ALL ACCESS PASS

Meet the Head of VFS’s School of Animation

Meet Colin Giles – Animator, Director, and Head of VFS’s School of Animation. With credits including Sausage Party, Eight Crazy Nights, numerous Disney Interactive titles, and commercial content for Cartoon Network, Ford, the NBA and Starbucks, Colin has hosted workshops and keynotes around the globe from Los Angeles to Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Seoul. Discover how Colin has created curriculum for the #1 Global Animation School (ranked by Animation Career Review) through production-based & collaborative training models, and how a VFS education launches your career in the $400 billion global animation industry.

Industry Talk: Mark Pudleiner on the Path to Disney Animation

Mark Pudleiner, Senior Animation Instructor at VFS, will discuss his long career at Walt Disney Animation Studios, working on unforgettable films including Mulan, Hercules, The Emperor's New Groove, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Shrek 2, and Tarzan. He’ll also share insights into what makes a successful animator and how Vancouver Film School is bringing Walt Disney's legacy into the classroom through its animation curriculum.

Experience a Rigging Demo in Toon Boom Harmony

VFS Animation Instructor Kayla Ziegler will lead a demo on 2D animation rigging, showcasing industry-standard Toon Boom Harmony. A significant catalyst in the resurgence of classical animation, Harmony is the first choice by the largest animation and gaming studios around the world for producing the highest quality animated content for creative storytelling.

Experience a Cartoon Drawing Demo

Join a hands-on demo in classic cartoon paper animation with Colin Giles, inspired by his industry experience in 2D animation for Cartoon Network commercials and on projects like Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" and Dan Vs. No experience needed!

Alumni Roundtable: Making a Career in Classical Animation

Colin will lead an industry roundtable on launching classical animation careers. He’ll be joined by recent VFS Animation alumni (stay tuned for this announcement!) who will share their student experience at VFS, their road to a successful industry animation career, and industry tips & insights. Q&A to follow.

Explore a Student Animation Showcase

Over six terms, VFS Classical Animation students create a powerful, multi-piece portfolio – the ultimate industry calling card for landing their first gig. Discover the process behind creating this standout work and view actual portfolio work completed by recent students.

Your Personal Portfolio Review

You’ll have the opportunity to review your animation portfolio with our faculty and Admissions team. Don’t be shy! The Animation team is looking forward to reviewing your work – anything from napkin doodles to sketches, models, videos and beyond – that illustrates your passion for the animation craft. This is your chance to see if you meet the prerequisites for our Classical Animation program.

Experience All That the Animation Program Offers

VFS’s Classical Animation program trains artists to create attention-grabbing work that showcases traditional animation techniques, their superior storytelling skills, and a grasp of modern digital tools – all in just 1 short year. You’ll learn about the program’s curriculum including character design, composition, drawing, storyboarding, & colour theory, and how you’ll create a powerful portfolio for your career.

VFS’s School of Animation has created artists that have worked on Deadpool & Wolverine, Resident Evil 4, The Last of Us, and more. Find out how our students develop their skillsets and networks through our program to land these high-profile industry gigs. PLUS, your attendance automatically enters you into multiple door prize draws! You could win a tablet or a free seat to VFS CONNECT - our short-track workshops & courses.