The Story & Animation Masterclass, a special event taught by instructors from Pixar and hosted by VanArts all across North America for the past 5 years, has finally gone global by having toured "down under" in Australia and New Zealand. Sold-out crowds of students, professionals and film enthusiasts packed venues in three cities this month to hear Pixar's head story artist Matthew Luhn and directing animator Andrew Gordon teach about their craft. 

On April 5th & 6th, the masterclass was held at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, where VanArts has a degree pathway partnership for graduates in all of our programs. The following week on April 12th & 13th, another masterclass was held at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia.

This was followed by another class at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand on April 16th & 17th. VanArts also has a degree pathway partnership with Media Design School, where graduates from our 3D Character Animation, Game Art & Design, and Visual Effects diploma programs can apply to pursue Bachelors' degrees after graduation.  

For everyone who participated in these events, it was a great experience to see these schools and venues first-hand, see the beautiful landscapes of Australia and New Zealand, and develop strong relationships with the people there. Thanks to everyone who made this tour possible!  

Click here for more information on the Degree Pathways available for VanArts graduates >>

Click here for information on our next two Masterclasses in New York and San Diego >>

VanArts is pleased to announce that all of our programs now feature articulations for degree pathways with Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.  

Various Bachelor Degrees specific to each program can be earned in as little as one full year (3 trimesters) at Deakin, after graduating from the diploma program of their choice at VanArts.  

VanArts graduates from 2D/3D Character Animation are eligible to receive up to 12 credit points of advanced standing towards the 24-credit point Bachelor of Film and Digital Media (Animation Major) or Bachelor of Animation and Motion Capture degree programs. The latter degree is also available to VanArts graduates in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects. 

VanArts graduates may have the option of completing these Deakin degree programs over one full calendar year (three consecutive trimesters) of full-time intensive study (4 credit points of study per trimester x 3), or over two years (two trimesters per year x 2) of reduced load full-time study (3 credit points of study per trimester x 4).  

VanArts graduates in Acting for Film & Television, Broadcasting for Radio & Television, Web Development & Interactive Design and Digital Photography are now also eligible for 8 credit points into various degree programs at Deakin, for completing 4 credit points each in four trimesters.  An additional 12-credit articulation is also available for Digital Photography into their Bachelor of Creative Arts - Photography major. 

For international students at Deakin, their work permit is part of the student visa allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week.

Detailed assessments for the VanArts-Deakin articulations can be explored and accessed at the following link: deakin.edu.au/courses/credit/search.php

From this link, up-to-date information can be found by simply:

1. Selecting Canada from the first drop box;
2. Selecting VanArts from the second drop box;
3. Selecting the VanArts Diploma program from the third drop box; and
4. Selecting the Deakin degree program from the fourth drop box

For more information, you can also visit Deakin at www.deakin.edu.au

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

VanArts wishes to extend a very Happy 80th Birthday to our good friend Richard Williams, triple-Oscar winner and animation legend!  

Richard Williams directed the animation on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and wrote the popular textbook The Animator's Survival Kit.  He visited VanArts back in 2008, seen here with some of our animation students. 

Animation Legend Bob Godfrey, one of our founding advisory board members and a good friend of VanArts, has just passed away at the age of 91. Our staff & faculty wishes to express sincere condolences to his family. 

Starting in 1997, Bob visited VanArts every summer as a guest instructor, working alongside our founding program director Lee Mishkin and other guests Bill Matthews, Bonita Versh and Ken Southworth. For 10 years following, he taught students in our full-time program and summer intensive programs for classical 2D animation.

Born in 1921, Bob Godfrey was one of the most well-renowned animation figures in the UK and around the world, having animated short films and commercials for over 50 years. He inspired countless animators including Richard Williams and Nick Park, and helped many animators break into the business. His films have won several awards including an Oscar in 1975 for his animated film Great, and his success garnered him the Member of the British Empire medal in 1986. He was dedicated to sharing his animation knowledge with hundreds of eager students at the Royal College of Art and many other schools, including VanArts. He will be greatly missed by all of us. 

In tribute to Bob, here is a look at a CBC news story which broadcast in 1997 featuring him teaching in our summer program alongside Lee Mishkin. 

The following note was also sent to us by Bonita Versh, another founding advisory board member and dear friend of Bob Godfrey:

To all my friends, students, teachers, comrades-in-arms at Vanarts- past, present and future, don't ever forget our elders! Goodbye to Bob Godfrey, one of our favorite all time people, and one of the Godfathers of Vanarts along with Lee Mishkin, the original Program Director there. Lee would take Bob and me out to eat salmon, drink, discuss animation, the school, the kids, and the goings on in the world of animation in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Great Britain, including Europe, where Bob traveled yearly to attend almost every animation festival invented. Well known for his bigger than life personality, great storytelling skills, funny Academy-Award-winning short films,and his brilliant, economical, quirky animation style, Bob will never be forgotten. Thanks to Alan Phillips and VanArts, special lectures hosted by Charles Phillips, Ken Priebe and myself, we've documented Bob's best stories and animation insights. One of our elders is gone, a great man and mentor. I lift my glass to you! We remember you, dear Bob Godfrey!

Love to all, Bonita