As the world anticipates the final installment of the 10-year odyssey of Harry Potter hitting screens tomorrow in The Deathly Hallows Part 2, VanArts is proud to reflect and recognize our Animation & Visual Effects graduates who worked on various films in the series.

One of the more unique grad stories is that of Mike Cusack, who worked on The Chamber of Secrets at MPC in the UK as a CG effects artist before coming to VanArts to focus on 2D Character Animation from 2003-2004. After his year of study here, he returned to MPC, this time as an animator on The Goblet of Fire.

Mike told us, "I was attracted to VanArts because their program specializes in animation. Studying the 2D Animation Diploma Program, I hoped to learn the industry-based skills and principles of character animation through the personal instruction that VanArts offers in the relaxed atmosphere of Vancouver.   The progress I have made because of the quality of the teaching exceeded the expectations I had when I joined the school."

Here are all of the graduates who helped bring the boy wizard to theatres over the years.  (Click on their names for their IMDB profiles)

Mike Cusack  (Chamber of Secrets, Goblet of Fire)

Lionel Heath  (Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince)

Nik Brownlee  (Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, The Deathly Hallows Part 2)

Sam Osborne  (The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows Part 2)

Aaron Brown  (The Deathly Hallows Part 1)