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Animation Mentor:
What inspired you to learn animation?
Raquel Rosa:
I always loved cartoons, comic books and the Disney movies but when I was living in Criciuma, a small city in south Brazil, I didn’t have animation as a career option. Over there everyone needs to be a lawyer, doctor, dentist, or engineer as there aren’t many other options. Since I was a video-game fan, I started pursuing a degree in computer science at the local university. The goal was to work in the gaming industry (for which there wasn’t much work around my city either) but I went for it anyways. At the end of my coursework life changed, I moved to the U.S., and I was able to transfer my bachelor’s coursework to a school in Florida. While finishing the B.Sc. degree, I finally got a chance to work on Maya and 3D Studio Max and I realized that these programs were the ones used to create the incredible 3D animation movies. That’s how the passion for computer graphics started. As for animation, let’s go to the second part of the story. After I finished my B.Sc. degree I started an MFA in Computer Arts and Animation at Florida Atlantic University, which I am still enrolled in, parallel to Animation Mentor. Over there we learn different facets of 3D graphics and animation. It was in the beginning of 2007 that I saw Animation Mentor in the top rankings of animation schools in a magazine and I decided to check out the website. I was working 30 hours a week and was also a full time student at FAU, but I fell in love with the program and I could not leave the Animation Mentor website without applying for it. I got into Animation Mentor with very little experience in animation, so even though I always liked animation it was during my first quarter at Animation Mentor that I realized that animation was exactly what I wanted to do with my life. My love for animation increases every minute I’m on the computer working on my assignments.
Animation Mentor:
How has your experience at Animation Mentor been so far?
Raquel Rosa:
The School: I was expecting Animation Mentor to be awesome based on all I’ve researched but soon after I joined the program I found out that it was even better, easily beating my expectations. Animation Mentor not only teaches us all about animation but also provides the opportunity to interact with real world professionals.
The mentors and campus mentors: Being able to know from the pros what to do to be a better animator and what to expect from the work environment is a really special feature of this program. The mentors are very dedicated, giving you critiques on every detail that will help you to be a great professional, and that’s what makes this school different from others.
The Students: I didn’t know I would find so many friendly people in this school. Even though we interact through a website the friendship and willingness to help is very present. All the students’ feedback has been tremendously helpful for improving my work.
Animation Mentor:
What's one of the most important and/or interesting lessons you've learned while at Animation Mentor?
Raquel Rosa:
Put your heart into what you do. When animating, be your character. Be able to feel what he feels. If you cannot sense the emotion in your character, nobody else will.
Animation Mentor:
What would be your ultimate dream job?
Raquel Rosa:
My dream job would be to work on a feature film for a major studio in a friendly environment where I can be creative and produce quality work.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite animator?
Raquel Rosa:
Since I am new in the animation area (it’s been less than a year that I’ve started to relate animators with their animations), I still don’t have a favorite animator. For now I really like Chris Landreth’s work on Ryan. I was fortunate to sit through one of his talks and all the passion he put into that short is as impressive as the short itself. My mentor for class1, Randy Haycock — I’ve seen his work and he is an amazing 3D and 2D animator. The nine old men for all their work on creating the foundations of animation. Carlos Baena, Bobby Beck, and Shawn Kelly not only for being great animators but also for the unforgettable acting skills they show us throughout the lectures!!!
Animation Mentor:
What is your favorite animated/CG scene of all time?
Raquel Rosa:
Instead of commenting on the scenes I’ve seen in movies, I thought it would be fun to concentrate on scenes I’ve seen at Animation Mentor. Since I am in class 2, I was looking at class 2 assignments and there is some outstanding work out there:
Cedric Busse: The sticky door assignment where he did an animation with a silent film style is a great piece of work. The animation, music, movement are really enjoyable!
Ken Robkin: Assignment where a magician is trying to get out of a box. This is such a creative scene with pigeons and everything. It’s so clear with solid poses and timing. The movement just flows!
Marisa Ditleff: Assignment where the character is pushing a safe thru the train tracks is so fun to watch and very well executed!
Nathan Engelhardt: Assignment where a caveman is pushing a square rock. That’s hilarious! Everything is just amazing and perfect on that shot. Great work!!!
There are many more but since you asked for only one scene I’ll keep it short.
Animation Mentor:
Anything else you want to say to your fellow and prospective students of Animation Mentor?
Raquel Rosa:
To my fellow students: I can’t thank you enough for all the feedback and friendship. We all share a passion and I am glad to be here among all these hard working people that really want to learn animation. Always remember… we are the future of animation!!!
To prospective students:
If you like animation check out the website and I am sure you’ll fall in love just like I did! If you want to be a great professional animator this is the place to be, do not delay it anymore.
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