Although these courses can come with a hefty price tag, being part of The Animation Guild provides you with either complete or a substantial reimbursement that will ease your pocketbook’s discomfort.
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Color Theory with Ron Lemen -
Life Drawing with Chris SooHoo
IATSE membership at one of the 705, 706, 800, 839, and 892 Locals offers artists access to subsidized classes funded through educational grants supplied by Contract Services Administration Training Trust Fund (CSATTF). Studios contribute $0.08/hour worked or guaranteed work, to support these educational grants. Eido (eido-ed.com) is contracted to develop and administer the Animation Guild’s program of free Local Provided classes; registration materials can be requested on the website.
The CSATTF Grant program facilitates both free Local Provided classes and discounted Vendor Provided classes that strengthen skills and enhance knowledge. Vendor Provided classes are reimbursed at two-thirds the proposed price with the requirement of Contract Services approval in advance, a certificate of completion from the vendor, and a receipt.
For those who may not be able to attend classes in person there are more than 100 online courses available to choose from.
Where Can You Learn?
Choose from any of these vendors to sharpen skills.
The Animation Academy
theanimationacademy.com
11 courses, including:
• Animation Basics
• Advanced Body Mechanics
• Cartoony Animation for 3D Animators
Animation Mentor
animationmentor.com
Seven courses, including:
• Background Design and Perspective
• Character Design
• Visual Development
Animsquad
animsquad.com
Four courses, including:
• Expert Animation
• 2D Traditional Animation
Computer Graphics Master Academy (CGMA)
cgmasteracademy.com
94 courses, including:
• Advanced Environment Design for Film
• Concept Art: From 2D to 3D
• Creating Comics: Drawing and Sketching
Concept Design Academy
conceptdesignacad.com
87 courses, including:
• Advanced Digital Illustration
• Costume and Creature Design
• Story Development for Animation
iAnimate
ianimate.net
24 courses, including:
• Body Mechanics
• Intro to Games Animation
• Feature Animation
Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA)
laafa.edu
109 courses, including:
• Composition for Animation and Film
• Gesture Drawing
• Imaginative Worlds for Entertainment
Mold3D Academy
mold3dacademy.com
17 courses, including:
• Master Organic Modeling
• 3D Character Development
• 3D Printing for Character Artists
Rigging Dojo
riggingdojo.com
Five courses, including:
• Face Rigging 101
• Rigging 101
• Maya API 101
Silver Drawing Academy
silverdrawingacademy.com
• Character Design
Skillwire
skillwire.com
184 courses, including:
• Photoshop Essentials
• Vectorworks Essentials
• 3D Printing Essentials
Vancouver Animation School
vanas.ca
Eight courses, including:
• Introduction to Concept Art
• Introduction to Game Design
• Writing for Animation
Are you eligible for CSATTF approval?
Here’s what you need to know to be reimbursed for your courses.
In order to be eligible for reimbursement, you must be a member in good standing with The Animation Guild (Local 839). You will need to provide CSATTF with: The relevant course application form and employment verification of a minimum of 30 union workdays worked under a Guild contract within the past two years. This verification can be submitted by providing six to eight paystub copies or with an employment verification letter from one’s company on the company’s letterhead and including the following:
- Full name
- Last 4 digits of Social Security
- Name of show(s) and production(s)
- Exact work dates
- Total days worked within specified time-frame
- Job classification
- Union Jurisdiction the time was worked under
You can download an application from TAG’s website at animationguild.org/about-the-guild/grant-classes. You should receive approval within 10 days. In some cases, the application process can be intricate and TAG staff is on hand to help you navigate through grant approval. If you have additional questions, please contact Mike Sauer at msauer@animationguild.org.
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