In this advanced college course our animation students work in small teams to meet the promotional needs of real-world, non-profit clients.
Our films are character-driven and emotionally impactful.
Past clients have included Teach For America, Child's Play, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, The Boston Museum of Science, the
international Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, and the New England Zoos.
PREPRODUCTION: The teams choose their projects in the first week of the semester based on client proposals,
then spend a month on an intensive pitch process including multiple drafts of animated storyboards and character designs.
During this first month the client is asked to respond promptly to drafts (usually within a couple of days)
and to meet with the student around the fifth week in person or on skype to clarify final details.
PRODUCTION: The teams then spend six weeks completing full drafts of the films (some with 2D animation, some 3D, some a combination),
and then receive final comments from their clients on week twelve before making last fixes and presenting the completed, broadcast-ready films on week fourteen.
WHO ARE WE?
We are 3D and 2D Animators studying at The New England Institute of Art,
located at 10 Brookline Place West in Brookline, MA,
specializing in concise and meaningful storytelling in the very engaging medium of animation.
We have been thrilled in the last year to collaborate with audio students from the Berklee College of Music, who provide original compositions and FX work for these films.
Here is an example from one of the TFA teams, animating an audio testimonial by a TFA teacher about one of her students, used to inspire the new and returning teachers Fall 2011.
Animation by: Edward Lilley, Kevin Nawoichik, Matthew Negron, and Kristin Hansen
Music by: Rachel Dziezynski
Client comments: "My staff and I were thrilled with the final project on the big screen; we thought it was clear and effective and emotionally moving."
Our Fall 2010 clients were science-themed, requiring scientific research by the teams:
Sol-Solution: brings solar power to underpriveleged schools.
The PKD Foundation: international organization dedicated to education on Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Here is the film by the PKD team, a Public Service Announcement.
Music by: Kristen McCullough
Animation by: Jeff Beckman, Joel Burgos, and John Lopes
PRESENTATIONS and MEETINGS
At the end of each semester the animation teams present their final work to the clients.
Sometimes this event is hosted at the school in Brookline, MA, and sometimes is it hosted by the client at their location.
Early in the semester we like to meet our clients either in person or over Skype.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A FREE ANIMATION
The Animation Team Production course is run three times a year: Fall (starting early September), Spring (starting early January), and Summer (starting mid-May).
Client Poposal documents (a one page summary of the organization, audience, and the desired film) are due two weeks before the start of the new semester,
and we prefer them earlier in order to give feedback to make sure the students have everything they need to start the project.
For more information on the proposal document, contact the teacher Jason Wiser at JWiser@aii.edu.