawa International Animation Festival 2009. Over three days, the students viewed more than 85 animated shorts, three feature films, and attended outstanding workshops and presentations. People they saw and met included Cordell Barker, Ronnie del Carmen, Ron Diamond, Eric Goldberg, Don Hertzfeld, Eric Homan, Christy Karacas, Brooke Keesling, Heather Kenyon, Fran Krause, Will Krause, David B. Levy, Ian Miller, Dan Sarto, Henry Selick, David Silverman, Linda Simensky, and Peter Sohn.

Adobe Design Achievement Award Finalist Aggie Cheung Headed to Beijing, China

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:35:27 -0700

June Animation/Illustration graduate Aggie Cheung is a finalist in the 2009 Adobe Design Achievement Awards, The competition, which is open to students at institutions of higher learning worldwide, honors the most promising student animators, illustrators, graphic designers, digital filmmakers, developers, and computer artists. Aggie’s competition entry is an illustration she produced at SJSU for the BFA Senior Project class. Students in the class were asked to create concept art for a film adaptation of “The Magic Chalk,” a short story by avant-garde Japanese novelist and playwright Kobo Abe.

Along with her finalist certificate and Adobe Creative software, Aggie has been awarded round-trip airfare, lodging, and free admission to the Icograda World Design Congress 2009, which will be held in Beijing, China in October. She will also receive a portfolio review by a member of the Icograda Executive Board.

Icograda (the International Council of Graphic Design Associations) is the world body for professional communication design. Founded in 1963, it is an assembly of organizations concerned with graphic design, visual communication, design management, promotion, education, research and journalism.

The winners of the competition will be announced at the Icograda conference, which runs from October 24 through October 30.

Annlyn Huang Wins 2009 Maurice and Marjorie Noble Scholarship

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:25:09 -0700

Animation/Illustration student Annlyn Huang was recently awarded the 2009 Maurice and Marjorie Noble Scholarship. The $4000 scholarship, established by pioneer animator Maurice J. Noble and his wife Marjorie, provides financial assistance to students pursuing careers in animation. Mr. Noble began his own career at the Disney Studios in 1934. His designs and background paintings were used in the landmark Disney features Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, and Dumbo. Later in his career, he lent his talents to more than sixty Warner Bros. productions. Among his most renowned achievements were his work on the pink elephant sequence in Dumbo and on the Oscar-awarding-winning short, The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, which he co-directed with animator Chuck Jones.

The Maurice and Marjorie Noble Scholarship is offered to outstanding first-year students from four institutions; UCLA, USC, the California Institute of the Arts, and San Jose State University. Applications are limited, and the faculty at their respective schools must nominate candidates for the award. Annlyn’s scholarship is renewable for the next two years.

Because she submitted her application in April and did not hear anything until July, Annlyn was surprised when she was notified about the award. “I was not expecting such great news,” she writes. “I plan on making every dollar count, and also on making my years at San Jose worthwhile and fun. I’ve become very interested in the film industry and I am looking forward to being a part of it in the future! From the scholarship and from the enthusiasm in the Animation/Illustration program, I’ve discovered that artists are valued and supported.”

Maurice Noble

The Dot and the Line, Maurice Noble Co-Director and Production Designer

Jake Panian Wins $20,000 Scholarship

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:20:52 -0700

The Society of Illustrator’s $20,000 Zankel Scholarship is awarded annually to the nation’s most promising junior-level illustrator. This year’s winner was SJSU Animation/Illustration Student Jake Panian. Jake was one of four finalists invited to New York for the mandatory portfolio review and interview that precedes the jury’s final decision. The other three
finalists were from Parsons The New School of Design in New York, Art Center College of
Design in Pasadena, California, and Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland.

Jake was admittedly uneasy on the long flight to New York. “I felt honored and quite honestly, surprised to be nominated for such a prestigious award, and I knew the stakes were high. But I decided to heed the advice of Professor Courtney Granner, who told me to relax, be safe, and to soak up as much of the city as possible!” The Society gave all four finalists just that opportunity by setting aside the first day for sightseeing, a visit to the Strand bookstore, and a tour of the Metropolitan Museum. The day ended at the Society’s own Museum of American Illustration, where the group attended a lecture by Barron Store —a nationally renowned illustrator and a faculty member at San Jose State.

The second day, which was set aside for the portfolio reviews and personal interviews, turned out to be a lot more stressful. “We were called up one by one to the top floor of the Society to present our work. I was last, and by that time, I was very nervous since I had no idea what the jury would ask. I was the only nominee who wanted to work in the film industry, and was not sure how that would be received. But their first question was about my working process, and I was able to answer with confidence because developing your own solid process is a huge emphasis at San Jose State. Although some of what I said seems like a blur now, I do recall that I was able to express my personal views about art, my conceptual focus, and my direction for the future.”

