Whistling Woods International launches animation school

MUMBAI:Whistling Woods International (WWI) has launched its animation training division, the Whistling Woods School of Animation (WWSOA), as a separate entity.

Established as a separate animation school under the WWI umbrella, the institute is now a brand by itself. The WWSOA also plans to start a range of new specialized courses catering to the needs of different animation aspirants. The courses range from short-term to long-term as well as part time and full time.

"It is a pleasure for us, following just four successful operating years, to announce WWSOA’s autonomy!Their growth is a tribute to the combined alchemy of animation’s phenomenal growth, India’s major role in enabling this expansion and our animation graduates being in such dynamic demand,” said Whistling Woods International president Meghna Ghai-Puri.

"WWSOA premieres its re-engineered animation school with a spectrum of new specialized courses catering to the needs of novice animation aspirants, students desiring to transfer into more aggressive and expansive training programs, as well as professionals seeking to sharpen and/or expand their abilities. The new entity is structured to allow students world-class animation instruction in a full-time five semester diploma manner, a part time new animation proficiency course, or anything in between", said Whistling Woods International dean John J. Lee, Jr..

WWSOA head of department Gokul K. said, "More specialized courses are the need of the hour. We have had many inquiries for career advice from students and parents for specialized courses. Students come and ask for a course in exclusively one field like matte painting, 2D or 3D etc. We are also in touch with filmmakers who say there is a dearth of quality VFX specialists."

The WWSOA also has seats for students who have studied elsewhere and working professionals, who want to further their education. They are given admissions based on their portfolios and after clearing a test, which means they need not study what they already know again.

"On the basis of market research as well as the inquiries we have received from students, parents and studios, we are coming out with new courses. We’re in our fourth year now and have decided to cater to a larger audience. For students looking to begin a career in animation there is the diploma in advanced animation, for which we are also increasing the batch size as we already have more than adequate infrastructure with two 2D labs from classic 2D animation and three 3D labs," added Gokul K.

The institute is offering the Diploma in The Art & Technique of Animation and the Advanced Diploma in The Art & Technique of Animation to students for its January 2010 intake. Besides that, other courses like ; Certificate Course in Basics of Animation, Certificate Course in Animation, Certificate Course in CG Animation , Diploma in The Art & Technique of Animation, Advanced Diploma in The Art & Technique of Animation, Certificate Course for ‘Specialisation’ (for working professionals),will also be offered from July 2010.