My experience at smiley guy's animation studio

          I William Hunter have finished a co-op program in animation at Smiley Guy Studios in the city of Toronto. My experiences there were amazing and I learned so much, so I would like to share my experience I had there with you.

          I've wanted to be an animator for quiet some time now, but never got the right guidance from school. As I learned more about co-op and what it offers, I knew this would help point me in the right direction.
The school I was going to at the time had co-op but it was a small town (Thornbury) and there was no place for me to do animation. I almost stopped there, but I didn't. If I changed schools theoretically to somewhere that would have some sort of animation near by, possibly Toronto. Even after the decision to go, it didn't get any easier. I had to find out where I would be staying, and which school would be the closest one. After all that I wrote and sent a letter to the school, because they'd still have to accept me. After being accepted I ended up having to drive down there in order to enroll at that school.

           The first couple of weeks at school were quiet enjoyable, meeting new people was fun. My first two classes were fun, but in the afternoon during co-op (in class) was really frustrating, I didn't know it would take so long or be this hard to find a placement. It would be a month before I got my first interview, but when I got there it just didn't feel right. My Mom Stressed that I probably should take it, but I new that one wasn't right. A week and a half later I got my second interview, Much thanks to my teacher Bob Curtis. The place was called Smiley Guy Studios, I thought it was kind of a funny name.     

           Walking into the studio almost seemed surreal the first time I did it. When I first started this journey my goal seemed so far away, but when I got there I was so excited to get started I was speechless. Luke Gustafson came over to shake my hand I introduced my self nervously and begun the interview. Me and Luke got along right from the start, and was very supportive and encouraging. Luke was very impressed with my demo real and was surprised how much I knew already. So Luke and Smiley Guy's took me on as a co-op student. I thought this place felt right so that made me happy.       

           The first few weeks at the studio I was mainly getting used to the program (adobe Flash CS3),the people, and equipment. I was just doing what I wanted to do on the program, in order to become familiar with it. Learning the program wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Drawing well with the Wacoom tablet was another story it took some time, and I wasn't the greatest drawer to start either.

             The first things I animated were pretty basic. I animated a hand and carnivorous plant. As my skills improved and got more and more comfortable with the program my work got way better. Luke started to give me unofficial projects. Luke was surprised how fast I learned, and the stuff I was producing. Also over the course of time I was there my drawing really improved, I didn't know that i was that good. As well my confidences and ability in the field of animation improved.
                           

              Being at the studio was always enjoyable, everyone was so nice, and I was always leaning knew techniques for animating. A lot of the animators would take some of there own time to help or show me something new. I learned how technical animating a walk cycle is, and all the things you have to think about while doing it to make it look convincing. Everything they told me they could explain really well, so you could visualize it, and it made perfect sence after.

              Lastly, being in the city and going to school here has been just an amazing journey, me coming from a small town and all. I was worried at first if I'd fit in or make any friends, It's hard to start from scratch in a new place. But now after all this time I can't even think of not being here, and being here with all the people I met.


Special thanks to:
       Luke Gustafson for your guidance, and encouragement towards my goal
       Bob Curtis for all your hard work in finding me an awesome placement
       And all of Smiley Guy Studios for all the help with my goal