Because he was the last finalist interviewed, Jake only had a short wait before the results were announced. “I was honored to receive the 2009 Zankel scholarship,” Jake writes. “My brief, exciting trip to New York was inspiring, and I am grateful of all the individuals involved, including the other nominees, the judges, my family and friends. Last, but in absolutely no way least, my instructors at San Jose State University.”

Forty-Seven Animation/Illustration Students Awarded Degrees at 2009 Commencement

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:56:46 -0700

Easily identifiable by the Shrunkenheadman logos on their hats, Animation/Illustration students celebrated the successful completion of their degrees at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, May 23. Graduating Cum Laude where Chrystal Chan, Bryan Lind, Rebbaz Royee, Amy Seaver, and Yu Ming Yu. Receiving their degrees Magna Cum Laude were Ashley Boyd, Kelly Ricker, Micah, Sibert, and Aletta Wenas. Summa Cum Laude honors went to Lam Nguyen and Christine Rhee.

A dinner for the graduating class, held on the previous evening at the Corinthian Event Center, featured alumnus Erik Evans. Drawing from his experience at Pixar Animation, Mr. Evans gave advice and encouragement on life after SJSU. While many of our May graduates are now interviewing for jobs, a significant number have secured positions and will be beginning their careers at DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios, Industrial Light and Magic, LucasArts, Electronic Arts and WishB Games.

SJSU Wins Top Awards at the Kalamazoo Animation Festival International

Mon, 18 May 2009 19:49:53 -0700

Triumphing over tough competition from nine other institutions, the SJSU Animation/Illustration team won both the People’s Choice Award and First Place in the 2009 KAFI Cartoon Challenge. Team advisor, Assistant Professor Dave Chai, reports that the SJSU students distinguished themselves with a dynamic film and more importantly with great attitudes and sportsmanship. Congratulations to team leader Corey Tom, concept artist Micah Sibert, and animators, Renee Carty, Candace Downey, and Bryan Lind!

High School Affiliates Tour Gallery with DreamWorks Head of Character Animation

Mon, 18 May 2009 18:44:13 -0700

On May 7th, thirty-four students from Andrew P. Hill, Leland, Santa Clara, and Mount Pleasant high schools were treated to a private tour of the DreamWorlds exhibition at the Natalie and James Thompson gallery. Their guide was Rex Grignon, head of character animation at DreamWorks/PDI and curator of DreamWorlds. The high school students were given an inside look on how feature animation is produced—from early story and concept work to finished production art. The participating high schools are affiliates in our Partners
in Education program; a collaboration between local secondary school faculty and SJSU Animation/Illustration faculty. The program was founded to provide high school students with an opportunity to participate in special university lectures, classes, and events.

Students Compete in 2009 KAFI Cartoon Challenge

Sat, 16 May 2009 17:03:10 -0700

From May 11 through May 14, five intrepid SJSU Animation/Illustration students matched both their skills and their ability to function without sleep against nine other college and university teams in the 2009 KAFI Cartoon Challenge. The Cartoon Challenge, which is designed give students a preview of professional deadlines and requirements, is the lead-off event for the biennial Kalamazoo Animation Festival International.

All ten teams were asked to create a 30-second public service announcement on a topic revealed when they arrived at Kalamazoo Community College where they worked for the duration of the competition. The resulting films will be screened at the festival.

SJSU team leader Corey Tom reports, “It's been quite a journey in just three-and-a-half days, but we all made it! We gave it 200%, and I have to say that we performed admirably and worked extremely well together…it was an awesome experience!”

Photo: Candace Downey, Corey Tom, Renee Carty, Micah Sibert, and Bryan Lind leave Kalamazoo Community College after successfully completing the KAFI Cartoon Challenge.

Students meet Anvil at the Camera 3 Theater in San Jose

Wed, 6 May 2009 21:56:11 -0700

On the recommendation of DreamWorks’ director Steve Hickner, students and faculty members took a brief break from the end-of-semester crunch to watch “Anvil! The True Story of Anvil,” a documentary film that debuted at Sundance in 2008 and is currently showing in limited engagements nationwide. The film chronicles the struggles of Anvil, a Canadian heavy metal rock band fighting back from obscurity after a brush with fame in the 1980s. The band's 30-year journey, sensitively chronicled by director Sacha Gervasi, is an
inspiring tribute to the endurance of the creative spirit. A highlight of the evening was meeting Anvil guitarist and vocalist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner who started the band in 1977 as well as bass player Glenn Five who has been with the band since 1996.

Animation/Illustration Students Draw Swords!

Wed, 6 May 2009 19:56:53 -0700

Chris Duval who is an actor, teacher and a fight choreographer with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival visited SJSU on April 29th to teach Animation/Illustration students some of the basics of stage combat. The instruction was “hands on” as students took up swords and pool noodles in pursuit of dueling excellence. While the forty students who volunteered to participate learned the techniques that make for a riveting staged fight, more than 100 others watched the demonstrations and recorded the action in their sketchbooks.