A Prime Benefit of Animation School: Mentors
Great Industry Expert Becomes Animation School Mentor
Lori Arnold is a great example of the fine mentors available to animation school students in degree programs. Ms. Arnold recently joined the ranks of animation school mentors and instructors with decades of animation industry experience. She spent 12 years with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), one of the world’s premier industry-changing special effects and animation studios.
At ILM Ms. Arnold started in production and worked up to managing over 100 animators in ILM’s “creature group.” She also experienced employee relations and contract negotiations, gaining excellent animation business experience. (Attention animation students and enthusiasts: there are many careers which focus on the business side of animation too).
Among Ms. Arnold’s credits are huge blockbusters including Pirates of the Caribbean and the new Star Wars franchise.
What Animation School Can Do For You
In addition to mentorship, an animation degree program offers a variety of coursework to prepare you for an animation career:
- 3D Animation software (CAD, etc.)
- Character Development
- Vectors and Layering
- Storyboarding
In animation school, you will also learn how to develop a portfolio, the #1 must-have for applying for animation jobs.
What the coursework can’t teach you, your mentor can. Your animation expert can elucidate inside industry information, what animation employers look for in job candidates, and how to target a certain industry area for your career. With mentors like Ms. Arnold training animation school students your career prospects are the brightest they can be.
