Oregon3D and Discreet Provide Storytelling and Animation Seminars at GDC

Oregon3D, The Academy for Digital Arts & Sciences, and Discreet,a division of Autodesk, today announced the upcoming "Storytelling andAnimation" seminars at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in SanJose, Calif. Scheduled for Thursday, March 25, this two-part class willexplore in-depth, the world of animation from a general overview to thecurrent state of animation as a career. Taught by distinguishedindustry professionals Andrew Gordon, animator from Pixar AnimationStudios, and Mike Wellins, an award-winning former director from WillVinton Studios, this class will include minute details on creatinggreat animation, dynamic filmmaking and editing.

During this two-part class, Gordon and Wellins will discussanimation fundamentals and principles, animation directing, the basicsof performance staging, blocking and storytelling, editing for emotion,and classic character animation while incorporating specific examplesfrom films and television. Part 1 will focus on animation principles,weight and balance, and acting for animators. Part 2 will focus onstorytelling and directing with demonstrative examples of both good andbad.

Andrew Gordon has been animating characters professionally for morethan ten years. He joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1997 where he hasbeen an animator on "A Bug's Life", "Toy Story 2", "Finding Nemo" andhe was the lead animator on the character "Mike Wazowski" for"Monsters, Inc." Andrew recently won an award for "OutstandingCharacter Animation in an Animated Motion Picture" from the VisualEffects Society Award for his contribution to the "speaking whale"sequence in "Finding Nemo". Andrew is currently working on "TheIncredibles" which is due for release on Nov. 5, 2004. Prior to Pixar,Andrew worked in classic animation at Warner Bros.

Mike Wellins is a prolific independent filmmaker and commercialdirector of animation. Currently Wellins is working at Happy HourEntertainment in Portland, Oregon. Wellins was also a staff director atWill Vinton Studios for five-and-a-half years. At Will Vinton StudiosWellins directed dozens of commercials for clients ranging fromKikkoman to Playstation, as well as television pilots, a video for the"Powerpuff Girls," and an episode of Fox's "The PJs." Wellins'professional and independent work has earned numerous awards, includingan Annie for best-animated commercial. His films have been featured in"The Sick and Twisted" and have appeared on Cartoon Network, MTV andthe Sci-fi Channel. Mike has made over 60 films (both long and short,live and animated), including two low budget feature films.

The Oregon 3D Storytelling and Animation Seminar is a two-partcourse taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.on Thursday, March 25 at GDC in the San Jose Hall -Room #C3. Forinformation on additional classes, pricing and class registration,visit the Discreet website at www.discreet.com/events/gdc2004/ or contactOregon3D's toll free number at (866) 626-9100.